How to repair Granite, Marble and other stones
The first decision to make is whether to repair or replace the stone in question. In almost all cases, repair work will be significantly cheaper than replacing a stone floor or worktop. Some problems can be resolved at home while others require the assistance of an expert stone worker. Check out the list below from our stone experts on how to deal with broken granite and other stones.
Restore dulled polish
Natural stone is extremely durable and as such has a long life span, however, this does mean it can lose its shine. It’s easy to restore the polish of natural stone and can often be solved at home.
Cleaning the entire surface and applying a polish that is designed for your particular stone will often revitalize a slightly dulled polish. If large areas are affected or home polishing isn’t enough, it’s possible to refinish a worktop or stone floor. This process involves stripping a millimetre or so off the stone to create a new finish, so may not be appropriate for stone tiles, and is an option best carried out by a professional as results can be uneven if carried out by an amateur.
Filling cracks
Often seen together, cracks, scratches and chips have similar solutions. Small chips and cracks can sometimes be hidden by a thorough clean and polish, using ordinary stone cleaners and polishes but more extensive damage may require professional intervention. An expert stone worker can create a paste using natural stone and adhesives to repair cracks and chips. The paste will be carefully matched to the colour of your existing stone and used to fill any gaps or chips. Once the filling is complete, fine sanding and polishing can completely restore the stone. As the adhesive has its own colour properties, the paste may not appear to match until it is completely dry and polished.
Dealing with cracks
Usually a sign of significant damage, cracks are one of the most worrying problems to spot. As stone is largely self-supporting, a crack usually indicates that excessive force has been applied to the stone. While it can be obvious how the damage occurred, this isn’t always the case. As an example, you’ll often see cracked stone tiles in city centres due to trucks mounting the kerb, but you can see a similar damage pattern in a stone floor or bathroom tiling where subsidence is occurring as the weight of the house shifting causes significant pressure. Likewise, a cracked stone worktop usually indicates that it’s not been properly supported. For this reason, while cracks can often be repaired as though they were chips, their cause should be investigated.
Replacing stone tiles
Tiled stone floors and walls are an exception to the ‘repair not replace’ rule. If you have a well-matched tile, then replacing a damaged tile is often easier, cheaper and more effective than attempting a repair. Finding matching stone tiles can be difficult, as natural stone provides a unique pattern for each slab. This is why we always recommend that customers order a few more tiles than they need, and store them in case repairs are required in the future.
If you’ve tried to repair broken granite, marble or another natural stone and you’re looking for professional help, our experts at Surrey Marble and Granite can help. Our team has over 23 years of trading and 30 years of experience working with natural stones to design and manufacture beautiful products such as tiles, worktops, staircases and more. Contact our friendly team for advice on repairing your stone or to organise one of our experts to visit you to carry out a repair. Our team work out of our showroom and workshop in Surrey so have all the necessary tools to repair your stone to a professional finish that leaves it feels as good as new!