Kitchen Fitters – Granite Worktop Repair

A couple who I do a few carpentry jobs for asked me to look at a split in their granite (so they say, no reason to disbelieve) worktop. The whole thing is probably 15 years old.

The piece in question is in front of the sink and over the dishwasher. It’s part of a big island and because it’s in front of the sink it’s only about 60mm wide and is reinforced underneath by a steel rod in a channel, originally protected by a silicone layer.

The steam from the dishwasher has got in, the steel has rusted and expanded which has blown the granite leading to a crack about 1200mm long. Light can be seen through most of the length.

Some other “helpful” fitter bunged a bit of 2-part araldite-like stuff in.

I’ve thought of a few fixes (2 cuts either end, take off the strip, clean it up and clamp it with adhesive) but the priority is “don’t make it worse”. I have visions of it all falling to bits if I try that.

They’re planning to sell soon, they’re aware that a new buyer would probably rip out the kitchen and extend so their priority is not looking like it’s been neglected. This is one of 3 matching worktops in the kitchen and they don’t think they can source an identical top.

Suggestions please.

Can’t wait to post on the “What’s the last thing you repaired” thread!

They’re planning to sell soon… and they don’t think they can source an identical top.

I’d leave well alone and either get a ceramic restoration person to paint a colour-match or use Japanese Kintsugi on top of what’s there

Leave well alone is the bit I’m comfortable with!

Does it move?  If not I’d fill and try to colour match it.  But I paint models so I would see that as a nice challenge to get it to match

I’d not touch it if it isn’t something your familiar with. Suggest they find a specialist who’s more familiar with it. Google throws up plenty of people.

The groove underneath will create a stress riser. The steel has likely corroded and expanded forcing the crack which has then propagated along the groove (weakness).

I’d guess the answer is remove the reinforcement and fill/glue the crack while clamping. Then replace the reinforcement but with something like a composite bar.  The joints on worksurfaces can be filled with silicone type materials or proper strong adhesives. The 2 part araldite stuff might be a modified acrylic. My company makes this stuff for fitting kitchens but never really seen it used for repairs. Not really sold to consumers either. There might be some insight on our website http://www.unika.co.uk. All views my own and I don’t actually know much about kitchens as I work on other stuff.

You might be able to colour match (as best as possible) some of the 2 part resin used for composite worktops and sand it back. I wouldn’t try clamping it to reduce the gap as it’d likely break.

The Hi-mac and unkia branded ones we’ve used in the past with good results. Not sure if they do a brown, however.

Then some foil tape underneath to stop it getting worse.

I’m a Kitchen fitter and I’d walk away from that, it’s a one way street to an arse kicking competion.  That’s a specialist repair job unless you really like hard work and stress.

Yes! Once again this forum comes up with the best answer.  “Sorry Dennis, I’m not touching it. People who know what they’re doing all tell me I’d just make it worse. ”

My kitchen fitter mis measured the granite worktop, he joined a strip of the same material with a silicon type product, think it was sikka, anyway, you can’t tell now.  Colour matched in and smoothed off, you really wouldn’t notice.