If you’ve got a stone countertop with a crack, don’t despair. You can fix it yourself and it’s not as hard as you might think. Here are the steps you need to take to get your countertop looking good as new in no time at all.
The most common method for repairing cracks and chips in granite countertops is to fill them in with epoxy, acrylic, or another kind of colorless resin or adhesive. You can easily find products designed to make these kinds of repairs online, and they are quite affordable.
Most of these products are sold as repair kits, which is convenient. One of these is the Granite & Marble Acrylic Repair DIY Kit – Light Cure. The product is a paste, which you can mold to the shape you need, and will not harden until you are ready. The acrylic binder only hardens when you shine visible light on it, which comes with the kit. The cost is about $30 for a kit that can repair a few cracks and chips.
Another product you might want 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 enough to repair more cracks and chips. LiquaGlass is an epoxy, so you have to mix two 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 being noticeable. It will not discolor over time.
The only problem with any type of epoxy is that once mixed, the compound hardens quickly, usually in less than 60 seconds. You need to prepare the surface for repair before mixing it and mix only enough to cover what you need.
5 DIY Steps For Stone Countertop Crack Repair
Step 1: Use a 50-50 mixture of warm water and household ammonia or acetone and clean the entire surface around the crack. Let it air dry for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 2: Buy a good quality granite epoxy and mix it according to the directions on the package. It’s a good idea to mix just enough resin and hardener for the crack or fissure repair and only what you can use before it hardens. This time typically ranges between 10 and 15 minutes.
Step 3: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to use the color pigment kit to add your desired color to the epoxy.
Step 4: Use a plastic putty knife to spread the epoxy in the fissures or cracks to avoid scratching or damaging the surface and wipe the excess away before it hardens.
Step 5: It’s essential to seal the crack with granite sealer after the epoxy sets. Apply two coats of granite sealer over the repair site and wait 10 to 15 minutes before applying the last coat. You should avoid using the area and let the repair cure for at least a day before regular use resumes.
Last Step: Polishing
In order to make your granite surface look whole again, the repaired area will need to be polished. And we’re not talking about using a chemical product, we are talking about polishing with high-speed diamond buffing pads.
Conclusion
Yes, with a little research and hard work you can repair your cracked stone countertop. However, if you don’t want to risk ruining the rest of the countertop, make sure to call stone repair professionals in your area.