Natural Stone Countertop Installation

OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen countertops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.

Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.

DETAILS on Natural Stone Countertop Installation:
Materials: clamps, flat bar, epoxy adhesive, power drill w/hole saw bit, grooved trowel, wet saw, sponge, plywood, hot glue gun, plastic template, paint roller

Countertops and Tile Tips:

1. When choosing a countertop, think of the abuse it will be subjected to. Natural stone is very desirable, but is porous and stains and scratches easily.
2. Be sure to seal natural stone counters regularly to best prevent staining.
3. Be sure natural stone tile is sealed before installation because grout is very difficult to remove from the porous surface of untreated stone.
4. Undermount sinks allow the most flexibility when it comes to positioning faucets. If you are using a self-rimming sink, check its number of faucet holes to be sure you buy a faucet that will fit it.

Safety Alerts:

1. Always wear latex gloves when handling caustic grout.
2. Always wear protective eyewear when working with power tools.

Installation

1. Because pre-fabricated granite starts off cut to standard depths and bull-nosed, fabricators only need to make room for sinks and cut each piece to length.
2. After applying an adhesive to the tops of the cabinet, they slide it into position. Next, spread an epoxy adhesive onto the top of the new sink and press it underneath the granite countertop using a long flat bar and clamps.
3. The installers also take time to drill holes for a new faucet fixture using a special cutting bit.
4. The installers install the remaining smaller countertops and then spray on a protective granite sealant. To increase the longevity of the granite, make sure to apply this sealant annually.

GREEN Considerations:
Environmental awareness is driving research towards low impact mining of stone, which is not only environmentally more friendly, but also still delivers material with strength and durability.

When installing kitchen countertops look for adhesives and compounds that are toxic free and take care to dispose of any waste in the most environmentally friendly manner. Naturally, try to reduce, or encourage your installer to reduce, the total amount of waste materials.