what do I seal slate hearth with? (for woodburner)

[steppemum]

That's it really, woodburner being fitted next week, we have a big slab of slate going down under the stove and for the hearth. I have heard that it needs sealing.
I want it to still look like unsealed slate, so no shiny wet look finish.

What do I use?

Thanks

I didnt want a shiny look so havent sealed it at all.
4 years on, no problems.

Ours is fine unsealed. Yes it has marks etc on it but I think it looks weathered and better than it would if all brand new and shiny.

Another unsealed slate owner. It's been fine for the last 3-4 years.

It's a bit dusty but then, so is the rest of the house!

Bit of wd40 will clean it off and make it look shiny for a day or so, we tend to oil ours but hardly ever remember at the moment, and it looks fine. Does show the scratches though sadly.

Mines unsealed too, a bit scratched but adds to the character.

Really? We had a lecture about unsealed stones showing every mark, soaking in the dust, charcoal smears etc when we were looking for a heath.

It was in a shop selling proper polished hearths, so I took it with a pinch of salt and we went to the builders merchants and got a big cheap slab of slate, but I must have taken in more than I thought, as I have assumed that I needed to seal it in some way.

What if you spill something on it, like a cup of tea, or red wine?

Matt varnish.

Spilling stuff on it does sod all. One of the cats vomited on ours, everything wipes off. We're they talking about some other kind of stone?

well, mummytomog, if it all washes off, I don't think I'll bother!

Even oil wears off in a few months, I don't think slate is very permeable.

We have a slate tiled floor and had to seal it twice - once before grouting and then again after.

I'm not sure if it's the same with a hearth as there is dust and heat and so on all the time.

But yes I guess it depends what sort of finish you want. Tile shops will advise but they may not understand about hearths.

I used Filamatt with our new riven slate hearth just before Christmas. Dries in about an hour, 2 coats were enough. Slate doesn't need a base sealant like limestone etc, but this just enhances the slate and makes it easy to clean