What to Do If Your Stone Benchtop Breaks?

Short answer: If it's natural stone, it's likely repairable. Small stains or chips? Often fixable. Cracked or shattered? Probably needs replacing. Here’s what to do before you panic (and before calling your insurance).

If It’s Stained

Try the basics first — most stains can be drawn out.

✅ Clean thoroughly. Use warm water and a pH-neutral stone cleaner (no bleach or vinegar). Rinse and dry well — you’d be surprised how much this alone helps.

✅ Check your sealing. Do the water drop test: drip a bit of water, wait 10 minutes. If the water soaks in or darkens the surface, your bench top needs resealing. Call your stonemason to confirm.

✅ Draw the stain out. Mix baking soda and water into a paste, apply over the mark, cover lightly, and leave it for 30 minutes. This helps absorb oil or wine from porous surfaces.

✅ Still visible? Talk to an expert. Every stone behaves differently — granite, marble, dolomite, quartzite all react differently. A stonemason or supplier (like us) can guide you through the safest fix.

If It’s Chipped

Good news — this one’s usually fixable.

✅ Keep the chip if you can. A repair specialist can glue it back seamlessly using colour-matched epoxy or resin.

✅ If the chip is gone, no stress. Specialists can fill and polish the area to make it near invisible, especially on patterned natural stone.

✅ Don’t DIY with hardware store glue. The wrong resin can stain or react with the sealant. Always call a professional repairer.

If It’s Cracked or Shattered

Once the structure’s gone, replacement is often the only real option.

✅ Check with your supplier first. If it’s a natural stone we stock, we may be able to find the same block or quarry batch to match the pattern and finish.

✅ If replacing just one section, make sure your stonemason lines up the grain direction and surface finish perfectly. Even small mismatches can be obvious under lighting.

✅ For full replacements, it’s often easier (and cleaner) than trying to patchwork something that’ll never quite match.

If It’s Scratched

Light scratches happen — especially on softer stones like marble or travertine. The good news? They’re usually fixable.

✅ Call a professional to refinish the surface. They’ll gently sand and repolish the top layer, bringing back the original shine and smoothness. Once done, it’ll look almost brand new — and you’ll barely remember where the marks were.

Quick Reality Check

• Stains? Usually reversible with care and resealing.

• Chips? Common and fixable.

• Cracks or shatters? Replace — but check stock first.

• Scratched? Have a professional refinish the surface

If you’re unsure, send us a photo — we’ll tell you straight whether it’s repairable or worth replacing.

FAQs

Can you repair a chipped stone benchtop? Yes — small chips can often be glued or filled. A stonemason can make them almost invisible.

What if my benchtop has cracked? Hairline cracks can sometimes be stabilised, but full fractures usually mean replacement.

Can stains come out of marble or granite? Usually — try cleaning, resealing, and the baking soda paste. If it’s deep, professional poultice treatment may help.

How do I know if my stone needs resealing? Do the water drop test. If the water darkens the stone after 10 minutes, it’s time to reseal.