Cracks in granite are more common than you think! Typically, cracks occur in granite or stone countertops as a result of stress during handling, fabrication, transportation or installation of the countertop. But what seems to be very peculiar about cracks in granite is that most are found in one common area – around the sink cutout. This area tends to be the weakest part of the granite countertop, and because it is the weakest (or one of the weakest), it needs some reinforcement with a technique called “rodding”.

Let’s get technical, technical…

According to The Marble Institute of America, the term rodding refers to as “A commonly seen method of countertop reinforcement…Rodding is beneficial to narrow strips of stone material, such as those in front or behind sink or cook-top cutouts. This technique requires a shallow kerf (a narrow cut or groove) in the underside of the stone slab. The kerf is then closely fitted with a metal or fiberglass rod, which is then fully embedded in epoxy or polyester resin. The rod has greater resistance to bending than the stone and helps prevent the stone from bowing. A strip of fiberglass mesh backing is often applied over the rodded region for additional reinforcement.” In other words,  a rod is installed or inserted at the bottom of weaker areas of the countertop (such as the sink cutout) in order to add additional support or to prevent possible damage, or breakage, during the transportation or installation of the countertop.

If this rodding technique is supposed to help with reinforcing my granite, then why did it crack?

While it’s not the rodding that is causing the cracks, per se, it’s what happens to the rod over time that causes the cracks to appear or develop on your granite countertop. What does this mean exactly?  Well, cracks in front of the sink are caused by the expansion and contraction of the rod as it rusts. To explain further,  the excess moisture around the sink area can cause the installed rod to oxidize, rust, and expand over time. Because there is no room for expansion, the area is susceptible to cracking at the front or behind the sink, which is what most of our customers experience when they contact us about their granite countertop project.

One day you may see a small hairline crack, and the next day you could see a full length crack that runs parallel to your sink! If the cracks are left alone, it is likely that the surface of your granite countertop will continue to crack or worse…disintegrate! But don’t worry, our certified technicians are skilled to repair all types of cracks, especially those in front or back of the sink, and will treat the issue aesthetically, making the area as inconspicuous as possible! In addition to the repair, we also offer our proprietary Watermist Spot Polish Treatment on your granite, which will remove fine surface scratches, discoloration and/or dullness from this particular affected area or any other areas on your countertop surface that you are unable to remove with normal cleaning measures. We will first begin by protecting the area with floor and cabinet protection. Then, using our Watermist Polishing System, your service technician will grind and polish the affected area to match the original finish of your granite surfaces. Once the repair is complete, sealer will be applied to help protect against future stains and bacteria!

So don’t wait – schedule an appointment today to get your granite crack repaired! Just fill out our form here or call 1-800-482-1774 prompt #1 to speak to one of our friendly estimators. Our estimator will provide your with a Free Consultation and Free Repair Estimate over the phone!

Check out some of our Granite Crack Repairs