You may have spent countless hours and money designing, sourcing, and building your dream kitchen. But, as you clean the countertops, you notice some small holes on the surface.
These are called pits and may be rather common in many kitchen countertops. But here is the question – why do your kitchen countertops get pitted?
Pittings on kitchen countertops can be common. You may see more pitting on stone countertops, such as granite or marble. Pittings may also happen to softer countertops, such as wood. You can ignore smaller pits, while you can fill the larger ones with clear or colored epoxy.
This article examines why your kitchen countertops have pits and whether you can fix them. Finally, we also detail the step-by-step process of how you can fill pittings on your kitchen countertop.
Why Does My Kitchen Countertop Get Pitted?
Kitchen countertops may get pitted from natural causes or as a result of an impact. Countertops from natural stones such as marble or granite can have pits naturally. Softer countertops such as sheet metals or wood may develop pitting from impacts.
When it comes to putting on countertops, you could roughly divide the cause into two types – natural or manufactured.
Natural
Most natural stones, such as granite or marble, have imperfections. This means all-natural stores will display some pitting and soft crack lines.
Stonemasons may try to polish them away, but they are not 100% removed. Many stonemasons may instead tell you to learn to appreciate these imperfections.
This means if you are to discover any pitting, do understand that you may not have caused it. If the pittings are not huge and deep, you can ignore them.
Man Made
Another possible reason for a pitted countertop is manufactured. This may happen if your countertops are made of softer materials, such as wood or sheet metal.
You may cause a pit when you set an impact on the surface. For example, you dropped something sharp and heavy on the countertop surface.
Repeated impacts may also cause pitting. For example, if you perform cutting tasks on the countertop without a chopping board.
Can You Fix A Pitted Kitchen Countertop?
You can fix a pitted kitchen countertop. Smaller pits can be safely ignored. You can fill larger pits with fillers. You may use clear or colored epoxy for stone countertops. For wood countertops, you can use wood fillers or reapply the finishing.
With a pitted kitchen countertop, you have two options. You can either ignore the pitting, or you can fix it.
If the pitting on the kitchen countertop is not deep or large, you may ignore it. This is because since the pittings are not deep, they would not be trapping too many nasties inside. You can also clean it.
Ignoring the smaller pits may also be a good idea if your countertop is made of natural stones. Trying to fill them may not be worthwhile, as the filling may dislodge. This is because the pitting is too small to provide an adhering surface for the fillers.
But, suppose the pitting is large and occurs in an area you think may develop into larger damages. In this case, you want to consider filling it out.
Depending on the material used, you can fill your countertops using different materials.
The best filler is epoxy if your countertop is natural stone-based, such as granite or marble. Depending on your countertop’s color, you can use clear epoxy. Some may try to mix in color to match the countertop before pouring the epoxy in.
If your countertop is wood-based, you may need to look at its finish. If the countertop has a clear coat finish, you can fill the pit with the same finish. Then you polish it away to get a smooth surface.
You can fill the pit with wood fillers if the countertop has a natural or oil-based finish. Then you reapply the finishing. Depending on the color, you may need to color-match the filler to your wood.
How To Fix A Pitted Kitchen Countertop?
To fix a pitted kitchen countertop:
- Clean the surface, and allow it to dry.
- Prepare the filler. The most common fillers include epoxy or wood fillers.
- Fill the pits. Use a putty knife, or simply pour filler in.
- Sand the surface.
- Apply sealant.
- Buff to finish.
The workflow to fill a pitted kitchen countertop may differ, depending on the materials used.
Natural Stone Countertops
For natural stone countertops such as granite and marble:
- Clean and remove any dirt, grime, or grease from the countertop with a mild detergent and a damp cloth. Allow the surface to dry.
- Prepare the epoxy filler. You may need to add some color to make the filler match your countertops better.
- Fill the pits by pouring in the epoxy. Pour enough to cover the pits and extra. Allow to dry completely.
- Sand and polish. Now sand away the extra epoxy until the surface feels flat and smooth again. Polish if needed.
- Polish and Buff. Use finer sandpaper to polish, and then buff to shine with a microfiber cloth.
Wood Countertops
For wood countertops:
- Clean and remove any dirt, grime, or grease from the countertop with a mild detergent and a damp cloth. Allow the surface to dry.
- Prepare the filler. You may need to add some color to make the filler match your countertops better. If you intend to use the wood finishing instead, you may not need to add color.
- Fill the pits. Fill the pit with the wood fillers using a putty knife. If using epoxy, pour enough to cover the pits and extra. Allow to dry.
- Sand and polish. Now sand away the extra epoxy until the surface feels flat and smooth again. Polish if needed.
- Polish and Buff. Use finer sandpaper to polish, and then buff to shine with a microfiber cloth.
Final Thoughts
Pitting on kitchen countertops is a common issue that can occur with various materials. While smaller pits can be ignored, larger ones can be filled with clear or colored epoxy to restore the appearance of the countertop.
It’s essential to understand why pitting occurs on kitchen countertops and how to fix it to ensure the longevity of your countertop.
By following our step-by-step process you can easily fill the pittings on your kitchen countertop and enjoy a smooth, even surface once again.