How to Repair Granite Countertops Yourself

Granite countertops are a peachy thought if you do not take them yet in your kitchen or bathroom. They are extremely durable, practically estrus proof, and will not stain easily even without a sealer application.

Granite countertops are a bully idea if you do not accept them yet in your kitchen or bathroom. They are extremely durable, practically heat proof, and will not stain easily even without a sealer application.

That said, granite could sustain damage under some atmospheric condition. Insufficient support at stress areas such as overhangs and around cutouts, sitting on the edge, or a massive blow can cause granite to scrap, crack, or suspension.

The good news is you will non accept to replace damaged granite countertops. Y'all tin can repair small-scale damage in granite yourself without much trouble. Here is how to practise that.

Make sure it is not a natural feature

fissure in granite

The thing with granite is that it is a natural stone. Information technology might have certain features you could hands fault for minor harm such as cracks or chips. Fissures await like cracks, while pits await like fries in the stone. Natural features of the stone such every bit these exercise non affect the integrity of the stone itself, and does not need repairing.

A fissure, for instance, is actually a slight infinite between clusters of crystals that develop equally they form, and the space can run for quite a means. In appearance, they wait similar a crack, although they are only on the surface. These do not typically go all the manner through the rock, so in that location is no danger of the stone cleaving away along that fissure. Sometimes, a fissure could be broad enough to be a problem, merely a reputable supplier would not fifty-fifty sell these stones to customers.

Pits, on the other paw, are tiny craters that form like bubbling in the stone, and may come out in slabs. However, these are and so pocket-sized that they pose piddling danger to the stone. In most cases, suppliers fill in these holes with epoxy if they are noticeable enough to keep the surface fifty-fifty.

Natural features aside, some granite slabs do sustain physical damage, especially during shipping, fabrication, or installation. Since slabs desined for kitchen countertops are typically thin, between 2 and iii cm thick, they can chip, crevice, or break if not handled properly.

Knowing the difference

It is quite easy to tell the difference betwixt a natural feature and a defect in granite. It is all in the expect and feel of it. For one thing, a crack runs around crystal clusters rather than through them. Physical cracks tend to run across crystal structures and veins in a more or less straight line. If you run your finger along a crevice, you should not feel any difference in the level of 1 side and the other as yous would with a scissure.

Fissures and pits are likewise permanent features in the stone. If y'all did your due diligence when inspecting your granite countertops upon installation, yous should take discover these right away. If you lot did not notice them then, and see them apparently appear overnight, and so you may accept a crack.

Finally, fissures and pits occur randomly, and not only effectually stress areas. These are typically effectually cutouts and areas where at that place is little or no support.

Repairing granite countertops

broken edge of granite

Cracks in granite countertops are not automatically catastrophic, merely it tin can get worse over fourth dimension. Y'all need to arrest its progress before it does, as an e'er widening or progressive crack tin can compromise the stone itself, and you don't want that.

Chips are not every bit bad, but they are not attractive, especially if they occur along the edges of the countertops. The same is true for actual breaks. You lot tin easily repair them if you know how.

Cracks and chips

crack in countertop

The most common method for repairing cracks and chips in granite countertops is to fill them in with epoxy, acrylic, or other kind of colorless resin or agglutinative. You can easily find products designed to make these kinds of repair online, and they are quite affordable.

Virtually of these products are sold as repair kits, which is convenient. 1 of these is the the Granite & Marble Acrylic Repair DIY Kit – Light Cure. The production is a paste, which yous can mold to the shape you need, and will not harden until you are ready. The acrylic binder only hardens when y'all shine visible light on it, which comes with the kit. The cost is about $twenty for a kit that can repair a few cracks and fries.

Another production y'all might desire to try is LiquaGlass. This costs a bit more than the first kit does at about $50 for 3 ounces of product, but this is plenty to repair more cracks and chips. LiquaGlass is an epoxy, so y'all have to mix 2 materials together to activate it. The epoxy hardens to a lustrous, clear and durable surface similar to glass, which is excellent for repairing larger cracks without existence noticeable. Information technology volition not discolor over time.

The but problem with any type of epoxy is that once mixed, the compound hardens apace, unremarkably less than sixty seconds. You need to set up the surface for repair before mixing it, and mix only enough to cover what you need.

Breaks

broken granite pieces

LiquaGlass or similar epoxy binder is too particularly useful when repairing granite where a piece of the stone has broken off completely. This will only work, nonetheless, when the broken piece is small and not load bearing, and the pieces are more or less complete. Any missing pieces should be pocket-sized enough so that the epoxy can fill up in the gaps without being noticeable.

For reattaching broken pieces of granite, yous will need a few things. These include acetone, a razor blade, hairdryer, scrubbing pad, and paper towel. You will also need to follow the steps below:

  1. Use a dry and clean scrub pad to remove whatever oil and dirt from all the exposed surfaces. Utilize the paper towels doused with acetone to take care of any remaining contaminants, which can interfere with a complete bail of the pieces.
  2. While the acetone will evaporate on its ain, yous should make certain it is compleltely dry out by using the hairdryer on both surfaces.
  3. Take out equal amounts of the 2 materials of the epoxy, enough to encompass the surface of each piece with a think and even layer. You need to spread the chemical compound quickly, just carefully on all the surfaces before putting them together. Keep the pieces in firm contact for a few minutes while the epoxy hardens.
  4. Excess product might ooze out, and you should wipe them away using a paper towel dampened with acetone.
  5. Some excess product might remain that will non easily wipe away, but you lot should not attempt to remove information technology for at least 24 hours. You tin can then use a razor bract to cut information technology abroad carefully.
  6. If at that place are any gaps, use some more than epoxy to fill them. Await 24 hours earlier attempting to scarpe away any excess epoxy.
  7. Apply a granite sealer over the area.

Conclusion

Repairing granite yourself is not rocket science, and it is unlikely that yous will demand to do it anyway. To brand sure you lot don't, have professionals supply you with and install granite countertops for your dwelling house. The staff at Granite ASAP knows everything at that place is to know about granite and other stones, and can help you choose the right 1 for your kitchen countertop.

We carry a wide range of natural rock slabs as well as the top brands in engineered quartz in the country. Over 100 colors of granite and marble slabs are available for inspection at our Chantilly, Virginia showroom. . You can choose what you want and we will deliver it ASAP!

If you lot adopt engineered stone, we tin offering yous products from the Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI brands, each one conveying the manufacturer'southward warranty.

We service the country of Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Chantilly, Herndon, Centreville, Tysons, and Washington DC.

You can check out the website and conversation with us online, or requite u.s.a. a call to request a gratuitous estimate!