Stone care & repair
Chips & cracks: how to fix them on every surface
Chips happen at edges, sink cut-outs and corners when something heavy knocks the stone. Most can be filled with colour-matched resin so they are hard to spot. Cracks are more serious and should be assessed before anything is filled.
Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Choose your surface
Every surface compared
| Surface | What is different on this surface | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble | Marble chips most at the edges of sink cut-outs and on island corners. Colour-matched epoxy repairs on white marble are very hard to spot. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Travertine | On travertine, a chip can open into a hidden cavity. A restorer fills it the same way the stone's natural holes are filled. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Limestone | Limestone edges chip and crumble more readily than marble. Rounded edge profiles hold up better than sharp ones. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Onyx | Onyx is brittle, so chips can come with small cracks. Have an onyx specialist check the piece is stable before filling. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Dolomite | Dolomite is harder than marble and chips less often, but when it does the chip tends to be clean and fills well. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Granite | Granite chips are usually clean breaks at edges and sink cut-outs. Tinted epoxy can match speckled granite closely. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Quartzite | Quartzite is hard but can be brittle at thin edges. Clean chips can often be glued back if you keep the piece. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Quartz | Many quartz manufacturers and benchtop repairers can supply colour-matched repair resin for chipped edges and sink cut-outs. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Porcelain | Porcelain chips reveal the plain body under the printed surface. A good repairer can colour-match the fill, but the printed pattern is very hard to recreate. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Terrazzo | In terrazzo, a lost chip leaves a small pit that a specialist fills with matching aggregate and binder. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Concrete | Concrete edges chip on impact. A cementitious patch can match the colour closely once refinished. | Moderate (small chips) to professional | Read fix |
| Soapstone | Soapstone edges dent and chip easily, but they can be softened with sandpaper so the chip becomes a gentle, rounded edge. | Easy (DIY) | Read fix |
Rules that apply to every surface
- Act fast. The sooner you blot or wipe, the less there is to fix.
- Test first. Try any method on a hidden spot and check once it is dry.
- No acids on calcite. Vinegar, lemon and most descalers etch marble, travertine, limestone and onyx.
- Protect after repair. A clear film stops the same mark happening again.
Frequently asked questions
Porous and acid-sensitive stones such as marble, travertine, limestone, onyx need the most care. Non-porous surfaces like porcelain and quartz are usually the easiest.
Always. Try any chemical or poultice on a hidden spot, such as inside a sink cut-out or under an overhang, and check the finish once dry.
A clear protection film over the surface keeps spills and acids off the stone. Stone Film Sydney installs it across Sydney with a 10-year warranty.
Stop fixing. Start protecting.
Clear anti-etch, anti-stain film for every stone in Sydney. Free, no-obligation quote, on site or over the phone.