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Crack or Fissure? What’s the Difference?

Fabricators and restoration contractors often get calls about cracks in natural stone countertops. Sometimes these “cracks” are not cracks at all, but fissures, a feature of the stone that resembles a crack. How does one go about determining whether a countertop has a fissure or a crack? It all boils down to observation.

Naturally Occurring Versus Human Intervention

Fissures are a result of naturally occurring phenomenon, such as geological and environmental forces, crystallization of minerals, and other conditions. Cracks are a result of man-made stresses, such as transport from the quarry to the fabricator or from fabricator to a residence or commercial facility. Man-made stresses may also happen during the installation process.

Visual Differences

Knowing what to look for can help with determining whether you are dealing with a fissure or a crack. Fissures are elongated but extremely narrow openings along the boundaries of crystalline structures in the stone. The visible separation usually remains within the depth of the stone, although it sometimes can go entirely through. Fissures often appear in more than one place on the slab and are rarely straight. Cracks can be narrow or wide, usually only appear in one place on the slab, and may go through the entire depth of the stone. Cracks caused by stresses during the installation process are commonly observed in straight lines near supporting structures.

Tactile Differences

Knowing how a crack or fissure feels when you run your fingernail across the surface of the stone can help you determine whether you are dealing with a fissure or a crack. Your fingernail will run smoothly over a fissure, because a fissure does not change the plane of the stone, and it does not cause any gaps or depressions in the stone. However, your fingernail will not run smoothly over a crack. There will be noticeable unevenness, as one side of the crack is often higher than the other side. In other words, a crack can change the plane of the stone, and your fingernail will catch on the difference.

From Fissure to Crack

A fissure is not a crack, and although fissures rarely affect the soundness of the stone, sometimes a fissure can develop into a crack. You will know if this happens because there will be some chipping, separation, and obvious breakage.

What To Do About Fissures and Cracks

Fissures are naturally occurring and add to the character of stone slab. As such, nothing at all should be done about them. Some people who purchase quartz, onyx, or other translucent stones under-light them to bring attention to fissures and other natural features. Cracks, on the other hand, are structural defects that can worsen over time and may harbor bacteria and contaminants. Cracks should be repaired by a trained and qualified stone restoration contractor who can determine whether underlying structural repairs are needed and match the repair site as closely as possible with the surrounding stone.

This is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of SurpHaces PRO Partners.

Pets… and Clean Carpets, Too!

Maintaining clean carpets and interior textiles can be a challenge if you have pets. Here are some simple and effective ways to keep your carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture, clean, fresh, and inviting.

Keep Your Pet Clean

Regularly grooming and brushing your pet is the best way to slow the accumulation of dirt, grime, hair, and dander on carpets and furniture. Keep a water spray bottle and a clean towel near the doorway to clean your pet’s paws after spending time outdoors. No matter how careful you are to keep your pet clean, some dirt and dander will inevitably end up on your carpets and rugs. Vacuum often to remove debris before it becomes embedded in carpet and rug fibers.

About the Furniture

Train your pet to stay off the furniture. If you want to allow your pets on the furniture, you can switch to leather or tightly woven fabric so that pet hair doesn’t stick or use throw blankets that can be laundered as needed. Use a vacuum with pet attachments to thoroughly vacuum upholstered furniture as often as needed, which usually means vacuuming long before furniture actually looks dirty.

Pet Accidents

Potty training your pet is obviously essential for maintaining clean rugs and carpeting, however, if accidents happen, clean them right away. For specific instructions, see our Carpet and Interior Textiles Care Guide. If you have cats, you might want to consider investing in a self-cleaning litter box.

Regular Professional Cleaning

No matter what precautions you take, how quickly you clean up accidents, or how often you vacuum carpets and rugs and use pet attachments to vacuum upholstered furniture, regular professional carpet and upholstery cleaning will always be an essential part of your strategy for maintaining clean, fresh, beautiful interior textiles. Professional cleaning removes contaminants that cannot be removed through regular cleanups and vacuuming.

This is one of a series of articles written and published on behalf of SurpHaces PRO Partners.