Getting Filled In About Chips In Stone Surfaces

Throughout the stone industry there are materials that are favored by consumers. In fact, depending on which consumer the countertop is for, the preferred material will be one of several. Additionally, it is not a rarity for someone to experience chips in a countertop surface. Thus, questions arise such as, which countertop materials can chip? How do chips in countertop surfaces happen? What can be done to combat countertop chipping? In this article, we will examine the answers to those questions. Are you up for getting filled in about chips in stone surfaces?

Which Surfaces Are Made of Stone?

There are a number of surfaces and surface materials used in the stone industry. In fact, there are so many that it can be a challenge to keep up with all of them. Various materials in the commercial stone industry are labeled with names that can obscure the nature of the actual material. On top of that, there are materials sold in the “stone” industry that are man made and that do not form naturally. These materials are produced in a number of ways. However, it is common for all of the following materials to be associated with the “stone” industry in some form or another:

• Concrete
• Engineered Stone
• Granite
• Limestone
• Marble
• Onyx
• Porcelain
• Quartz
• Quartzite
• Sintered Stone
• Sandstone
• Soapstone
• Travertine

In the list above, there are several of those materials that actually form in nature without any help from people. And there are some that are formed by engineers that use natural minerals and replicate one or more of the natural forces to produce unique slab material. And then there is the case where there are both man made substances and engineered processes that are used to produce a material that can be used just like stone. So, there are a variety of materials identified as being some sort of “stone” material. But which of those materials will chip?

What Materials Can Chip?

With such a diverse group of materials in the stone industry, consumers are always trying to determine which material is the best. One of the features that is a concern to them is durability. A durable material is important because countertops installed in kitchens can take a lot of wear and tear. One of the factors in a material’s durability is its chip resistance. Which of the materials in the stone industry can chip? Simply put, any of the materials in the list above can chip. It is simply a matter of an occurrence that produces a large enough impact in the right place to mar the surface. When this happens, a chip is the result.

How Chips Happen

As mentioned in the paragraph above, an impact from an object that is heavy, sharp, or both in just the right spot will chip surfaces. Edges are one of the most vulnerable spots on a countertop surfaces. Hard impact from an object the edge of the surface creates chips in any of the stone materials. Let’s look at just a sample of scenarios in which surfaces can chip.

Cooking Utensils or Containers

Imagine the scene. The owner of a stone countertop (the specific material is not important) is preparing a meal for a special occasion. She is in a hurry to put the final touches on the meal and is moving a heavy pot from the stove over to the countertop so she can ladle some sauce over a dish she has just finished preparing. She grabs the pot and pivots gracefully from the stove over to the counter. As she raises the pot to place it on the countertop she just misses clearing the edge of the counter and the bottom catches the top edge of the stone surface. No matter what stone material the surface is, if the force is strong enough, the edge of the counter will chip.

Construction and Household Tools

Let’s consider one more scenario in which a countertop surface may suffer a chip. New homeowners have just moved into the house and part of the decor is a beautiful pot rack that is to be installed directly over the island. As the homeowner is hanging the rack, a hammer slips from her hand and it catches the edge of the counter on the way to the floor. As you can imagine, the countertop is going to suffer a chip no matter what stone material it is made of (not to mention the effects of the hammer colliding with the floor).

The two hypothetical situations we just looked at could happen in any home and with any “stone” material. It might be tempting to think that a stone’s hardness could make it chip proof. Yet, that is not the case. It is true that materials have varying chip resistance, but if the object that strikes the edge of the surface is heavy enough and/or brings enough force, it can chip any material associated with the stone industry.

Fighting Chips in Stone & Engineered Surfaces

Since chips in stone surfaces are inevitable, the question then becomes, “what can be done about chips?” Well, the answer to that can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. One way of dealing with chips in countertops is by doing the search countertop restoration company near me and researching the companies that come up in the results. This way, the problem is handled by someone that is familiar with not only the issue, but also the material.

The other, not-so-simple way of fighting chips in stone countertops is to find and purchase a product that is designed for dealing with just such issues. If the chip is on a surface and is not a large one, you might be able use a product to fill in the chip. This will reduce the visibility of the chip to the point that it is not noticeable.

As we have seen in this article, there are a number of materials associated with the stone industry. And each of them can chip under specific circumstances. Normal household practices can result in chipping of stone countertops. Therefore, it is wise to be aware of what can be done to correct a chip in your kitchen countertop. Simply put, getting filled in about chips in stone surfaces is good.

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