Marble countertops are softer than other natural stones such as granite, so they are prone to chipping or cracking when you hit or subject them to heavy use. It’s recommended you take ultra care of your countertops, but in most cases, accidents happen, and you chip your countertops.
Can you fix chipped marble? Fortunately, you can, and the process is straightforward, and anyone can do it even with minimal or no skills. The process involves cleaning the chipped surface, filling in the chip, sanding, polishing, and buffing. To help you out, here are tips on how to fix it:
How to repair chipped marble when you have the chipped piece
If the chip happened and you still have the chip, locate the chipped piece of marble and place it in an accessible area. You should then mark off the marble section that you need to repair then make a masking tape square around the chipped area.
Don’t worry, even if the edges of each piece of tape extend beyond the square.
Follow up by cleaning the area with a non-abrasive cleaner such as pure acetone, then dry it with a clean chamois or microfiber cloth. This will remove the foreign material and prepare the area for bonding.
Apply epoxy glue or marble repair cement to a small brush, then brush the bonding material on the bottom and edges of the chipped marble piece and the chipped area of the marble object.
Press the chipped piece into the hole, then firmly hold it for the manufacturer’s recommended time. Once it sticks, wipe away any excess adhesive before it has time to dry.
Repairing chipped marble when you don’t have the chipped piece
Sometimes you will notice the chipped area a few days or even months after the chip has happened, so you are less likely to have the chipped piece.
If this is your current situation, you still don’t need to worry as you can fix the chip. Begin with purchasing marble dust that is the same color as the area you are looking to repair.
When fixing the chipped area when you have the chip, mark off the chipped section with a masking tape square, clean the marble with a non-abrasive cleaner, and then dry it thoroughly.
Using a plastic putty knife, mix a small amount of polyester resin cement with marble dust to create a bonding agent. For best results, ensure the mixture has a paste-like consistency.
Using a syringe, draw some of the paste and inject it into the chipped area, then allow it to dry overnight.
Finally, sand the area with 400-600 grit fine sandpaper to smoothen the surface.
How to prevent chipping marble edges
To avoid going through the trouble of repairing the chipped surfaces, you should prevent the chips from happening in the first place. How do you do this?
Watch when placing items on the countertops.
Most of the chips happen when you are preparing food. In the process, you hit the edges, and they chip, and you end up spending money fixing them. To avoid this, be ultra keen when in the kitchen, so you don’t hit the surfaces with a pan or any other object.
You also should consider placing rubber or plastic mats around your countertop to take the brunt of heavy pans, sliding wooden cutting boards, and hot pots.
Granite installers recommend you clean and seal the countertops regularly with cleaners and sealers recommended by the installer. When cleaning the surfaces, use safe products recommended for the specific color and brand of your countertops.