Repairing Countertop Damage

At Creative Stone, our team of countertop professionals has seen it all. We have installed many different types of countertops for homeowners and home builders over the years, which means we have also taken out lots of old countertops too. The choices that homeowners and home builders have these days for countertops is almost endless. While many countertop options are highly durable and made to last a very long time, damage can still occur. Like most things, the more expensive the countertops are, the higher quality there are and the less damage you are likely to see. However, regardless of the price of the countertops, damage repair is usually possible.

Countertops can be susceptible to scratches. While specialty pens can repair laminate countertops that are scratched, the process for repairing scratches on, say, a granite countertop is more complicated that that. The repair would include several steps, but it can be done!

When it comes to damage done to countertops because of heat from pans or other sources, methods of repair vary but are fairly easy to do yourself with some unconventional materials that you already probably have. For laminate countertops, use toothpaste. For porcelain countertops, use baking soda and water, and for steel countertops, use club soda. Of course, any countertop damage from heat can be prevented altogether by using insulated towels, pot holders, or trivets to set hot dishes on.

One common mistake that homeowners do is use harsh cleaners to clean their countertops. If you want to extend the life of your countertops, warm soapy water is your best option. Far too many granite countertop owners have found this out the hard way. Harsh chemicals on your countertops can damage them, and pretty much the only way to repair the damage is to have a professional buff and polish them again for you.

If you find that there are water stains on your countertops, they can be repaired many times by taking a gentle cleaner and something with bristles, like a toothbrush, and brushing the surface in circular motions. For stubborn water stains on granite countertops, you can purchase a special pumice stone for that purpose. The best practice is to always clean up water or liquid stains as soon as you can.