Installing Granite Countertops
I have a potential job next week installing a granite countertop for a customer who didn’t want to wait the three months it would take (so she says) to schedule the granite guy’s crew.
It will already be cut-to-fit, of course, so it looks like all I’ll have to do it remove the old countertop and then place and fit the new one. I expect I’ll have to shim, etc. to get the pieces to match up.
I found one article on FineHomebuilding.com, and it said that the countertop is basically glued to the cabinet frame with clear silicone caulk, and that the pieces are also joined together using clear silicone caulk (as the silicone allows for expansion and contraction. That all seems pretty straightforward.
Does anyone have any experience, tips, do’s or don’ts for me?
Thanks.
– Eric Hanson
Replies
Somebody recently asked the very same question:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=101037.1
I watched the stone guys install a piece last week on a book case I did for a client and it was just that; set the stone, shim to level and random beads of silicone. They did wash down the to-be-glued side of the stone to get rid of the dust before installing.
No seams, can't help with that question.
-Norm
The seams usually are not siliconed, and an epoxy that matches the stone is used to seam.
Seams are joined using a two part epoxy system that usually gives me a wicked headache.
A dual suction cup clamp fastens to each piece of stone and a ratching lever is used to force the two pieces together. The better clamps have vertical adjustment knobs to tweak the stone. Use a razor blade (one side) to check for coplaner between the two pieces. (Use the razor on edge, slipping it perpendicularly over the seam. The razor will catch on the smallest difference in height between the stones. It really works. The blade is also used to clean off the epoxy.)
Depending on the crews and stones, I've seen some who use silicone to fasten the stone to cabinets, but I've also seen some who just let gravity to its job.
Make sure you shim as required so all the stone is supported, where possible. I went to a bathroom vanity DIY job once to prep the vanity after the stone company had refused to install due to the out of level and poor coplaner conditions.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Thanks. That's good info. I don't have the suction cup set-up available, but I think that I can work out a clamping solution.
In the edges to be joined...........you may wish to grind in some keys..........think like slots for bicuits here (only about 1/8 or so deep though) to help hold things together.[email protected]
Thanks. It's the joints that are giving me pause. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Make sure you dry fit them first and do any shimming you need to do before you consider glueing them up.
Did you source the epoxy and the tint(s)?
Try a rental place for the suction cup things. I've seen it done with blocks of wood hot melt glued to the top then clamped with limited success.[email protected]
I haven't sourced the epoxy or tints. Do you have any suggestions?
Start googling![email protected]
my first thot would be to call local granite places to see who much and how fast I could sub it out for.
3 months to set a CT that's already cut and fit?
something ain't right there.
who templated, cut, dropped off and fit it w/o sticking it down?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa