cut granite countertop in place.
I have a countertop made out of Verde Peacock granite. I am remodeling the kitchen and need to remove a section that is near my cooking range. I don't want to remove the stove and lift the slab because of the thin sections around the range are glued down. The slab is 25 wide and backs into the kitchen wall. There is a short (1.5) stone backsplash and tile I have spoken with a mason who recommends using a 4.5 grinder with a diamond blade for dry or wet cutting. Questions: Do you recommend this method? I have used a grinder for years with metal work but haven't done much stone cutting. I'm guessing it takes a slow steady series of passes in order not to pinch the blade and someone with a vacuum to keep the dust down. I would use dry cutting to avoid damaging the cabinets below. Would you recommend a jig to keep the blade plumb? Can you recommend a type of polishing pad for dry polishing of the cut edge? (Only the top 1/4 needs polishing since a section of butcher block will meet it flush.) Also, the countertop I will be removing is long (heavy) and fastened with silicone caulk. Any tips on cut the seals that I can see and get the top off? Boards to support the free edge and a couple of jacks cranked little at a time? I would not cut it myself. I would get a professional who know just cut granite to do it. It may be that you will have to remove the countertop to do it right. Granit is very hard stone, but yet it can be very fragile. Just one wrong move, and it could crack or shatter. This is just my opinion as a professional builder. I would not even attempt to try that on my own countertop. Just my thoughts. I am not a pro granite installer. Having said that perhaps I am over ambitious, or just extremely lucky, but I have done quite a few slab installs. I have only done the pre-fab slabs with finished front and returns as I do not own any profiling wheels or diamond bits for granite work. I often do beveling or bullnosing on marble or travertines however but they are a bit softer. In any event, I have yet to crack a granite slab install. It can be a successful DIY process. I know you are looking to do some modifications in place but try this thread in this same section. Many of the same rules apply. http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=297943 Thanks for the excellent feedback on the in-place granite cut. Both insights reaffirm my decision not to make the in-place cut. The chance that it may crack the slab, while not very high, is still enough to justify paying a pro. That said, if there were no stone masons in my area I would definitely be on the job.
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