Cracked Countertop? Here’s Your Comprehensive Repair Guide
If your countertop is cracking, you might need clarification about what went wrong. The reasons for cracked countertops are discussed in this article, along with fixes.
Your countertop cracking may have you wondering what went wrong. In this post, we will examine some potential reasons why countertops crack, like countertops’ low quality, improper installation, etc., and offer several fixes, including using clear resin or epoxy.
Discover the causes and fixes for cracked countertops by reading on.
See Also: How To Do Proper Care For Marble Countertops?
Table of Contents
Cracked Countertop: Causes
The following list includes many of the most frequent causes:
Low-quality countertop
If you purchase your countertop from a reputable supplier, it may be made of good materials more prone to cracking.
They often include countertops constructed of inferior materials like concrete or recycled glass. Countertops made of inferior materials could not be as sturdy and long-lasting as those constructed of superior materials. They might therefore be more prone to cracking under stress or after prolonged use. Check this out to know quartz countertops are porous.
Consult the manufacturer to repair a solid surface countertop if you feel the components used to build it may be better. Do your research before buying a countertop, and only purchase from reputable merchants.
Bad Installation
Your cracked countertop may also be the result of shoddy installation. If fitted correctly, the countertop may handle the weight of large things placed on it or withstand everyday use. As a result, the countertop may begin to develop fractures. You should contact the business that installed your countertop and request a solid surface countertop repair or replacement if you believe it was incorrectly done.
Choose a professional with experience installing this kind of countertop while having a countertop installed. If a professional built your countertop but still has issues, you could ask the manufacturer for help.
They can offer you advice on how to solve the issue effectively or suggest a specialist who can assist. Check this out if you want to polish marble countertops.
Quick Temperature Changes
Moreover, abrupt temperature changes can cause cracks in countertops. Suppose your countertop is routinely subjected to abrupt temperature variations, such as those caused by hot pans placed on it by the sun beaming directly on it or by cold conditions.
In that case, it may eventually begin to crack. Because the countertop expands and contracts too quickly due to the fast temperature changes, making it vulnerable to cracking. Avoid setting hot pans directly on your countertop and keep them out of direct sunlight to help prevent your countertop from cracking due to unexpected temperature changes.
While placing hot pans or other goods on the countertop, you should utilize coasters or trivets. If not wholly, avoid doing it.
Use placemats or coasters under hot cups and bowls if you live in a colder climate or during the cold winters to help shield the tabletop from sudden fluctuations in temperature.
See Also: Epoxy Kitchen | Complete Guide To Give Your Kitchen The Best Countertop
Excessive Heat
The cracked countertop can be a result of intense heat. Direct contact with hot pans, an oven, a toaster, etc., may cause the countertop’s surface to break. It would help if you always used a trivet or coaster when setting hot pans or other things on the surface to protect your countertop from cracking due to intense heat.
Avoid setting a hot item like a toaster straight on the countertop. If you reside in a warmer region, avoid exposing your countertop to intense heat by keeping it out of direct sunlight.
Directly Putting Ice Bags On A Countertop
Similarly, intense cold can harm your countertop just as much as unexpected temperature swings or intense heat might.
For instance, if you frequently set an ice bag straight on your countertop, it may eventually cause the surface to shatter. Because of the intense temperature, the countertop contracts too quickly and is more likely to shatter.
Most materials, including your countertop, are vulnerable to damage from sudden temperature changes, whether hot or cold. You should avoid setting ice bags directly on the surface of your countertop to prevent them from cracking from the severe cold.
Placing excessive pressure on the countertop
Moreover, your countertops may crack if you put too much weight on them. A heavy object, like a cast-iron pan, might cause the countertop’s surface to break if you lay it there.
Moreover, sitting, standing, or leaning on the countertop might result in cracks in the surface. As a result, sitting, standing, or leaning on the countertop might put too much strain on the surface, causing it to fracture. Because only a small amount of weight can be supported by countertops, this is the case.
Avoid placing heavy objects on the surface and avoid sitting, standing, or leaning on the countertop to prevent breaking from weight or pressure.
Powerful Vibrating Equipment
Your countertop may break if you have large, vibrating machines like a dishwasher or washing machine nearby. Certain items may cause the countertop to vibrate over time, which could eventually lead to the surface breaking. The situation worsens if seams are close to the countertop areas where mounted appliances are. According to this, the regular vibrations from the appliances could gradually weaken the seams.
Installing heavy vibrating appliances next to or directly on the surface of your countertop is not a good idea if you want to keep your countertop from cracking due to vibrations. Also, you should avoid gaps where these appliances are installed since this may exacerbate the issue.
See Also: Exotic Granites Slab – Choose The Best For Flooring And Countertops
Cracked Countertop: Solutions
Cleaning the quartz countertop’s surface is the first thing you can do. As a result, it will be less likely that dirt or other debris may cause the cracks to worsen. Upon cleaning, you can do the following things:
Utilize A Clear Resin
To patch up the fractures in your countertop, use a clear resin. Due to its dependability and concealability, this method is often used for countertop crack repair. To use this strategy,
1. The clear resin must be combined with a hardener. Use a syringe. 2. You can sand the resin to the same level as the tabletop surface once it has dried.
When you do this task correctly, your countertop ought to appear brand-new.
Apply epoxy
Epoxy is another widely used technique for repairing cracked countertops. Although epoxy is not transparent, this process is comparable to the clear resin method. Using this approach;
1. You’ll need to get some epoxy from your neighborhood hardware shop and mix it as directed on the package.
2. Then, apply the combined epoxy to the fracture with a putty knife or another tool. 3. Before using the countertop once more, let the epoxy dry completely.
Utilize acrylic adhesive
You can also use acrylic adhesive to patch up the countertop fractures. The clear resin and epoxy procedures are comparable to this one, but the acrylic adhesive is weaker. Using this approach;
1. Visit your neighborhood hardware shop to buy some acrylic adhesives.
2. Then, use a sponge and soapy water to clean the region around the fissures.
3. After cleaning the area, fill the cracks with acrylic adhesive. Use a putty knife or your fingers to distribute the adhesive evenly.
Wait 24 hours before using your countertop again after the adhesive has dried.
See Also: Granite Countertop Cleaning And Sealing | All You Need To Know
FAQs
Why do granite countertops crack?
Even though granite countertops are incredibly resilient and can last for many years, occasionally, the surface may develop cracks. Some cracks are normal and inherent to the stone. Still, others use or normal wear and tear.
Can we repair quartz countertop?
If your kitchen countertop chips or cracks, depending on the severity of the damage, you can do the necessary countertop repairs yourself. However, it is preferable to contact a specialist with experience in quartz countertop repair and restoration if there is a significant crack or chip.
Why do counters crack?
Joint construction. Several factors can cause countertops to crack, including installing countertops over an unlevel surface. The glue needs more time to dry during the countertop installation. At one location, the weight of the counters is too much.
What creates cracks in quartz countertops?
A pan taken straight from the oven and set on the counter, or an ice bag left on top, are two further instances where inferior quartz might crack or break. Quartz surfaces can crack with extreme, abrupt temperature fluctuations.
Can a cracked Corian countertop be repaired?
It can be devastating if your Corian countertop cracks. Fortunately, repairing Corian counters can be done yourself, keeping the countertop intact and used for many years.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you better understand the circumstances around your countertop and why it broke. And you now understand how to fix a cracked countertop.
See Also: Sealing Granite Countertops | Complete Stepwise Guide