How To Fix A Cracked Bathroom Countertop
A marble countertop is one of the more classic and popular choices for bathroom vanity. The more popular color of marble is white, with grey veins running across it. This classic marble adds a touch of elegance to your bathroom and makes it look pristine with just the countertops alone. Not to mention, it is very durable and can sustain high amounts of force and trauma.
While marble is a relatively inexpensive choice compared to other natural stone countertops, it does require maintenance and repairs over its lifetime. The two main problems when it comes to marble are that it stains quite easily, for one, because it is a porous and absorbent stone, and the second problem is that marble cracks.
This article will teach you how you can repair a cracked marble countertop for your bathroom vanity, DIY style.
Is it normal for the marble to crack?
Natural marble naturally cracks. While it is a relatively durable and hard material compared to the hardness of quartz, marble, like any other natural stone, is susceptible to cracking and breakage.
The reason why marble cracks could be from high temperatures, falling objects, very humid weather, and environment, or natural defects. The bottom line is, it is not unusual for a marble to crack, make sure you read our post on how to remove your bathroom vanity to avoid this situation.
In fact, the marble slabs that you buy from the store are most probably already cracked and patched up together with "plastic" fillers.
Can marble cracks be fixed?
Yes, marble cracks are repairable.
Like in most cases, it is advised that you hire professional stone restorationists to fix your cracked marble countertop. However, a DIY option is available, and there would be no harm in trying to repair your marble countertop for your bathroom vanity, as long as you are equipped with the right information to do so and that you do it carefully.
The main principle here is that the bigger the crack, the more difficult it is for you to hide it. If the marble is split into two, it is best to seek professional help because, well, it'd be challenging to salvage this on your own. A "hairline" crack will not get worse by itself and can usually be ignored.
Another thing to keep in mind is the pattern of your marble slab. If it is white and has fewer veins running through it, then it would be challenging to hide the crack. However, if it is dark and has a busy pattern, you will find it easier to blend the crack with the pattern.
Is it easy to fix marble cracks?
The difficulty of repairing your cracked marble countertop depends on the size, depth, length, and location of the crack.
The only way to fix marble cracks is to fill them in (for cracks that are small in width) or glue them together, in which case Epoxy and Epoxy grout are used.
How can I repair a marble crack?
- For a "hairline" crack
- Remove excess marble particles from the crack by brushing it first with a nylon bristle brush. If there is a lot of debris, collect them on a newspaper so that you can add them back to the Epoxy filling later. Epoxy is a special kind of resin that comes in two parts that are mixed to activate the Epoxy. It cures under normal humidity and sunlight.
- Wipe the crackdown with acetone so that Epoxy sticks to crack and surface better. If acetone is unavailable, you may use paint thinner or detergent.
- Procure marble powder from the same type of marble countertop for your vanity bathroom: Mix equal parts Epoxy and equal parts of marble powder.
- Brush the marble powder and Epoxy mixture with a fine artist's brush to the crack, making sure to fill the gaps generously.
- Sand the dried Epoxy with wonderful sandpaper. Sand parallel to the direction of the crack.
- For bigger cracks
- Use bar clamps or long pipe clamps (depending on the size of your countertop and which one is more suitable to you) to pull the two pieces together. Be sure to use two clamps to pull the slab evenly and to pad the clamp against the marble. Do not over clamp, as this may result in damaging your marble slab even more. Keep your clamp to only just "one-finger snug."
- Prepare the cracked area by removing excess marble debris and wiping it down with a paint thinner or acetone.
- Coat the seam with Epoxy grout and use the marble clamps to push the two sides of the seam together, creating an air suction by using air pressure. Match the color of the Epoxy grout to your marble so that you can see better camouflage the crack.
- Remove excess wet Epoxy as much as you can. Wet Epoxy is easily malleable, while dried Epoxy is harder to remove.
- Keep the clamps on until the Epoxy dries.
- Use a razor blade to remove the clamps and sand down the area to remove the excess Epoxy.
Tips in fixing your cracked marble countertop for your bathroom vanity
- Epoxy dries very fast, so be sure to work quickly. As stated, wet Epoxy is a lot easier to remove than dry Epoxy. Epoxy takes around 12 to 14 hours before it is cured and thoroughly dried.
- If you cannot find clamps (although your success rate will be higher if you use them), you may use heavy objects to help with the gluing process.
- Always be sure to prep the seam area so that Epoxy adheres to it better. Uneven surfaces and small particles will get in the way of the Epoxy gluing the two sides of the seam better.
- Get your hands on Epoxy grout as it is the recommended product of gluing Epoxy together.
This article details everything you need to know about fixing a marble crack on your bathroom vanity countertop. It addresses the frequently asked questions about fixing marble cracks: from its possibility, difficulty, and the different types of cracks and their corresponding repair methods.
With the proper knowledge and careful approach to the process, a DIY might save the day.
However, it is still worth factoring into your decision to call for professional help, depending on the severity of the crack.
How To Fix A Cracked Bathroom Countertop
Source: https://www.brooklynreclamation.com/how-to-fix-a-cracked-marble-bathroom-vanity/
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