Question
Is it a good idea to seal tumbled brussel stone. We have a new patio, and I have heard that this stome is more porous than other sna may darken a lot if sealed. We have other types of stone in the front of our home that we have sealed, that just enhanced their color. Will sealing the tumbled stone be dramatic? They want to use a solvent sealer. Please advise. I have also seen tumbled stone after 1 year where the center is dry looking  and the edges more oily.

Answer
You only need to seal NATURAL stone that is set in mortar on concrete OR if it is fake stone (like tumbled CONCRETE) sealing helps hold the color over long time. Concrete pavers and faux rocks always fade over time...no matter what your dealer or installer tells you, they ALL FADE. If your stone is real and is loose it is not needed unless you want to bring out the natural colors.

So, If you want to seal it, you may want to do a test stone in a less visible area or with a piece of scrap to see if you like how it looks. Not all sealants leave the same look. Some are flat, some penetrate, some leave a shiny surface. Some people seal every few years to keep the look fresh.

Best of Luck.
Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com