Fissures in Granite Countertops

Fissures in granite are incredibly common, especially in slabs with a large dramatic design. In the slab yard, with the slab sitting vertically, these fissures are present and yet not so easily recognized. In the excitement of choosing an exquisite slab it's easy to stand back and focus on the slab as a whole instead.

It's when your countertops are installed and the sunlight shines through the window onto your new horizontal surface that you are likely to notice a fine web of what seems to be... cracks!

Sunlight streams across your new countertops and your
 stomach drops. OH NO. Are these cracks? Is my countertop
going to fall apart? Have no fear, you are only looking
at normal harmless fissures.

These fine little lines are what are known as "fissures". Fissures are tiny edges in the composition of the minerals that your countertops are built of. Fissures are present in a good portion of the granite, marble, and travertine slabs that are available. They often help make up the artistic look of the slab you chose. They are not cracks.

This close-up of a vertically oriented slab shows how hard
it is to notice fissures when you are in a showroom,
bedazzled by hundreds of natural works of art. The white
line stretching between two spots of black feldspar
is a fissure in this perfectly sound slab if Delicatus.

The fissure here, composed of quartz, simply looks
like a line that is slightly darker than the rest of the slab.

Actual cracks will be different in composition than fissures. Cracks are not solid, so they will have an opening that debris can fall into. If you find cracks like the one shown below in your countertop, your granite company should be able to help you fill and hide them from view. This can still be done without any compromise to the strength of your counters.

A real crack. It does not follow the pattern of the
granite and consists of a gap that debris can fit into.

To see our gorgeous selection of quality granite, please go to www.nssgranite.com