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How To Install Granite Countertops

Reinforce the structure and avoid damage by adding a layer of plywood under the granite. Trace the countertop and cut away any excess paper or cardboard to make an exact template of the surface. Take your time doing this to ensure that you get precise measurements. Adjust your template to add the additional measurement for the overhang.
How To Install Kitchen Counter Tops | Duration 26 Minutes 31 Seconds Granite can be purchased from local fabricators, home centers, or kitchen showrooms. Select a style and color that matches your kitchen or bathroom. Lay it on top of your countertop and push it flush against the wall, then measure it again, marking any parts that need to be trimmed. Be sure to factor in the overhang measurements on the edges of the countertop when measuring and cutting the plywood. Get underneath your countertops and position an electric drill at one corner of your cabinet braces. The waterproofing membrane will keep moisture from permeating the plywood, which could cause it to swell. Position your granite slab on top of your countertop to see how it will fit. Mark any adjustments to the outside edges that you may want to make. Attach the small saw to a garden hose as indicated in the manufacturer’s instruction manual. Cut just outside of the lines you traced to leave some room for the granite to be grinded down and smoothed on the edges. Wear gloves, goggles and a face mask to protect yourself while cutting the granite. Turn on the grinder and position the round part of the tool next to the edge of the granite you want to smooth. You can use this tool to make rounded corners on your granite countertop if you wish. Run a bead of caulk around the top perimeter of the sink, where it sits om the granite. Be careful when applying the caulk to the top part of the sink to ensure a smooth presentation. Next, move your granite countertop into position and draw lines to indicate any cuts you need to make.

How To Install Granite Slab Countertops | Duration 3 Minutes 10 Seconds Finally, put the sink into the hole and apply a bead of caulk around the edges on top of the countertop and underneath the sink. Installing your own countertops is an ambitious project, but you can achieve it by planning and measuring carefully. Use a wet saw and grinder to cut and finish your granite perfectly for impressive results! Lay a large piece of kraft paper or cardboard on top of your cabinet. Precisely mark the location of the sink hole and any other cuts in the granite. Ask your vendor for a catalogue, or browse their selection in store or online. Purchase a large piece of plywood that is the same measurements as your countertop template. Use a circular saw to trim the plywood to size and to cut out a hole for the sink. Insert screws upwards to secure the plywood to the countertop. Make sure the plywood sets level on all the cabinets before drilling. Be sure to hold your body in a stable position while using the electric drill to avoid an accident. Pour a waterproofing membrane into a paint tray and coat a small paint roller. Let it sit overnight to dry before continuing your installation. Use scissors to cut out the paper or cardboard outline of your sink and use it to trace the area that needs to be cut from the granite. If you are making your own sink hole, it is best to install a drop-in sink so you don’t have to worry about making a perfectly smooth cut. A wet saw is the best choice to cut granite because it cuts down on the large amount of dust that would otherwise be created. Position the saw just outside the lines you dre w and gently drag the blade across the granite until you cut all the way through the slab. Buy or rent a handheld wet circular saw from your local hardware store. Have someone catch the sink cutout so it doesn’t fall through the counter and break. Attach your wet grinding wheel tool to your garden hose as indicated by the manufacturer. Slowly drag the grinder back and forth along the edge on the slab until you are satisfied with its smoothness. Run a clean wet cloth over the granite after cutting and smoothing it to remove dust, dirt, and debris from the surface. Place your sink into the sink hole and make sure it fits properly. Climb under the sink and run another bead of caulk around the underside of the sink, where it hangs inside the cabinet. Be sure to use a stone cleaner as opposed to an abrasive cleanser to clean your granite countertop.

How To Install Granite Countertops Diy | Duration 10 Minutes 16 Seconds Allow adequate ventilation when working with resins and hardeners. Then, you’ll want to trim the edges of the granite with a wet saw and smooth them out with a wet grinder. For tips on how to use a wet saw or how to apply waterproofing membrane before installing the granite, read on!

How Do You Insl Marble Tile On Counter Tops. How Do You Install Marble Tile by answers.yahoo.com

Sand the moldings and the bottom of the substrate and excess glue until you have a smooth paintable finish. Paint or stain the complete molding and go in and under whatever will remain exposed to the desired color. If the tile is toolong by 1/2 or less, you can cut into the gypse to make it fit, or you will need a grinder or wet saw to make the needed cuts. If your marble is very veigned, this will be especially good to make sure you like the pattern you are creating. No problem to over the entire surface, but do go over it a few times to make sure you push the air pockets out. If you were putting granite tiles, well wine acidity doesn’t affect or remove the luster, but the coloring can still be absorbed if not protected. Allow to dry for 72 hrs ( curing time) and thats it, you have an affordable, nicely professional looking counter. There is alot more to consider such as what to do with the edges, but that is too involved to try to explain here. Now center and install the top row resting them on the ledger board, keeping in mind how the “legs” are going to look. So we will just talk about installing a marble tile counter. You can change the details as you need but the basic is the same. Now this is critical -it must be solid, if it wobbles, the tile will eventualy crack or even pop out. It should look as much as possible as if it was one piece with a very fine joint in between. What will be left on the counter is a 24 inch space where 12 x12 tiles will easily fall into place. Place the tiles on the counter making sure it all fits in properly. If you never did it before you may want to cut all the tiles first, place them in. Number them on the back ( not on the front as they may stain) and remove them. Marble will still lose its luster when the wine spills on it, but at least it wont turn red.

How To Install Granite Countertops On A Budget Part 1 Removing The Old Tile | Duration 12 Minutes 38 Seconds The edges of the tiles are machined with a micro-bevel so there will be a slight groove between them that are to be filled with an unsanded grout. Marble can be a bit translucent and the darker grey thinset can show through. Install as you would anything else, butting together, and use unsanded grout. This is an expense many dont think of up front, but is usually an issue. What kind of mortar and grout should be used for a marble tile kitchen counter top?

How To Install A Granite Tile Countertop by todayshomeowner.com

Cut a piece of 3/4” plywood to serve as the base for the top, making sure to allow for the desired overhang. With the plywood in position, measure from the cabinet to the edge of the plywood. Drill holes and screw the plywood to the top of the cabinets. While cement backer board can also be cut using a circular saw, it makes for a very dusty job, so work outside and be sure to wear a respirator and safety glasses. Screw the cement board to the plywood, being sure to countersink the screws below the surface. Fitting the substrate around the stove will vary depending on the type of cooking surface you have. Begin with a coarse pad in the 50-150 grit range and work up to 3000-5000 grit. Both wet and dry polishers are best used outside, as the process can be messy. Lay full tiles on the outer edge first, butting them together. While granite tiles average 1/4” thick, individual tiles can vary. Check with a level as you go to be sure all the tiles are the same height. Once the grout has dried thoroughly, apply a high quality sealer to the seams to prevent stains. Does anyone have recommendations or warnings to avoid certain types of tile or finishes? So it is basics things you have to do to install granite countertop. The granite tile bullnose edge pieces are not deep enough to cover the 1″ plus thickness. Granite is not porous and once it is polished, it holds up well to most uses. The top is a small pennisula with a slide-in oven so we only need one width of tile to go around the oven and partial tiles to fill in the corner next to the wall and cabinet. Do we still need to use cement backer board if we won’t be butting full tiles up against each other? Given the large size and the fact that you can’t break the granite with a mallet to remove small pieces at a time, we haven’t made any progress. Bring the tile down around the edge is not an option to finish it off. I installed kerdi-board, glued it down, and then waterproof membraine. I also mixed my own “grout” using epoxy glue and clored it with grout color as you wish. After removal, it was apparent that the opening for the cooktop was out of square and slightly undersized for the original cooktop. To get to the proper size front to back will require approx. On top of this marine plywood you then use concrete backer board. This would be a major hack job and you will be ripping this out in no time. Do you think this will cause water damage to the plywood under the granite tops? Usually it is pieced at a corner or in the middle of a nonconspicuaous space. A less expensive alternative to a pricey granite slab is to use 12” x 12” granite tiles instead. For a thicker look, double the plywood, or glue and screw a strip of wood along the outer edge of the top. Transfer this measurement to the top of the substrate, adding half the thickness of the cabinet frame, and mark the location for the screws.

How To Install Granite Countertops On A Budget Part 4 Securing Slabs To The Cabinets | Duration 6 Minutes 13 Seconds As an alternative, the plywood substrate can be screwed from underneath to brackets or a ledger strip located inside the cabinets. Cut the backer board to size by scoring it with a carbide tipped scoring tool and breaking it much as you would drywall. Cut 2” strips of cement board and attach them to the edges of the substrate flush with the top. A freestanding stove requires no substrate while a drop-in type will need backing between the stove and wall. Rough or sharp edges can also be rounded using the polisher. To compensate for thinner tiles, use a thicker bed of mortar. To form a backsplash, apply thin-set to the drywall and press the tiles in place. Use a rubber padded grout float to force the grout into the seams, then wipe off the excess with a damp sponge. Install the sink, faucet, and appliances to complete the job. I have already installed 3/4″ cabinet grade plywood on the counters. The counters are 8 years old and the seems are showing around the sink perimeter. Seal the granite after you grout, use any good granite sealer or protector. On word of caution, marble is a soft material, porous and will stain easily even with sealer. I have laid tile over tile after distressing the surface of the tile being covered, this worked well so far on the shower floor. Make sure granite is cleaned with an acid cleaning agent sold for cleaning tile. I would suggest a slow methodical process with cleanup as you go, don’t get in a rush. Any tips or suggestions for removing the granite from the wall? Now, we’re tiling yesturday started at about 3pm, finished at 5pm. If you are using in a kitchen, water is not much of an issue. The epoxy dries to a very hard glass finish and will not stain or allow moisture to pass through it. To achieve the desired squareness some material on the inside edge will need to be removed. Side to side will require 1/8 inch or less removed only in certain places, but not along the full length. What is the best tool and method to use for this job? When this rots, you will have mold and/or eventual failure of the substrate. I would additionally on top of this use ditra backer as it creates a solid floating substrate that resists movement from below and will prevent cracking. Don’t even think about placing tiles on existing countertops. Use a dark granite with dark grout and this will give you the best “solid slab” appearance. Yes you always need backer board, even over formica, it gives tile/granite a firm backing to prevent flexing and causing breakage. Definately clean and seal your grout anually, this will keep it looking nice and prevent stains, sealer will wear off with use over time and needs redone. I really wanted a solid granite kitchen counter top for semi-new solid wood kitchen, but after reading (nearly)all these posts, am willing to use large black granite tiles with matching grout, as we’ve already some tiling experience. Any problems of expansion differences between wood and granite? The builder has pieced the granite in the middle of the sink, front and back and the backsplash.

Installing A Do It Yourself Granite Countertop by diynetwork.com

In this project a do-it-yourself granite countertop service provides the granite countertops, a modular system that eliminates expensive fabrication. Be sure to note how much you want your countertop to overhang the face frames of the cabinets, typically 1″ to 1 1/2″. If one chooses to go with a granite fabricator, the fabricator will commonly want to do its own measurements and installation to insure precise fitting. The plywood supports the granite and gives enough clearance for the bull-nose edging to clear the drawers and doors. To attach the plywood to the frame of the cabinets with screws, first drill a pilot hole to keep from splitting the hardwood face frame. Granite slabs can also be brittle, so handle them with utmost care. It ‘s best to store them as upright as possible, be careful to not let them “domino” and break. Use kraft paper (or a stiffer material) to make a template of the actual measurement of the countertop. Use a spade bit to make a pilot hole in the plywood, and use a jigsaw to cut the sink hole. You’ll remove the cardboard before joining the granite seams. Use 1-1/4″ screws to adjust the height of the slab from underneath to raise and lower the countertop. Apply second bead on top of sink rim to waterproof the gap between the sink and the countertop. As soon as you’re done, pull off the masking tape so it doesn’t dry on the tape. The granite system requires sheets of ¾” plywood be laid on top of the cabinets to support the granite. Make sure the plywood does not overhang the outside dimension of the cabinet. Be sure to have space set aside to store the slabs before installation. Your walls may not be perfectly square, so it’s a great idea to create a template for the granite countertops. If you need to scribe a slab to fit, apply duct tape to the base of the saw to protect the granite. Test fit pieces that are cut, and be careful with long, thin pieces that could snap. Before you lay the granite slabs back on top, lay down some cardboard to protect the sink overnight. Use a level to fine tune as tips of screws push from the underside of the slab. Next, to fill in the seams you’ll start with a dollop of polyester-based resin and add a small amount of color, trying to match the color of the granite. Add the hardener (3 percent hardener to 97 percent resin), and mix only a workable amount as you only have about five minutes to apply. After it’s dried, about 30 minutes, smooth it out with a seam stone. Keep the stone moving in small circles, you’ll feel when it’s smooth. But you can save between 20 percent and 30 percent off a professional installation by doing it yourself.