Installing Granite Countertops
Posted by Wayne
My original plan was to install 12×12 granite tiles over the existing laminate countertops, however our cabinets turned out so nice that we felt obligated to go for the gold and upgrade to solid granite countertops if we could afford it.
My wife found a place that sold standard countertop depth pre-cut sheets with a finished front edge. These sheets are 30 inches deep, 8 feet long, and cost about $400 each (give or take, based on the granite type). We needed two sheets to cover our counters. Installation and cutting the hole for the undermounted sink was not included in the price.
I wisely decided that attempting to install these sheets myself would not be a good idea, and the granite seller has an installer that they frequently work with that they recommended. We decided on ‘absolute black’ granite (my wife is the interior designer, so I didn’t argue). We paid for the granite up front and would pay for the installation after it was completed. Our total for the granite (with the sink hole cutting/polishing and tax) was about $1000. The installation would cost an additional $900.
For only the second time since we’ve purchased our home, I’d be bringing in a pro to do an upgrade. The first time I was ashamed because it was a job I could have done myself but decided that the cost was worth avoiding the aggravation of dealing with it anymore, this time I knew it was a job that I was not capable of completing with satisfactory results. I wasn’t about to risk ruining the cabinets that I had just spent a great deal of time refinishing or $1000 of granite. Installing granite requires a pro, or at least someone who really knows what they’re doing (like an ex-pro).
The installer came by one evening to measure our cabinets so they could have the pieces cut down to size when they showed up the following week to install. We had also picked out an undermounted sink which came with a cardboard template to give to the installer to cut the proper sized hole in the granite. The installer recommended cutting the sink hole just slightly bigger than the template so when you were washing pans you would always bump the top of the sink first instead of hitting and possibly chipping the granite around the sink edge.
I was responsible for removing and disposing of the old countertops. This required disconnecting the sink plumbing and removing a few screws in awkward places underneath the cabinets. Once I had all of the screws out, I expected the countertops to lift right off, and in fact I could lift the front of it up and pull it out from underneath the window about an inch and a half, but it would not come out. I eventually realized that the guy who had installed the new window had screwed through the window and right into the old countertop. I went to the outside of the window and pulled off the ‘plug’ of the screw hole to get to the screw only to realize that my pulling on the countertop had pulled the screw at an angle that I now couldn’t reach, and now I couldn’t get it back. I was forced to go back to the inside of the house and cut the screw with a sawzall.
A couple of days later two installers showed up and began the process of leveling the cabinets and making sure all the tops were dead even to each other. To move the cabinets up and down they would put wood shims underneath the cabinets at the floor. They screwed some wood pieces in place to rest the undermounted sink on below the granite.
Once they had the cabinets leveled and the sink mounted they began carrying in the granite. I helped with the biggest piece, and it always shocks me how much granite weighs (plus you’re worried about getting your fingers caught underneath it). The granite is glued down to the cabinets and the same black glue is also used to fill in the seams so they’re nearly invisible. The last thing they did was drill the 4 holes for the sink fixtures.
A couple of weeks ago our appliances finally came and I realized that the space they had left between the pantry and the granite was just slightly too small for the standard sized refrigerator. They had left me with about 35 1/2 inches and the standard sized fridge is 35 5/8 inches. I had them come back out and cut off a little more than 1/4 inch from the lip they had left hanging. They did this by taping a line on the granite with masking tape so it wouldn’t chip, drawing a line on the tape with a straight edge, and then using a diamond blade on an angle grinder to cut it off. They then used a series of wheels on the angle grinder to polish the exposed granite and round off the new corner.
Workers cutting off extra granite
Even though at this point our kitchen was still a work in progress, the granite made another huge difference in the room. My next step would be to install the faucet and plumbing so we’d have a working sink again.
Before (granite and cabinet doors)
After
3 Responses to “Installing Granite Countertops”
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February 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Some great tips on how to save money but still get slab granite counter tops. I definitely agree that this was a good time to bring in a professional. Looking forward to seeing the final result.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
I agree.. .that is one of the few projects I think I wouldn’t try myself. Of course, I’m lucky since my father in law is a stone cutter.
He’s going to install them for us.
Sounds like a pretty cheap price for all you got done! I bet it looks great with the white cabinets.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:16 am
We purchased a home with granite counters and I love it. The granite extends over to the seating area of the counter and our heavy metal bar stools have chipped and gouged the square edge. With the wife leaving town this weekend I hope to bevel and polish the entire eight foot counters front edge. All the “Better get a professional” chat kinda starting to spook me a bit. I noted in the photo the “pros” used a wood edge board to run there angle grinder on. Think Ill just surf myself in to being a pro. thanks for the post and photos. If I screw it up real bad you all can find me again on some match making web site cuz my wife loves her granite and I’ll be history.