Marble glue for countertop edge repair
How To Use Marble Glue To Fix Edges Off Of Marble Countertops
Marble tops will often chip, break or incur damage due to the surrounding woodwork or similar fixtures. The most common area of damage on a marble countertop will be around the edges of sinks, on the edges of 3 overhangs, and in other high-traffic areas of the kitchen where there is too much movement and people throughout the space. When an edge will sustain damage to a marble countertop, it is very important to use the correct marble glue as a means of providing maximum structural integrity and repairing the edge of the countertop with an almost undetectable appearance/finish. The following article describes the various types of marble glues available, and how to use marble glue correctly to fix your marble countertops’ edges, so that your countertops do not incur additional damage to their edges, and give you many years of service.
Why Is Marble Glue Necessary To Repair Edge Damage?
Edge damage is more than just an unwanted look; edge damage is also detrimental to the structural integrity of the marble countertop. The primary reasons for the edge having structural damage are through mechanical forces (i.e., hitting edge of marble countertop with pots and pans), thermal shock (i.e., putting a hot pot on the edge of countertop), chemical cleaners/moisture from cleaning surface, and excess weight in any area of a countertop that has overhanging features.Because marble is a porous stone, regular home-use glue is not acceptable for repair purposes on a marble countertop’s edge. Any glue used for this task must have the properties listed below in order to create a successful bond:
1. A Very Strong Bond
2. Low Shrinkage
3. Can Be Polished
4. Will Match Colour
5. Will Not Yellow
When it comes to performing edge repairs or mends on marble countertops, you have several types of marble glue to choose from as outlined below.
The first and most common type of glue for performing edge repairs on a marble countertop is epoxy adhesive. Some of the advantages of using epoxy adhesive are:
1. They create strong bonds
2. They are ideal for filling Large gaps for examples the edge is very out of line with other edges
3. They have no to little shrinkage
4. They can withstand water and chemical damage
5. Dyes can be mixed with the adhesive so that you can match the countertop colour
6. Once cured, they can also be polished to a high gloss.
Examples of repairs that would utilize epoxy adhesive are:
1. Filling in large gouges on the edge of marble
2. Attaching broken pieces of marble together at the edge
3. Repairing any structural cracks in a marble countertop
4. Adding stability to the overhang of a marble countertop
Knife-grade epoxy is the thickest from of epoxy available and will not slump or run off of vertical surfaces. Knife grade epoxy is the best choice for edge repair work because it has sufficient density to prevent slumping and is thick enough so it does not run during or after the curing process.
The second type of glue for edge repairs on a marble countertop is polyester marble glue. There are many options on the market for polyester marble glue and they can be found at several fabrication facilities.Polyester marble glue has both advantages and disadvantages. There are three main benefits for using polyester for repairs:
1. Quick drying time.
2. Easy to sand/polish.
3. Affordable (price point vs epoxy)
Three shortcomings of polyester over epoxy include:
1. Less strength than epoxy.
2. Will shrink when dried.
3. Susceptible to discolouration.
That being said, polyester glue is an acceptable repair method for small surface imperfections only; however, it should not be used in a structural application.
UV adhesives cure almost instantly upon exposure to ultraviolet light. Similar to polyester glue, UV adhesive may be used when fabricating.
Types of repairs most suited for UV adhesive:
1. Repairing straight cracks;
2. Bonding edge to edge;
3. Lightly coloured polished marble; and
4. Repairing any chip larger than 1/4″ will be difficult using UV adhesive.
When selecting an adhesive for repairing the edges of marble countertops, a key attribute to look for is whether or not the adhesive will yellow over time, especially with lighter coloured (white) marbles. Other attributes to consider are a high compressive strength, low viscosity (knife grade), polishable finish (to match original factory finish prior to damages), moisture resistant and accepts tints (if tints are needed) so that voids can be filled and parallel removed pieces matched to original pieces.
For repairs on white marble (Carrara, Calacatta), you should use a clear or crystal clear epoxy adhesive.
Repairing The Edge Of A Marble* Clean all debris from the area you will be repairing.
* Clean area using acetone or a cleaner and remove all dirt/oil from the area.
* Prior to commencing work on your project ensure that all surfaces to be repaired are completely dry.
Step 2 Assess Damage of Marble
* For small chips/hole use same colour epoxy.
* Dry fit both pieces- this step is very important- before gluing to ensure you have proper fit and match before gluing broken edge, drilled holes.
* If there are cracks in the marble, prior to gluing the pieces together you will want to use a material to reinforce each edge of the crack coming together before you glue those edges back together.
Step 3 Prepare Epoxy
* Follow manufacturers recommended mixing ratio for epoxy as closely as possible.
* Mix epoxy thoroughly to prevent soft areas from forming within the epoxy.
* Slowly add colour pigment until your epoxy colour matches the colour of your natural stone (marble).
Step 4 Apply Grout or Glue
* Fill edge with putty knife and epoxy/grout.
* Apply epoxy/glue and put pressure on area containing chip. Always overfill area when capping or repairing surface for finish purposes. Additionally, if gluing broken piece of marble, when gluing together apply thin layer of glue to both pieces being glued together andFifth Step – Curing
Upon completing your repair with glue, you must now let glue fully cure for at least 24 hours or longer depending on the thickness of your glue and how long was used. As a precaution, do not exert any force on the repaired area in all ways until glue has been fully cured.
Sixth Step – Sanding/Polishing
Start with sanding the repaired area from 200 to 400 grit to remove all imperfections in the repair. Work up to 800 to 1500 grit to complete the repaired area. Once completed with sanding, apply polish in same manor for consistent appearance to surrounding marble.
Typical Mistakes
1 – Using construction adhesive instead of 2-part epoxy
2 – Not cleaning/dry-preparing the area prior to attempting repair
3 – Using different color than existing marble when using epoxy
4 – Attempting to use sandpaper prior to allowing epoxy fully cure
5 – Repairing an area that contains structural cracks using polyester adhesives
Seek Professional Help
If your chip or crack is larger than one inch; if you have a decorative edge (bull nose, ogee, etc.); or if your marble has complete through crack or broken piece.
Professional technicians will have commercial grade epoxy and polishing tools to make your marble finish identical to original factory finish.
How Long Will My Repair Last?
A properly conducted epoxy repair, according to the industry standard, will provide you with years of service or outlast the estimated lifespan of your countertop. The longevity of your epoxy repair will depend upon several factors:
1 – Quality of Adhesive Used
2 – Cleanliness/Dry-Preparation of Work Area
3 – Amount of Time that Epoxy is Allowed to Fully Cure
4 – Condition of Repaired Area after Curing
To achieve the longest longevity with your repair, do not use abrasive cleaners and/or acid based cleaners and do not subject the repaired area to heavy impact forces.
Recommendation
For most countertop edge repairs, the best and most durable method is to use a professional 2-part epoxy marble adhesive. A 2-part epoxy adhesive will be far stronger than a polyester adhesive, allow for a quality polish and provide a repair that will last longer than lower quality adhesives such as polyester which will only provide cosmetic repairs.
Using the proper epoxy adhesive will provide a countertop edge that has:
– A strong Structure Bond
– An Invisible Repair
– A Repair That Will Last
– Protect Your Marble Investment
A proper epoxy selection/application will allow for the restored beauty, function and undetectable repair to your countertop.
