My Quartz Countertop Has a Crack in It

Gorgeous, gleaming, durable and timeless, a swath of quartz countertop in the kitchen or bath is a beauty to behold. While it may be one of the most durable natural stones that can be installed in hardworking living spaces, quartz countertops can sustain damage. Don't despair if a heavy object has put a sizable fissure in your quartz countertop. From chips to cracks, there are a few ways to care for this durable natural stone that has suffered an imperfection from an impact or accident.

A clear resin, acrylic adhesive or epoxy can repair small cracks or fissures in the natural stone surface. Countertop Guides suggests using a fast-setting clear epoxy that dries to an extremely stable and hard consistency while blending into the surrounding stone. LiquiGlass, Tenax Tefill Kit and Lamlock Infiltrating Epoxy come highly recommended by Countertop Guides.

A kit is complete with resin, sometimes two types to complete big and small jobs, as well as a spray-on catalyst that is used to thoroughly dry the resin. Use a high viscosity fluid on larger quartz crack repair projects, particularly those that are on a vertical area of the countertop. The higher viscosity fluids are less likely to run and can fill a large crack easily without slipping around.

A resin based color enhancer can be used to help camouflage cracks in shaded quartz. Color enhancers work well for quartz with significant veins or variegated shades to create a polished surface that hides the original crack. If the crack is large enough to create a problem with the stability of the quartz countertop, then a professional should be called to assess and repair the area.

Quartz is prized for its resistance to cracks from heat but not all quartz is equal. A less than high-quality quartz countertop can shatter when exposed to very high heat, for instance, from a pan fresh from the oven or extreme cold, such as a bag of ice left too long on the surface.

If you have a quartz countertop cracked from heat, then you may have a lesser quality type of quartz. Crowley's Granite & Quartz warns that you should inspect the quartz before purchasing to ensure you are getting a high-quality product that is virtually impervious to cracks and warping from heat or extreme cold.

Aside from heat and bits of food that can cause the quartz to look dirty, water can be the enemy of a gleaming expanse of natural stone countertop. A coffee maker or other small appliance that typically is placed on the quartz countertop is relatively safe. Placing a nonslip, nonabrasive mat beneath the hot appliance can make it easier to clean the crumbs and water spills that come with using common kitchen items.

A coffee maker on a quartz countertop can have scaly spots around it from hard water poured from the tap and into the tank. Hard water staining can build up and create an unattractive mottling appearance on the quartz surface. Clean the area well on a regular basis to minimize buildup. This will minimize the possibility of cracks forming due to excessive mineral buildup and subsequent invasive removal techniques.