How To Install Granite Countertops:

 

There Are Two Ways To Install Granite Countertops:

 

NO.1: The Easy Way：

 

The Easy Way Is To Hire a Pro To Do It.The Hard Way Is To Do It Yourself.

 

NO.2: The Hard Way：

 

There Are Some People That Like To Get Their Hands Dirty And Dive Into a Remodel Project Headfirst.That Said,When It Comes To Installing a Granite Countertop,It’s Usually More Cost-Effective To Have a Professional Handle It From Start To Finish.

 

 

Step One - If You Insist：

 

If You’Re a Diyer,Installing Your Own Kitchen Countertop Could Be One Way To Save Money.However,You Should Be Warned That Cutting Any Slab Of Stone Even With The Right Equipment – Especially Granite – One Of The Hardest Stones Ever – Is Difficult,If Not Impossible The First Few Times.

 

 

Mark It Fragile：

 

If You Cut Granite In The Wrong Way Or Don’t Have The Proper Support For It As You’Re Cutting It,It Has a Nasty Habit Of Cracking,Chipping Or Breaking.An Average Size Slab Is About 8’ x 8’.Let’s Say You’Re Paying $125 Per Square Foot.A Single Slab Of Granite Is Going To Run About $8,000.

 

That’s a Lot Of Money To Experiment With If You Try To Do It Yourself With Rented Equipment And No Training.(By The Way,Marbles Have The Same Problem.)

 

Don’t Blame The Stone Or The Saw.This Happens Because Granite Has Teeny-Tiny Holes Randomly Spread Throughout The Surface,Which Makes Some Areas Slightly Weaker Than Other Areas.

 

Since No One Can See Where The Pores Are Or How Deep They May Be,You Have To Handle Any Natural Stone As Fragile.And,All White Granite Is More Fragile Than Other Colors And Will Need To Be Kept Sealed Or You’Ll Have Staining Issues That Can’t Be Removed.

 

 

There Are Two Solutions To The Cutting Problem:

 

1: You Might Want To Find a Local Stone Fabricator In Your Local Area Before You Buy The Slab.Have Him/Her Come Out And Measure The Actual Area Personally.

 

2: Some Home Stores Are Now Offering Prefab Kitchen Countertops In Granites But If You Have Your Own Design.

Step Two - Measure Twice Cut Once：

 

A Lot Of Homeowners Make The Mistake Of Taking Measurements For The Countertops Before The Old One Is Removed.You’ll Never Get An Accurate Measurement If You Do That.So,Once They’Re Off The Cabinets,Grab a Measuring Tape,Pencil And Paper.

 

You’Ll Need To Measure From The Wall To The Front Face Frame – The Support On The Front Of The Cabinets.Because Buildings Are Not Square And Cabinets May Have Been Adjusted Slightly From One To The Next,You Need To Measure Every 18” Along The Whole Length Of The Countertop.

 

Then,Measure The Length Of The Countertop You Want To Install – Adding a Few Inches If You Want Overage Or a Waterfall Effect.

 

Then,Measure The Whole Thing Again! You’d Be Surprised How Many Professionals Get The Wrong Numbers By 1/16th Of An Inch In The First Measurement.

 

If You Get Different Numbers,Measure Again Until You Get Numbers That Match.

 

Yes,It’s a Pain But It Is Better To Have a Slab Of Granite That Doesn’t Fit Properly!

 

 

Step Three - Model It Perfect：

 

You’Ll Only Need To Do This If Your Stone Fabricator Doesn’t Come Out And See The Project- Which Happens More Than You’d Imagine.

 

Using Freezer Paper Or Newsprint Paper And Your Measurements,Draw The Countertop And Cut It Out.Now Lay The Template On Top Of Your Cabinets And Make Sure It’s Accurate.

 

You Might Have To Do This a Couple Of Times To Get It Perfect.(And,Perfect Is Exactly What You’re After!)

 

Once That’s Perfect,Using Either Mylar (The Best Option) Or Thin,Luan Plywood,Transfer The Final Paper Template Onto It And Cut It Out.Remember,a Saw Blade Is 1/8th Of An Inch.You Need To Cut On The Outside Edge Of The Lines Or You’Re Model Will Be Off By That Much.

 

 

Step Four - Level Base：

 

Cover The Base Cabinets With Cardboard So You Can Place Your Level In The Center Of Each Section.

 

Make Absolutely Certain That The Base Cabinets Are Level For The Entire Length.If Any One Section Is Out Of Level,You’Ll Need To Add Wooden Shims To Correct It.

 

 

Step Five - Bring Your Granite Home：

 

Unless You’Ve Arranged With Your Fabricator To Deliver The Cut Granite,You’re Going To Have To Find a Way To Drag Your Trophy Home.

 

1: A 2’ x 6’ Slab Of Cut Granite Weighs Approximately 400 – 425 Pounds.This Is Not a One-Man Job.

 

2: Granite Is Fragile And Has To Be Handled With Care – Bring Padded Moving Blankets,Cover The Entire Stone And Protect The Stone From Chipping.

 

3: Use Adjustable Straps Wrapped Around The Entire Slab – The Short Way – And Carry The Granite By The Straps If You Don’t Have a Mechanic’s Dolly.

 

4: Add Additional Blankets To The Sidewalls Of The Truck Or Van That You’Ll Use To Drive Your Prize Home.

 

5: Make Sure That You Have a Safe Place In The Home To Set Your Countertops Down If You Aren’t Ready To Install Them As Soon As You Get It Home.

 

 

The Final Phase - Installing:

 

1: There Are Multiple Steps To This And You’Ll Definitely Need Several Guys For This Process.Choose Helpers That Don’t Have a Tendency To Bump Into Things Since You’Ll Be Moving The Cut Piece a Couple Of Times.

 

2: Dry-Fit The Countertop To The Base Cabinets

 

3: Make Sure The Fit Is As Close To Perfect As Possible

 

4: If You Have Two Pieces That Butt Together,Join The Seams Now

 

5: Attach The Stone Slabs To The Base Cabinets

 

6: Apply a Good Sealer – Most Sealants Recommend Two Applications

 

7: Done.

 

 

Maintaining Your Granite Countertops Is An Ongoing Project But Not Nearly As Formidable As Keeping Marble In Good Shape.

 

1: Clean Your Countertops As Normal Using Soap And Water And Rinse With Clear Water

 

2: Then,Using Only Granite Or Quartz Cleaning Liquid – Home Stores And Stone Shops Carry This Product – Clean Your Countertops Once a Week To Keep Them Looking New

 

White Granite Countertops Are The Best Option As a First Step To Creating The Kitchen That You Want To Live With For The Next Twenty Or Thirty Years.Stone Never Goes Out Of Style And White Always Goes With Everything.