Granite sinks are the most sought after for kitchen and bathroom needs by homeowners. They are beautiful and can really give your kitchen or bathroom that befitting look when installed.
The one downside of granite sinks is that they are costly. This is largely due to the cost of granite and the processes used to create the sinks. Contrary to popular opinion, these sinks are not as burly as you would think.
It is common to see granite sinks crack for various reasons – but instead of getting rid of them and purchasing a new one, you can often repair it quite easily. If you have a cracked granite surface on your sink that needs to be fixed, first of all, you would need to ascertain what type of crack it is.
Is it a hairline crack or a chip or is it broken? This is because hairline cracks or chips are repaired differently from broken pieces. When this has been ascertained, you can then proceed with the repair of your sink, which will include preparing the surface, supporting and masking the area, applying the filler, and then buff the area.
Also Read: How to Install a Granite Sink, 5 Best Double Sink Vanities Review
Contents
What You Will Need
- Scouring Powder
- A piece of cloth or towel
- Painter’s tape or newspaper
- Epoxy
- Sandpaper
- Buffing Pads
Now let’s take a step-by-step look at how to repair your cracked granite sink.
1. Clean the Sink
Before you can begin the process of fixing or repairing your kitchen sink, you need to first of all thoroughly clean your sink. If you try to do the repair without cleaning the sink, it is very likely that the epoxy may not set properly. Cleaning the sink before repairing the sink would also ensure that any surface scratches that may have formed would be removed.
- Run hot water around the sink
- Pour scouring powder into the sink and let sit for about a minute
- Lightly dampen a towel with warm water and wipe the surface of the sink with it.
- If certain spots are proving tougher to remove, then you should use a soft scrubbing brush. You would need to press firmly while brushing and then rinse out the sink.
- Wipe the sink with a clean dry cloth.
2. Prepare the Sink
After you have finished cleaning and drying up the sink, inspect the crack in the sink. A large crack in a granite sink is easier to fix as it is easier to fill than a smaller crack.
The preparation is in making sure that when you apply the epoxy, you do not get any on the rest of the sink. So use painter’s tape around the edges of the crack to cover as much of the area around it without actually covering any of the crack itself. If you don’t have painter’s tape, you can also use a newspaper or something similar. The idea is to get as little of the epoxy on the rest of the sink as possible.
Once you are done preparing the granite sink, you can then proceed to mix up the epoxy filler.
3. Apply the Epoxy
You can get epoxy from stores, pick an epoxy that states on its packaging that it can be used for granite or stone repair.
Applying the epoxy requires you to fill the cracks of your granite sink. This can sometimes prove to be a tedious and time-consuming process, but if done right it should not take more than a couple of minutes.
For larger cracks – smear the epoxy in the crack until it is filled. You can do this with a plastic spatula or the tool you used in mixing the epoxy, use the spatula to press the epoxy firmly into the crack. Add more epoxy as needed, and then smooth it out as best as possible. Any bump around the surface area would need to be sandpapered later.
For smaller cracks – filling smaller cracks can be done in the same manner as larger cracks, but be especially careful when applying the epoxy. Instead of smearing the epoxy over the crack, you would want to take it more slowly so as to avoid having too much extra epoxy.
4. Allow the Epoxy to Dry
Remove the painter’s tape/paper now, and allow the epoxy to dry. Generally, the drying time of the epoxy is around 24 hours. But depending on the brand of epoxy used, follow the drying time on the package as instructed by the manufacturer.
5. Smoothen the Sink Surface
Once the epoxy is dry, access the sink surface to check how smooth it is. It is common for the epoxy to not be perfectly smooth once it dries out. Use sandpaper to smoothen out the surface.
6. Clean and Buff the Area
Once you’re happy with the smoothness of your sink, wash it one more time before we buff it up and make it shine.
Now, using a wet buffing pad, gently move through and scrub the surface of the sink. This will make your sink shine and look like new!
Bonus Tip: After you are finished buffing the sink, you may optionally use a tin oxide shine or a lapidary polish to buff out the area. This will enhance the look of your granite sink even more and give it a shining and glimmering look.
That’s it! Now your newly repaired, shining granite sink is ready for you to enjoy!
If you’d like to look at possibly replacing your sink, our review of the best granite and composite sinks should be a good resource to learn more about your options.
