If you are shopping for the top of the range countertops for your new house or for a kitchen remodel, quartz is one of the best. It is arguably the most durable countertop material in existence.
Made of a mix of ground natural stone and resin, the countertop material is as solid as any other countertop but stronger than natural stone countertops. But, do quartz countertops chip? With strong blows and knocks, the countertop might chip.
Besides durability and low maintenance requirement, the aesthetics of a quartz countertop make it a favorite of many homeowners. One thing that can interfere with the beauty of your counter is a quartz countertop chip.
Although a chip in a quartz countertop is not common, it can still occur if you expose the countertop to a blow. Unlike the natural quartz countertop, quartzite, the resins in engineered quartz countertop makes it flexible to resist chips and cracks.
Even the strongest and most robust countertops are prone to a chip. So, how should you go about a quartz countertop edge chip repair?
How To Repair Quartz Countertop Chip
A chip on quartz countertop will appear on the edge. These chips occur when the countertop is exposed to strong blows or occasional blows.
Maybe you are wondering, do quartz countertops chips with all the hardness of quartz? Though rare, the countertops might chip and here is how to go about repairing the chip.
Start by Checking Your Warranty
Before you look for ways to fix your countertops by watching YouTube videos, check whether the warranty of your countertop can fix the damage. If you still have a copy of the warranty, check the kind of damages that the manufacturer will cover and which you can remedy at home.
In most cases, quartz countertop warranties will cover damages between one year and 10 years. If your cover is still valid, contact your supplier to have the quartz countertop chip repaired.
If the warranty covers a chip on a quartz countertop, the supplier might send someone over to repair your countertop. If the warranty is void or does not cover such damages, the supplier will give you instructions on how to repair the chip.
Quartz Countertop Edge Chip Repair: Simple Steps to Get it Done
If all you have is a minor chip, you do not need to call the supplier. By the use of an adhesive, you can repair small chips making them invisible. To repair a chip in quartz countertop, you need an ammonia-based cleaner, superglue or pigmented epoxy adhesive, masking tape, and sandpaper.
Super Glue comes in handy for light-colored countertops while pigmented epoxy is for colored countertops.
Once you have collected the necessary materials, follow the steps below to repair the chip:
- Clean the Surface: Using an ammonia-based cleaner, wipe off dust and other particles from the surface of the countertop. The cleaner is non-abrasive and will not damage the surface of your countertop. All you need to do is spray the cleaner on the surface of your countertop and wipe it off with a lint-free cloth. Ensure the surface is dry before moving on to the next step. You can check out Caesarstone’s guide to cleaning quartz countertops to learn more about this step.
- Protect Other Surfaces with Masking Tape: Before adding the adhesive, surround the chip with masking tape so areas not chipped do not get the adhesive. This way, you do not have to deal with stains afterward.
- Add Adhesive: If your countertop is light-colored, use superglue to fill the chip. Because superglue is clear, it is hardly noticeable on light-colored quartz countertops. For quartz countertop edge chip repair, use superglue with a thick consistency. If the chip is on the surface of the countertop, use superglue with a thin consistency. Use a spatula to fill the chip applying thin coats at a time. After the application, leave the adhesive to cure for about 24 hours. Avoid applying too much superglue as it takes longer to cure. If you have a dark-colored or textured countertop, a pigmented epoxy adhesive is your best bet. Apply an extra amount of pigmented epoxy because, unlike superglue, the epoxy sinks when it cures.
- Sand Excess Adhesive: After 24 hours, the adhesive you applied will be hard and dry. You need to sand off the excess adhesive to level it with the surface of the countertop. Choose sandpaper with a high grip, between 300 and 600. If the epoxy adhesive sunk and left a depression where the chip was, add more and leave to cure overnight.
If the chips on your countertop are very small, you can add adhesive using a razor blade – gently glide on the chip.
When to Call a Professional
Little accidents such as dropping heavy sharp objects leave small chips that you can remedy at home. Learning how to repair quartz countertop chips at home can save you money that would otherwise go to a professional.
However, when the chip is large and a simple home solution will not work, you need to call a professional.
Hiring a professional is costly for a homeowner but at least there is the assurance that the chip gets the treatment it deserves. In the long run, getting professional help is cheaper than installing a new countertop.
Conclusion: Prevention is Better than Repair
Instead of learning how to repair quartz countertop chips, you need to learn how to keep your countertop safe from the chip. There are many ways to keep your countertop safe.
Ensure you so not drop heavy items on the countertop or knock edges with stools and other items. Even light blows done repeatedly increase the proneness of your quartz countertop to chips.
You can also avoid chips by reducing your countertop’s exposure to extreme heat. When exposed to more than 300 degrees Fahrenheit, the resin binders in the quartz countertop weaken and this might increase the susceptibility of your countertop to chipping.
A chipped countertop looks ugly – you need to repair the chips as soon as you notice them. Repairing early ensures the chips do not get bigger.