Tips to Repair Chips in a Granite Worktop

Most of you might agree that it is impossible to repair granite chips especially by yourself at home. Well, I do agree that granite can be a hard material to care for when it becomes damaged and unlike other worktops and countertops chips and scratches can not be sanded away or the worktop surface cannot be just replaced easily with new product. There may not be many options to mend major chips in the granite surfaces but minor scratches can be buffed out by using special processes. There are filler products like Epoxy that are used to repair minor chips on the kitchen worktop surfaces.

Epoxy is a kind of thermosetting resin that is used chiefly in strong adhesives and coatings and laminates that dries to an extremely hard finish. It is found to be one ideal material for repairing granite chips.

Steps to repair chips in a granite worktop

Step 1: Match the colour of the epoxy to get the closest shade matching the colour of your granite worktops while purchasing it.

Step 2: Clean your granite kitchen worktop thoroughly and make sure the dust particles and kitchen scraps are not lying anywhere near the damage to be treated. Any impurity will weaken the epoxy patch.

Step 3: Once checked open the epoxy tube and squeeze a line of epoxy suing medium but steady pressure from the bottom of the tube along the chipped area of granite worktop. Make sure to cover the chip on the surface with a bit more epoxy than needed, not less.

Step 4: Use a putty knife to shape the epoxy over the chip. Smoothly level the epoxy surface while trying to match the shape of the worktop so that the epoxy blends in perfectly.

Step 5: Once the application is correct, leave this epoxy patch over the granite surface to dry for two full days. Check if it is dry before trying to wipe away extra epoxy. Use a cleaned blunt putty knife to chip away any excess epoxy.

Is replacing my whole worktop for a chip on one corner a good idea?

Granite is quite a pricey material and replacing the whole worktop for just a chip on one corner is not at all economical. Granite is carved to make hardest and luxurious worktops that you can choose in variety of colours and patterns. And thus replacing a complete worktop is not cheap. This is when you could consider repairing your worktop instead of replacing it. Let’s find out what are the pros and cons of repair over replacement of granite worktops.

Repair or Replace – Which one is going to take more of my time and money?

Replacing a complete worktop for a little chip can be extremely costly, this the main reason why people may consider repairing the damage. As mending a granite chip is significantly quicker than replacing the granite worktop you will not be paying for the hours of labour costs involved in replacing the a worktop.

Another significant benefit of granite worktop repair is the hassle free factor of repairs. If you chose to replace then inevitably you would need to take the cupboards off the wall, the sink would need to come out and potentially some of the plumbing also. When you are a building contractor you will see how these advantages are applicable to you also. It goes without saying that a lot of damage to kitchen worktops isn't spotted until the eleventh hour and speed is of the importance so that you can hand your buildings over promptly.

Can all damage be repaired?

That will depend on the nature of the damage occurred. Most sorts of damage that include chips, scratches, dents, dullness, cracks, colour fading can be fixed by yourself or by hiring a granite installation and maintenance company.