Is There Anything to Use to Fill In a Crack in a Marble Tabletop?

Unsanded Wall Tile Grout

• Using unsanded wall tile grout is one of the quickest ways to repair small or narrow cracks in marble. Buy grout that matches the marble or marble veining. An irregular crack can resemble a natural vein once it is filled. Mix the grout slightly drier than the manufacturer’s instructions to guard against shrinkage, and spread it across the crack with a grout float, a flat, rectangular tool with a handle on top and foam rubber on the bottom. Dragging the float across the crack fills it with grout, and scraping the marble with the edge of the float removes the excess. Before the grout dries, wipe the marble with a damp sponge. A powdery haze will appear, but buffing the tabletop with a dry rag will remove it and polish the marble.

Silicone Sealant

• Silicone is a flexible sealer that fills hairline cracks in marble, but it is not suitable for wide cracks. It is best used as a temporary repair. Silicone can sink into the crack as it dries, so more than one application may be necessary. Clean the tabletop using a rag dampened with acetone, then squeeze silicone from the tube along the crack. A thin plastic putty knife used as a scraper will force the silicone into the crack and remove the excess on the tabletop. Silicone sticks to skin, so wear rubber gloves. After it dries, which can take a few hours or even days, scrape off the film around the crack with a flat razor blade. Peeling up the film can dislodge the repair.

Two-Part Epoxy Filler for Marble

• Two-part epoxy filler for marble comes in a kit. It is used as an adhesive and seam-filler for marble countertops, and it can fill wide, large or small cracks. This special material is available at some home improvement stores, hobby shops and marble countertop retailers. Epoxy bonds with nearly any material, but it requires mixing precision and quick application time. Read the label first, and don’t deviate from the directions. Many two-part epoxy fillers for marble are available in colors, but don’t add dyes to match the marble unless the manufacturer’s instructions allow it.

Polyester Resin Cement with Marble Dust

• Marble dust mixed with polyester resin cement can make virtually invisible repairs to most cracks, even large or wide ones. Marble dust is not an item that you are likely to find in a hardware store, but stonemasons and marble suppliers are potential sources. Polyester resin cement is available from some marble retailers and home improvement stores. Mix a small amount of marble dust with the cement immediately before repairing the crack, but don’t add enough dust to make the cement dry or crumbly. It needs moisture to bond with the marble. Spread the cement over the crack and pack it down with a plastic putty knife. Scrape off the excess around the repair before it dries, as it can bond permanently.