Your granite countertop could be rough due to a low-quality granite, sealer application, or grout. Low-quality granite is one of the most common reasons for rough granite countertops. Incorrectly placed sealer is another reason. And grout can dust the surface, leaving a rough finish.
You might not expect your granite countertop to be rough. After all, they look smooth in the photographs. And you’re right, granite countertops should be smooth. If it’s the case that yours isn’t smooth, there are several reasons why that could be.
We’ll go over the possible reasons here.
Low-quality granite
The first and one of the most likely reasons your countertop is rough is because of low-quality granite or incorrect processing or manufacturing. Granite can be expensive, and the most expensive will be the smoothest, most luxurious.
So, it can be tempting to skimp on the quality.
But, there will generally be a cost to doing so. Granite bought from non-reputable manufacturers or bought cheap online can sometimes be problematic and can come with a less than smooth, rough surface. The fact is that high-quality slabs are finished and polished using specialized industrial equipment.
If it’s the case that your granite countertop is rough because it’s a low-quality slab that wasn’t cut and polished correctly, the only option here is to replace the slab.
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Incorrect sealer
The second possible reason is because of the sealer. More specifically, it might be that the sealer, which protects granite’s porous surface from stains, was applied incorrectly or left to dry for extended periods.
When your granite countertop was installed, or perhaps if you’ve recently resealed it, the sealer needs to be installed very specifically. It can often be the case that a sealer is incorrectly applied, perhaps too much or too little, and left to dry without being smoothed out properly.
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Grout
The third possibility for a rough countertop is that the source is the grout from the backsplash. Especially with newly installed backsplashes, the freshly-laid grout can sometimes come away like dust and leave a caked layer on your countertop. This dusting can stick and give granite a rough feel.
Why is my granite countertop pitting?
Your granite countertop may be pitting because of wear and tear over time, most commonly from physical damage or water damage. Although pitting is a part of the natural stone, physical damage or water damage can expose the crystals inside the stone, which appear as pits.
Granite countertop pitting is common. These small holes, indentations, or fissures will almost always be part and parcel of countertops because these are natural stones. Oftentimes, it will be the case that a small amount of pitting is already inherent in your granite countertop.
If your granite countertop is relatively new and you’re only just noticing the pitting, know that if the granite was polished along one plane, pitting is inevitable. This polishing shows the natural crystals of the stone where they’re oriented in different directions.
It’s when the stone is cut straight that we see, as the surface of the countertop, these crystals in their natural form. This means the pitting we see is part of the natural process.
But, pitting can also be caused by wear and tear over time. Physical impact and water exposure are two common reasons for pitting.
The physical impact can damage, chip, and crack your granite countertop, causing pits to form or meaning more of the natural pitting inside the stone is revealed. And if not properly sealed, water can penetrate granite’s porous surface and cause the minerals to be exposed, which appears as pitting.
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How to make granite countertops smooth
You can make your granite countertops smooth by cleaning the surface area, filling any pitting or damage with filler, and then using 300+ grit paper. This process will clean the surface, repair any damages, and rid of any uneven surface area, smooth, and polish the entire surface.
Quite rightly, you want your countertops to be as smooth as possible. If your countertop was bought from a reputable manufacturer, your countertop should already be pretty smooth. But, there’s always room for improvement, or, you may want to fix a surface to its former glory and make it smooth again after damage.
Perhaps you have a chip or some surface fissures that need smoothing out. This will take a bit of work. But, it’ll be worth it. So, here’s how you make your granite countertop smooth.
Before you begin, there are some tools and equipment you’ll need, these include:
- Masking tape
- a filler or choice such as epoxy resin or viscous superglue
- an ammonia-based cleaner
- 300+ grit paper
- A razor or x-acto knife.
1. First, clean the surface area. Whether you want to smooth a specific spot or the whole surface, it must be cleaned first. It’s a fact that particularly rough spots on countertops such as cracks and dents can accumulate bacteria. So, clean these areas with an ammonia-based cleaner.
2. Next, you’ll be filling in any pits, cracks, or fissures. To do this, use masking tape around them. This helps to ensure the filler doesn’t leak onto the rest of the granite.
Then, fill any damaged areas and smooth over the top. Allow this to dry for at least 24 hours before continuing the job. Once it has dried, remove the masking tape and use a razor or x-acto knife to smooth any excess or uneven dried filler.
3. The final step to making your countertop smooth is to polish it with grit paper. This is the part that will really smooth your countertop.
Use the 300+ grit paper to sand down the entire surface. This process takes off a thin layer which includes uneven parts of the countertop surface. What you’ll be left with is a smooth even finish that looks polished.
4. Lastly, you want to reseal the the worktop with a granite sealer as the sealer may have been removed.
If you’re still not satisfied, it’s time to call a pro. They’ll do a much better job than any DIY. After all, they are a trained professional.
