Chips occur in the surface of marble countertopping or tile. The nicks are unsightly due to the dull nature of the indentation. Repair the nicks with ease using a special light-curing acrylic gel made specifically for marble. The gel dries clear and allows the beauty of the stone to appear through the harden gel. The light-curing gel is easy to work with and a process I have used on several occasions.
Purchase a clear light-curing acrylic gel Granite or Marble repair kit at locations where marble is sold. The kit includes a syringe filled with the light-curing acrylic gel – also known as LCA, several microtip applicators, sandpaper, curing strips, polish paste packet and a special blue LED light used for the curing process. The other items you will need to repair the nick are liquid dish soap, micro-fiber cloth, water, masking tape and scissors.
Prepare the nick and surrounding area for filling. Sand the edges of the nick to remove sharp edges and to provide an area for the light-curing acrylic gel to adhere. The small scratch marks created by the sandpaper promote the adhesion of the gel. Squeeze a drop of dish soap next to the nick. Wipe a damp microfiber cloth over the dish soap and into the nick area. Scrub the area to remove all unwanted debris and to remove oil or other film from the marble surface. Allow the area to dry completely before continuing.
Surround the nick with masking tape. Place strips of masking tape 1/16-inch away from the edges of the nick. Press the edges of the masking tape firmly to the marble to prevent the light-curing acrylic gel from spreading onto the marble’s surface.
Select an applicator tip that fits easily into the nick. Secure the applicator tip to the syringe. Fill the nick with the gel until it domes slightly over the surface of the marble. Visually inspect the gel for air bubbles. If air bubbles exist, pop the air bubbles with the applicator tip.
Remove the backing on a curing strip. Center and press the curing strip over the nick. Smooth the curing strip to the marble until it is flush. Turn on the LED curing light. Hold the light as close to the curing strip as possible. Move the light slowly in a small circular motion for two minutes. Turn off the LED curing light and remove the curing strip. Check the gel to see if it is set by applying a slight amount of pressure. The gel should be tacky but not squish under the pressure of your finger. If it squishes, cure it with the LED curing light for another minute.
Once the gel is set, sand the surface of the gel lightly with a piece of sandpaper. Remove the masking tape. Wipe the area with a dry microfiber cloth. Open the polish packet. Squeeze a small amount of polish directly on top of the repaired area. Rub the polish onto the repair area and the surrounding marble surface until the finish in the area is the same as the remainder of the marble surface. Use a small circular motion and a dry microfiber cloth to complete the process.
