Repairing Cracks in Marble and Granite Countertops

 

 

One of the most elegant and decorative natural stones used in construction is marble and granite. However, it is worth remembering that the rock is relatively fragile and prone to damage, so negligent handling may cause it to break. If this unfortunate incident happened to you too, do not despair. Marble or broken granite can be pasted to restore its original appearance. If you want to find out how to do it – read on.

 

Fragile beauty

Natural stones have different resistance to mechanical damage. This is due both to the composition of the minerals and their formation. Marble is a metamorphic rock. This means that it is formed by the transformation of other rocks (in this case – limestones) under the influence of high temperature and pressure.

 

The metamorphosis process makes it a bit like ice – it becomes very difficult, but at the same time quite fragile. As a result, objects and architectural elements made of it may break. Also remember that rocks, like other works of nature, do not have a uniform internal structure. There may be places where a strong hit will be completely harmless, but there may also be places where even slight pressure will reveal internal tensions and cause the fracture to disengage.

 

The marble is usually cracked during:

 

Negligent assembly (this applies especially to long elements, for example, window sills or kitchen worktops);

Dropping a heavy object on it;

Strong and precise blow.

 

Fortunately, it is easy to stick together, so there is a good chance that you will be able to repair even a relatively large crack yourself. Indeed, keep in mind that this is a rock that is often affected by various types of color and vein changes. In such a situation, the appearance of another irregularity, which is a reminder of the repair made, will not affect the overall appearance of the stone. Even if your marble/granite is completely smooth and one color, if you smooth your intervention site carefully enough, it will look like a natural and single strand. Thanks to this, not only will it not distort the whole, but it can also add charm.

 

Chip repair

No matter small or large a chip, it can be repaired. Our specialists can handle all types of chips, it might look easy to do but it’s an art form. It is always better for a professional to come out and do it for you. When the professionals do it sometimes you can not even tell that it was done.

 

With what to paste marble?

Which product works best will depend on a number of factors. The most important of which is the size of the fracture that is broken.

 

A small element

In case you are dealing with a small piece of rock, like a detached corner, it is best to use epoxy resin or special glue for marble and other natural stones. You can find all these products in specialty stores or online.

 

Large passages

Larger cracks can be glued with car filler. Remember, however, that in order for the effect of your work to look aesthetic (or even better – to be completely invisible), you should match the color of the product to the color of the marble as accurately as possible.

 

A standard putty knife, used by the car mechanic, can be purchased at any paint store but is only available in one yellow-brown color. A wider range of colors is available at specialty chisel stores.

 

Crack or crumble?

Another factor that will affect the type of product that will be glued is whether the fracture surface is relatively smooth or a lot of small pebbles have formed during the damage. If the marble/granite not only cracked but also crumbled at the breaking point, you will need to fill the gap with something. However, keep in mind that it is colorless, which means the connection point will be visible. However, if you sand the surface thoroughly, you can make the gap created to look like a regular fishing line.

 

Summary

As you can see, gluing cracked marble is not difficult at all for a professional. We hope that thanks to our short guide, you will be able to easily find the right product and repair it efficiently. Remember that if you approach this task carefully and thoughtfully, you can give the returning element a new life, and even make it look better. Always best to let the professionals do it.