Before purchasing a natural countertop, it’s important to be able to identify the difference between cracks and fissures. Our kitchen and bathroom countertop experts often get questions from customers about cracks and fissures. Read this to learn the differences between cracks and fissures and how to maintain your natural stone quartz countertops.

Difference Between Fissures and Cracks

The terms ‘fissure’ and ‘crack’ are often used synonymously to describe the same thing, but their meanings differ.

Fissures are naturally occurring flaws in the stone that are caused by environmental forces like heat and cold, while cracks are caused by human error during the stone’s installation. If you spot a crack in your countertop, you’ll want to contact the installer who installed it and have them look into repairing the problem as soon as possible.

Tests to Distinguish Cracks and Fissures

Homeowners need to be aware that they can test to see if a countertop is cracked or fissured. One way to test is to apply a few drops of water on the surface and see if the water seeps in. If the water does not trickle through, the material is likely cracked or fissured.

Another test is to place a piece of paper over the countertop and use a pencil to press the paper to make indentations. If the resulting indentations in the paper are uneven, then there’s likely something wrong with your countertop, and the material needs to be checked.

Visual Inspection

To determine whether or not you have a cracked or fissured kitchen countertop, it’s best to look at it visually. Look around the countertop’s surface and look for cracks or crevices that might indicate a problem.

If you see any irregularities on the countertop, you need a professional who can identify the cracks or fissures and recommend a solution to prevent further damage.

Preventative Measures

You can do a few things to help prevent cracks and fissures from forming on your natural stone countertops. Keeping your stone clean is a good place to start. Clean the stone regularly using cleaning products specifically designed for natural stone, and avoid using abrasive cleaners.

Make sure to remove any spills as soon as possible to prevent stains from setting in and causing permanent damage to your countertop’s surface.

Sealant should also be applied once a year to reduce the risk of scratching the countertop surface while cleaning.

If you’re you looking for quality quartz countertops in Naples, Florida? Our countertop specialists can help you out!

At Stone Express Inc., we specialize in various kitchen and bathroom countertop materials, such as Quartz tops Naples, Marble countertop Naples, and custom granite countertops.

For more information, get in touch with us by dialing (239) 213-0555.