How To Repair Cracked Granite

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If you lot have a cracked granite surface that needs to be repaired, you first need to assess what blazon of fissure it is. Hairline cracks or chips are repaired differently than a fully broken slice is. So you can proceed with the repair, which will include preparing the surface, supporting and masking the area, applying the filler, and and so buffing out the area.

1. i

   Decide whether the crevice or chip needs to be repaired at all. Small surface cracks and chips that don't get all the way through the granite can be unsightly, but they don't pose a threat to the longevity of your granite surface. In fact, small cracks that become with the grain of the granite, chosen fissures, are a normal aspect of the stone.^[one]

   • If you can merely run across a hairline crack from a very specific angle and you can't feel it when you run your hand across the surface, then it is likely that the crack is completely harmless and tin can be left alone.
   • To ensure that these small imperfections do not become more unsightly, be sure to seal your granite regularly, commonly once a year.

2. 2

   Collect matching granite dust. In guild to make the repair alloy in with the residue of the slab, you will need to color the mucilage to match it. This is done by using some of the granite to color the glue. To create granite dust, use a grinder with a diamond grinding bit to get over the surface of a matching piece of granite. The fine dust created is what you will employ.^[2]

   • You lot will need no more than 2 teaspoons of granite powder to repair most cracks under ane pes (0.30 k) long.
   • If you have an actress slice of the counter pinnacle material, yous tin use this. Y'all tin can as well remove a fleck of granite dust from an surface area that is not visible, such as the underside of a counter top.
   • Wear a grit mask that is rated for this type of particulate.

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3. 3

   Mask off the area. Comprehend the area all effectually the chip or crack so that the filler will not become all over the surface. Employ painter's tape or whatsoever other tape product that can agree upwards to epoxy or resin, and withal will come off the granite easily when you are washed.^[3]

   • Mask off to within ^one⁄₈ inch (0.32 cm) effectually the whole fissure or flake so that cleaning upwardly will exist easier.

4. iv

   Mix 2-part epoxy and the granite grit. Follow the directions supplied with the epoxy yous are using, which typically includes mixing a set amount of each office of the epoxy with each other. Then add the granite dust until the production is a thick paste that is the aforementioned general color every bit the granite.^[4]

   • Pick an epoxy that states on its packaging that information technology tin can exist used for granite or stone repair.
   • Use a wooden paint mixer or other disposable tool with at least 1 flat side to mix the epoxy. Natural language depressors piece of work exceptionally well for this job. This tool volition then also be used for applying the epoxy to the cleft.

5. 5

   Utilize the epoxy. Smear the epoxy into the crack or chip until it is filled. Y'all can practise this with the tool you used to mix the epoxy. Then shine it out as much as you can, as any bumps will need to exist sanded down.

   • The epoxy does tend to shrink a bit while drying, so it'due south meliorate to over-fill up the crack than to nether-fill up it.

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1. 1

   Back up the broken section. Many times the pieces that pause off of granite counter tops are not supported well. If this is the case, you need to find a manner to back up the broken piece during and after the repair. This will allow you lot to make a secure repair and volition fix the trouble that caused the pause in the start place.

   • For example, if an overhanging slice of granite has snapped off, you will demand to install a metal support under the overhang to concur the granite upwardly. This can be a slice of angle iron or other L-shaped bracket that tin hold the granite'southward weight during and after the repair.

2. 2

   Tape off all surrounding surfaces. Since you volition be using a stiff gum to reattach the granite, it's important to mask off surrounding surfaces. This includes all of the granite counter meridian that surrounds the crack.^[v]

   • Utilise painter'due south record or a similar product to do the masking. The production should be able to stand up to the glue yous are using just still be easily removed in the end.
   • Masking completely will as well help you if yous need to remove the counter top or surfaces around it in the future. For example, keeping the mucilage off a sink in the counter acme will ensure that the sink can be removed in the hereafter without dissentious the counter height.

3. three

   Clean all of the connecting surfaces. When reattaching a piece of cleaved granite, y'all need to make sure all of the surfaces are free of dirt and loose debris. This includes granite dust that may have been created when the piece broke off. Castor off any loose pieces and then apply acetone or some other residuum costless cleaner to wipe down the surfaces.^[6]

   • Allow this surface dry before proceeding with the reattachment.

4. 4

   Mix the epoxy with matching granite dust. In order to get a seam that blends in, you lot want to incorporate some of the granite into the epoxy. Offset mix the epoxy as directed on its packaging. Then blend in the granite dust until the mixture becomes a thick paste that is the aforementioned color every bit the existing granite.^[7]

   • Create the granite dust with a grinder, either by grinding a section of the granite that is not ordinarily visible or grinding a spare slice you accept lying around.
   • Use a wood paint stick or other disposable tool, such as a dispensable plastic knife, to mix the epoxy and dust mixture.

5. 5

   Apply the get-go coat of epoxy. Once all the surfaces are clean and dry, yous tin can begin applying the adhesive. Use the tool y'all used to mix the epoxy to apply it to all the surfaces individually. Then stick the surfaces together. If large amounts of epoxy ooze out of the crack, wipe these off with a disposable rag.^[8]

   • Follow the application directions supplied with the epoxy. All the same, about epoxy products require you to apply the adhesive on all surfaces before sticking them together.
   • This glaze is used strictly to glue the broken surfaces back together. Another coat of epoxy will be used to polish out the height surface of the crack.

6. vi

   Shim and tape the area. Once the broken piece is reapplied, yous want to make sure that information technology dries in the right spot. To practice this, put shims nether information technology to ensure information technology is at the aforementioned level as the larger slice it broke off of. Also tape it in place with more painter's record if it needs more support.^[9]

   • Too brand sure that anybody in your household knows not to touch the area for the side by side 24-hour interval or so. Having someone knock into the repaired area earlier information technology is dry could create a larger repair problem.

7. seven

   Utilize a second glaze of epoxy. When repairing complete breaks, you volition need to apply a second glaze of epoxy to smooth out the height surface. Mix upward a new batch of epoxy, including the granite dust, and smooth it into the fissure. With this glaze focus on getting the surface every bit polish as possible, as whatever bumps or imperfections volition have some endeavour to buff out.^[10]

   • This is necessary because your first glaze will compress as information technology dries. This shrinkage will create a slight dip at the crack that the 2nd coat will fill.

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1. 1

   Let the epoxy to dry. Drying times for epoxy vary depending on the make and the type. Follow the drying times on the package the epoxy came in to ensure that information technology is solid before moving forward.^[11]

   • The drying time for epoxy used to repair granite is typically around 24 hours.

2. 2

   Clean and buff the surface. Remove the masking and assess the surface area. Employ a razor blade to clean off any irregularities in the patch. So utilise your buffing wheels to gradually build up the polish on the repaired area.^[12]

   • When buffing your repair, start with wet buffing pads and motility through the grits, from 100 grit to 3000 grit. With each pad you should work on the area until information technology is a consistent smoothness, and then movement on to the next finer pad.
   • After going through the wet buffing pads, start with the dry buffing pads. Kickoff with a 400 dust pad and piece of work your fashion through to a 3000 dust pad.

3. iii

   Use tin oxide to smooth the surface. If you desire to get the area really shiny, you lot can apply tin oxide, also known as lapidary polish, to buff out the area. Put on rubber or latex gloves and put a small amount of tin oxide on a felt pad. Then rub the area by hand for about ten minutes. Later on that, wipe the area off with a paper towel and surface cleaner to run into the whole area polish.^[13]

   • Can oxide is available online from lapidary suppliers.
   • Tin oxide comes in a variety of colors, so pick one that closely matches the color of your granite.

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1. i

   Back up the underside of the counter pinnacle. When granite is installed, information technology should have solid supports installed underneath the entirety of it. This could be any type of solid, rigid base, such as ⁱⁱⁱ⁄₄ inch (1.9 cm) plywood or concrete lath.^[xiv]

   • There are specialty brackets bachelor online that are made to back up granite overhangs, such as those used to create eating areas at the end of counter tops.

2. ii

   Apply rods along the underside of cutout edges. Granite counter tops often crack in narrow stretches that are not equally strong every bit the residue of the slab. In these areas, such as areas in forepart or backside a sink, it'south a good idea to apply a steel rod or metal strip to give these narrow areas added strength.

   • Granite fabricators tin can exercise this in their shops. They will cut a slot for the rod to sit in and then epoxy it in place. Talk to your fabricator about this pick before having new counter tops cut to shape.

3. three

   Accept an experienced professional install your granite. Don't accept a general contractor or handyman do the job. Instead, hire someone whose entire task is installing granite, as they will accept a deeper understanding of the material and how to install it correctly.^[15]

   • If y'all want to install granite yourself, talk to a professional person or 2 before moving frontwards with the project. They may be able to give y'all key advice about your specific project, including what pitfalls to avoid.

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Things You lot'll Need

• 2-role epoxy or resin made for granite
• Surface cleaner
• Painter's tape
• Permanent support brackets, if necessary
• Shims or other temporary supports
• Polishing pads and sander

About This Article

Commodity Summary X

If you have an cruddy crack in your granite surface, you can repair it with a grinder and epoxy. You don't demand to fix hairline cracks, merely if y'all take a significant fissure, you should repair information technology to foreclose farther damage. To do this, yous'll first need to grind the surface with a diamond bit to create granite dust. Then, you'll need to mix 1 office granite grit with 2 parts epoxy to create a thick paste, smear it into the cleft, and smooth it out with a apartment tool. If your granite surface is chipped and you still have the broken piece, you lot tin can likewise reattach it using epoxy. Once you've stock-still the crack or chip, buff it with sandpaper to make the surface smooth again. For more tips, including how to forestall future cracks in your granite, read on!

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Crack-in-Granite

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