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Cracks in Granite Countertop

16 years ago

I know similar messages have been posted but I haven't seen my problem exactly. We had granite countertops installed less than 1 month ago. Along the sink wall, they used 1 slab, approximately 108". The sink is a ss undermount. There is a crack from the left fron corner of the sink which goes all the way through the granite from the sink edge to the countertop edge. The installer has been out to try & inject epoxy & seal & polish. The counter edge is a little better but the top and sink edge are not. The crack also "continues" of the back left side of the sink, but it's not as deep there. (It's like there was a fissure in the slab & it became a crack when stressed during installation???)

The installer wants to come back & spend more time trying to fix it. He mentioned the alternaive would be to remove 1/2 the slab & install a new piece from a slab from the same lot. The seam would be at the middle of the sink & faucet I guess. The granite is amber santa cecelia. Does anyone know what is the best course of action? I am delaying installing a tile backsplash until this gets resolved.

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Comments (4)

jb1176
16 years ago
I read a recent post on Stone Advice from a poster who was having difficulty with and installation of Santa Cecelia. The problems centered around the difficulty in color matching at seams. Evidently this stone has a great deal of color variation even within the slab itself so when a seam is made and another piece has to be used often there will be problems with color variation. Being aware of this problem is something to think about when considering the suggestion of the fabricator to replace half of your slab. Even if it comes from the same lot the colors could be vastly different from what you have left on your counter. I think I'd get a restoration professional in to see what could be done to save what you have.
bikey
16 years ago
You bought a single slab for a large area, probably just so you would not have a seam in one of the most visible locations in the kitchen. That's what you paid for, so that is what you should get. I would have them replace the entire section.
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The house is about 8 years old; I've lived here for 4 years, and the countertop was here when we moved in. So, I don't know who the fabricator was. I called one granite fabricator place and they said that granite can't be repaired and that I'd have to replace the whole slab. I have a hard time believing that, especially after reading the links above. I'm running into a problem finding a reputable expert to repair it! Aargh!
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I am a fabricator. Tough problem. If the countertop was properly installed there is no mechanical stress on the granite and no reason for it to crack so the too tight faucet nut is at least possible. I would look along the underside of the countertop to see if it is shimmed so that every part has support. Typically the tops of the cabinetry are not perfectly level and the underside of the stone is also not perfectly flat so some shimming is required. if some section is not supported then a crack developing is quite possible. However, since granite has a compressive strength similar to concrete it's difficult to imagine tightening a faucet nut enough to harm the granite. In fact, it seems impossible to me. unless you can determine that the tops were improperly installed your best bet is to let the fabricator repair the crack. A well done repair will make the crack invisible or nearly so. you might ask the fabricator if the sink area is "rodded". Rodding is the technique used to strengthen the rails around the sink by glueing in a steel or fiberglass rod in the underside of the rail. the rod prevents movement much like rebar in concrete in the event a crack develops. A repair of the crack is much more likely to be permenant if the stone is rodded.
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I have seen cracked granite. It's very rare if it's installed correctly. At least on the ladies' kitchen gossip circuit. (No professional experience here.) The theory is that localized thermal shock can expand microfissures and lead to cracking. So can twisting forces in a strong earthquake. According to my tile setter (an expert who often oversees installation of granite), even the thermal shock kind are down to bad installation of some kind. If the cabinets are installed properly, the granite is supported properly, the fabrication is done properly, and you don't abuse it with things like the football team using it as a stage to practice their can-can dance, you'll be fine! And if the contrariness of Fate should choose you to make an example of, and serve you up a crack for defying her, your good fabricator should be able to do a mend which will be nigh on invisible.
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I am a fabricator. It's a crack. It happens. If the cosmetic repair is acceptable to you then no worries assuming you improve the support. Structurally you are probably OK with the 2X2 angle. 2x2 or 2X3 tubing would be better. For a test, If you supported the angle on each end and stood on it in the middle without noticeable deflection you are good. for supporting the overhang the angle is good if it passes the test as long as it is securely attached to a rigid support on the ends. If you want to be extra sure you could epoxy the angle to the stone. Usually a fabricator will deal with the support issues at the field measure.
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krabbypatty
16 years ago
I agree with the previous poster. Be assertive and make the company stand behind the product. The front of the sink seems like a very bad place for a seam--it will be obvious. I'd get what you paid for and make them replace the entire piece.
vrjames
16 years ago
The only course of action is a replacement, or if you can live with it a discount. It cannot be "repaired" in any way good enough to make it go away.

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