How to repair granite cracks at home
Granite is a tough surface but can crack due to everyday activity like moving furniture or changing temperature. The good news is you don’t need to hire someone to fix the cracks in your granite; you can repair them using epoxy adhesive. You will achieve a professional look without having years of experience…
To begin your granite repair project at home, you will want to gather the necessary materials to properly repair the granite.
Materials:
– Epoxy adhesive specifically made for granite (may be clear or colour matching)
– Acetone (for cleaning the area of the crack)
– Stone cleaner (for cleaning the area of the crack)
– Small brush (to clean inside the crack)
– Putty knife or epoxy applicator (for applying epoxy to the crack)
– Fine, 2000-grit sandpaper (the finer the better!)
– Soft cloth (to wipe off the residual adhesive)
– Painter’s tape (optional – to cushion the granite while you apply the adhesive)
THE STEPS TO REPAIR A CRACK IN GRANITE AT HOME:
1. CLEAN THE CRACK
It is very important that you clean the entire crack (inside) with either acetone or a stone cleaner to remove any contaminants (dust, oil, etc.) because any debris will weaken the bond of the epoxy. Using your small brush, you will need to clean out the crack and make sure it is completely dry for a minimum of 5-10 minutes after cleaning it.Moisture should be avoided when working with an epoxy to prevent reduction in adhesion (if you decide to use painters tape on your granite to minimize staining when working on your filler there, you can tape the area to be worked on and clean up the area of the crack prior to application).
2. EPOXY PREPARATION
Use a quick curing clear or color specific epoxy that has two parts, and reference your manufacturers guidelines for mixing both components of your qt (1:1) for approx 1 to 2 minutes until all of the components are thoroughly combined (and that there are no bubbles).
3. EPOXY CRACK FILL
Carefully use your putty knife to fill the unevenness in the crack to a level of about 1 to 2mm above the granite itself; this will compensate for any shrinkage of the epoxy once cured. You will also need to level out the texture of your granite to match that of your granite itself using the appropriate tools..
4. EPOXY CURING (DO NOT TOUCH)
You will not need to clean the area until after the prescribed curing time (majority of your manufacturers seal will indicate 12 -48 hours) has elapsed with no disturbance to the epoxy..
5. POLISH AND SAND
Once the epoxy is cured; you should sand off excess epoxy with 80 grit sandpaper until the epoxy surface is level to the granite surface. Once any leftover epoxy is removed, you should polish the treated area so that it is level to the polished area on the granite surface.
TIPS:
– If you have a light granite color with major seams, you should use a clear epoxy and NEVER use superglue(502) as superglue(502) can discolor and cause irreparable damage to granite.
– If the crack is greater than 1/4″ in width, it is best to consult a professional for a visual inspection of the granite as there may be a structural issue with the granite..
– If you do not remove excess epoxy immediately with acetone it can cause damage to your granite if the epoxy is allowed to cure before being removed..
PREVENTING FUTURE CRACKS:
The best way to prevent future granite cracks is to avoid dropping heavy objects on your granite; to use a trivet when placing hot items on your granite; to clean using non-abrasive cleaning products; and to reapply UV sealer to granite that is outdoors every 12-24 months..
Using the correct and properly prepared tool (cleaning and curing) and the correct epoxy; you can fix your crack in a matter of hours with no assistance from a professional!
