I have an 24" crack in my granite countertop right in front of the kitchen sink. It's maybe an 1/8" deep but it's as if material is coming out of the crack and it's getting wider.

Can any of you recommend a product that can fill this crack and make it less noticable?

Thanks in advance!

JP

I'm certainly no pro, but I will be following this. To my knowledge there are granite epoxy repair kits, but you have to tint the epoxy yourself. I hope I am wrong, as I have 2 seams that need repair.

Epoxy, mixed with ground granite closely matching your counter top's color and pattern.

But you going through all the steps to get it right vs "calling the man", you'll be money behind if you DIY.

Thanks sigmonkey. I have granite floor tile of the same material that my slabs are cut from. This may work. Going to call the man, but I have material.

Having extra floor tiles puts you ahead!

Good luck.

Use pH neutral cleaner to prep before using the epoxy. Acid(s) may change color/texture and can make the repair more obvious.

I highly recommend calling a pro if you want it to look right, in that location I think it would make me nutzs if I always saw it. I had a seam in my countertop and they colored it wrong, the guy came back and fixed it and the line disappeared. it was well worth it

Have you identified and corrected the cause of the crack? I wouldn’t take it for granite that filling the crack with epoxy will fix any underlying issues.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Have you identified and corrected the cause of the crack? I wouldn’t take it for granite that filling the crack with epoxy will fix any underlying issues.

No, I really haven't. I cannot even begin to explain how a crack could open up in that spot.

I will heed the forum's advice and call the man!

Thanks for the info gents!

JP

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:
No, I really haven't. I cannot even begin to explain how a crack could open up in that spot.

I will heed the forum's advice and call the man!

Thanks for the info gents!

JP

It is definitely worth investigating to make sure nothing in the underlying structure is causing stress there.

At the same time, granite is a natural product and it may have had a pre-existing fracture or stress line that just finally let go.

Calling the man is definitely a good plan in this case. Just do a little research and make sure you get the right man.

Good luck!

I had a conversation with "the man" and he diagnosed the problem instantly after I sent him a couple pictures. Apparently there's a steel rod that's supporting the granite and if water gets between the sink and the granite it can cause that rod to rust.

The fix is to cut the granite, replace the rod, then reinstall the granite, fill the crack, color match, and seal.

They are asking $1,900 and says the job will take a full day. Does this sound high?

Edited to add 2nd repair business quotes $650 to fix it.

Thanks!

JP

There's a number of ways to look at it:

1. $1,900>$650.

2. It will take a full day. $1,900/8 hours = $237/hour

3. What does a new counter top cost?

I use the third method quite a bit when evaluating the cost of a repair.

I have 50+ years' experience designing and executing sculpture, sanctuary furnishings (altars, etc.) and reredos in marble and granite.

Something does not pass the smell test re the steel rod.

Please send me all the photos you have - especially of this steel rod and of the entire countertop with the total width measurement.

If necessary, I will send the photos to my agent in Italy.

Thanks and take care.

.

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:
I had a conversation with "the man" and he diagnosed the problem instantly after I sent him a couple pictures. Apparently there's a steel rod that's supporting the granite and if water gets between the sink and the granite it can cause that rod to rust.

I had exactly this problem. The bars get put in, and epoxied in place, to reinforce areas that are weaker (cutouts around sinks, e.g.) so that longer pieces don't break when they're handled during installation.

Mine was on oceanfront property and the theory was that the salt air got to the rods. The granite had been put in when the house was built by the prior owners, 10 years or so before the crack.

The installation was a single piece that was maybe 25 ft long, and there was a big cutout for a double-basin sink, so it was both heavy and long. They had put in the rebar/epoxy underneath the cut-out area where the stress would be highest.

Being this was oceanfront, the contractor couldn't guarantee that salt air wouldn't cause the same thing to happen again, over time. So what I wound up doing, prioritizing robustness over looks, was having the granite cut into two pieces, with the two pieces meeting and joined where the cut ends of both pieces would be over supporting carpentry. No rods needed.

Long way of saying, you might want to talk with your contractor and see whether or not you could head off a potential repetition of the crack in a similar fashion, by cutting the piece into two sections where they could be supported at both ends and not needing the rebar.

If you can afford granite countertops in the first place, you can afford to pay a qualified guy to fix them. Just be sure he is qualified.

quote:

Apparently there's a steel rod that's supporting the granite and if water gets between the sink and the granite it can cause that rod to rust.

This can and does happen with reinforced concrete. The rebar rusts from water intrusion and expands just like ice. What's causing that? If there is some underlying cause of this, this must also be addressed.

quote:

Originally posted by jprebb:
I had a conversation with "the man" and he diagnosed the problem instantly after I sent him a couple pictures. Apparently there's a steel rod that's supporting the granite and if water gets between the sink and the granite it can cause that rod to rust.

The fix is to cut the granite, replace the rod, then reinstall the granite, fill the crack, color match, and seal.

They are asking $1,900 and says the job will take a full day. Does this sound high?

Edited to add 2nd repair business quotes $650 to fix it.

Thanks!

JP

When I get quotes that far apart, I do my best to get a third quote. Either the $1900 quote is a rip-off, or the $650 quote is a jack-leg that doesn't know what he is doing. A third quote should help you figure this out. Otherwise, do your best to research both online and see if you can find some past customers that will give you honest feedback. My wife uses "Next Door Neighbor" to get feedback on local service companies and contractors.


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Call a granite place, they do repairs ALL of the time and are fairly cheap and you won't notice when it's done. I'd believe the $650 quote, the repair can be done in an hour or two for someone that does it every day and has the right tools.