How Do I Repair A Broken Granite Post

[HillStreet]

I bought a nice granite post for a sign on my property, and I broke it. It’s 6 inch x 6 inch x 9 foot and I broke it in two pieces about 4 ft x 5 ft. I did mount the bottom 4 footer in the hole and compacted it with gravel. I’d like to place the top on that, cemented, and have it hold a small sign. I dont think regular mortar will work, so I am looking for some sort of epoxy. Anybody have experience with this?

 

[Woody65]

You might have to drill a hole into both pieces and use a piece of rebar as a type of dowel to keep it together and strong enough to hold a sign without breaking at the joint. Epoxy both holes and the faces of the break, slip the rebar into the part that is in the ground and slide the top 5' piece over the rebar. Just a couple of inches into each piece should do the trick.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Basically, you don't.

Only way to do it where it will survive our winters is to drill both sides for rebar and epoxy. I've twice tried to drill those holes with a sds hammer and both times cracked the post.

A water jet or fancy diamond mill maybe?

My advice; find another post and don't break this one .

 

[kthompson]

How about a fancy metal sleeve to go on the outside of the post to hold the two pieces together? You could have one to compliment the sign. Could be made from wrought iron or many other designs.

 

[RNeumann]

You might have to drill a hole into both pieces and use a piece of rebar as a type of dowel to keep it together and strong enough to hold a sign without breaking at the joint. Epoxy both holes and the faces of the break, slip the rebar into the part that is in the ground and slide the top 5' piece over the rebar. Just a couple of inches into each piece should do the trick.

Yep a chemical fix just isn’t. Rebar and a drill is the way to go. With the rebar you can use epoxy or mortar- it really won’t matter.

 

[dragoneggs]

Maybe four clearance holes in from the corner drilled w/ diamond stone cutting bit. A two part epoxy filling the holes and the fracture surface. Assuming the surfaces still mate well it might look good as new from a short distance. Otherwise maybe you could fabricate some long flat metal splices that have structural pins with decorative heads that go into holes drilled on the sides of the posts.

 

[2458n]

Need to rent a Hilt hammer drill. I would drill as deep of hole as possible. Both top and bottom pieces. Gorilla glue works on stone. Glue the top piece first filling the hole with glue and inserting the rebar. This is done inside with the post upside down. Get a large folding ladder, Level, and C clamp to go outside. Fill your lower hole with gorilla glue and coat the flat broken pieces on both ends. With help slip the rebar into the bottom hole. Use the ladder to clamp the top to a ladder leg with the C clamp. Plenty of set time so make it pleasing to the eye. Leave it set for a couple of days. Pre drill any holes needed for sign inside.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay maybe too nerdy here but...

In this case with heavy stone, gravity is your friend. Clamps are nice and useful but understand that adhesives tend to shrink (exothermic process) so unless your clamps are spring loaded, you will loose clamping force and potentially introduce micro voids in your bond line. I would bond this in the upright position to take advantage of the natural pressure. Also, make sure your bonding surfaces are clean. Good luck.

 

[Wagtail]

How about a fancy metal sleeve to go on the outside of the post to hold the two pieces together? You could have one to compliment the sign. Could be made from wrought iron or many other designs.

I really like this idea. :thumbsup: Perhaps presenting your problem to a local 'artisan' for their ideas. Because it would be a unique 'fix' the sleeve maker would reduce the price if they're allowed to use it for future advertising of their craft. A fancy band would cover up whatever method you use to re-bond the two pieces.

This is (somewhat) similar to a problem that I had with my actual double 'french doors' (individual panes of glass)... over years of time they'd expanded and would no longer close. A carpenter who specialised in these doors recommended all new doors. I suggested to save the existing doors and install metal brackets, inside & out, to brace the doors. The carpenter hadn't thought of that ('blinkers on').

Anyway, he got a local metal shop to make up the bands/brackets and 'saved' the existing doors. He now has something else to offer to future customers in a similar situation.

I'll upload some pictures of the doors if I can get my computer to cooperate. ullinghair:

 

[dragoneggs]

I really like this idea. :thumbsup: Perhaps presenting your problem to a local 'artisan' for their ideas. Because it would be a unique 'fix' the sleeve maker would reduce the price if they're allowed to use it for future advertising of their craft. A fancy band would cover up whatever method you use to re-bond the two pieces.

This is (somewhat) similar to a problem that I had with my actual double 'french doors' (individual panes of glass)... over years of time they'd expanded and would no longer close. A carpenter who specialised in these doors recommended all new doors. I suggested to save the existing doors and install metal brackets, inside & out, to brace the doors. The carpenter hadn't thought of that ('blinkers on').

Anyway, he got a local metal shop to make up the bands/brackets and 'saved' the existing doors. He now has something else to offer to future customers in a similar situation.

I'll upload some pictures of the doors if I can get my computer to cooperate. ullinghair:

Com'n Wag! You know what we say, "no pics, it didn't ......"

 

[Wagtail]

Com'n Wag! You know what we say, "no pics, it didn't ......"

I know mate!

I used a new computer cleaner-upper programme (apologies for the 'tech talk') and it's done too good a job... now my camera won't upload pics.

An embuggerance if ever there was one.

 

[oosik]

I fear, like Luke said, there is not an acceptable fix for that post that will survive the winter. I suggest - buy another and be a bit more careful.

My friend got one of those fixer-upper programs on a memory stick - now his computer is all bound up. But its a cute memory stick...............

 

[marchanna]

Another suggestion:

In the two mating surfaces, drill several random shallow holes. Fill the holes and cover the whole broken surface with lepage PL Premium construction adhesive. Put the two pieces together and squeeze them down tight until the adhesive squeezes out all around. Let cure and cut off excess with a razor or utility knife.

PL Premium is a polyurethane adhesive that bonds well to anything, plus, it is very strong. Two occasions I致e used it that demonstrate this:
1. I glued the street numbers to the front of my house and was able to support my whole weight with them
2. I glued two sheets of MDF together along the thin edge to make one larger sheet and it was as rigid as if it were just one solid sheet.

 

[Egon]

Drill a couple of holes( smaller ones ) & get some industrial machine base grout. Fill the holes, put in some ready rod and slather up the break. Put it all together, clean up excess and wait for it to cure.

Get ambitious, cut the ends off square & insert a stone plate between the two pieces.

 

[3Ts]

If you go the route of drilling a hole for rebar, there is a 2 part epoxy that is designed specifically for anchoring steel in drilled concrete holes. It's expensive - about $35-$45 for a 14 oz tube, but works very well. You'll need to drill the holes slightly oversize, but that helps you with the alignment in your situation.

 

[/pine]

Not a repair option but unless the height is important you could set the two pieces level and set the sign across the tops of the two post (shorter) posts ?

 

[cqaigy2]

Not a repair option but unless the height is important you could set the two pieces level and set the sign across the tops of the two post (shorter) posts ?

This one i like, no drilling, no adhesives and no worry about the fix coming apart.

 

[Wagtail]

Com'n Wag! You know what we say, "no pics, it didn't ......"

Lord what a pain in the arse! I figured out how to upload the pictures from the camera but it used to do it 'automatically'. Arrgg!

O course the photos are sideways!!! Mind you, that's how I took'em so that you could see the top & bottom of the doors. The first is an outside shot, second is inside. No 'warping' in the 12 years since I had it done. Oh, and thy're simply painted flat black to look like wrought iron.

 

[dragoneggs]

Lord what a pain in the arse! I figured out how to upload the pictures from the camera but it used to do it 'automatically'. Arrgg!

O course the photos are sideways!!! Mind you, that's how I took'em so that you could see the top & bottom of the doors. The first is an outside shot, second is inside. No 'warping' in the 12 years since I had it done. Oh, and thy're simply painted flat black to look like wrought iron.

The pics are right side up even though you are upside down. . Looks good!

 

[fried1765]

I bought a nice granite post for a sign on my property, and I broke it. It痴 6 inch x 6 inch x 9 foot and I broke it in two pieces about 4 ft x 5 ft. I did mount the bottom 4 footer in the hole and compacted it with gravel. I壇 like to place the top on that, cemented, and have it hold a small sign. I dont think regular mortar will work, so I am looking for some sort of epoxy. Anybody have experience with this?

There is no GOOD fix!
Can't fix a broken egg either.