LESLIE: Now we’ve got Mary from South Dakota on the line whose kitchen is just cracking up and running away. What’s going on with this granite?
MARY: Well, I thought it was a pretty sturdy stone but I noticed – we’ve been living in this house – we built it in 2006 – April 2006. And I noticed the other day when I went to clean off the countertop, I thought, “There’s a crack there.” And the granite piece is probably about 2 feet by 6 feet and this is at the right-hand side. It’s about 10 inches from the corner.
LESLIE: OK.
MARY: And the crack is probably about 20 inches – 10 inches long. It’s a crooked crack and there’s just a very, very slight elevation on one side of it. And I didn’t think – I didn’t know granite really cracked, you know? I’m confused. So I’m calling you guys.
TOM: A crooked crack. That’s the worst kind.
MARY: It is the worst kind?
TOM: Well, the thing is, granite is going to crack if it’s not supported well. So, there may be, for some …
LESLIE: Yeah, I wonder if there’s been some movement with a lower cabinet.
TOM: Right. It could be structural movement in the floor, it could be movement in the cabinet. It may be it wasn’t set right to begin with. But if it’s not held solidly, it doesn’t bend and so, what you’re seeing is the result of that.
I’m wondering if – is it open enough where you want to seal it with something or you just want to live with it?
MARY: Well, we’re not really sure. I thought I’d check with you and see what you think is the best thing is to replace it or if there’s any way to conceal it. I don’t think the house has really settled at all because I don’t see any cracks in the walls or anyplace. I haven’t really checked the level on the piece of granite, so I don’t know if it’s uneven or not but …
TOM: If you could seal it, you probably would use a silicone for that. But you have to do it very carefully or it’s going to spill out all over the surface. So, what you’re going to do is have a very, very small opening to the caulk tube and squirt just enough to flow into the crack and then let it dry really, really well. Walk away, let it dry. Don’t touch it, don’t try to wipe it. And if there’s anything extra that gets on top, you can use a razorblade and cut it away.
LESLIE: Just slice it off.
TOM: It’ll become – it’ll be rubbery.
MARY: OK. Do you ever hear that happening very often?
TOM: No, not really. Because usually, if it’s going to crack, it happens when it’s first installed. But if you get past the installation – I’ve never heard of it cracking after the fact. So, I suspect something moved and that’s what happens.
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