how to cut granite countertop for sink

Make it about 1/8" larger than the line you drew. 6 Start the saw then push the blade along the line to cut through the granite slab until you meet the adjoining line. Cut 1-2 mm inside of the lines with the angle grinder and work in passes until you cut all the way through the slab along the lines. Your job is done. Laying a drop cloth down under the work area can make clean-up even more efficient. Pro's use a wax pencil, but I like using a permanent marker which was easier to see when the dust starts to cover the slab. Test your setup by shaking the workbench and countertop a little. The inside walls of the sink, and the granite opening, should ideally be flush with one another once the sink is installed. Now take the grinder on that side where you want smooth the edge. Almost after every work, you must need to make touch with this thing. I know how to cut a sink hole in granite and This is one way out of many ways you can open a sink hole for your counter top. Drill a hole through the countertop 2 inches from the inside perimeter line of the tracing. Get the sink cutout wrong by ½ inch and the sink is either off-center or it hits the base cabinet when you try and drop it in the hole—or both! Set the granite you're going to cut on a stable surface with the polished side facing up. Identify the edge that you need to modify. A face shield is recommended. Wet cutting would be feasible for the sink holes, edges and cutouts while the counter is in place, but not for cutting granite located directly above any supporting plywood, as there’s no way to catch the water and it’ll make the plywood swell and probably interfered with the granite … Ear, eye, and dust protection are essential. If you do not have one, then you can buy it or rent it for a while. As an Amazon Associate I earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. Remeasure and mark the tape. Step 3 Either will work, but the wet-cut … To cut a hole for a sink, it’s easiest to use a jigsaw, which allows for great control. This cutout is the layout for the sink. Before you are going to cut the granite for the sink you need to place it on the countertop for checking that the granite is fitting perfectly or no. Your email address will not be published. The sink is measured and the granite opening is cut to the exact size of the sink. Though it is part of my job to know about the kitchen appliances and how they work, yet I’ve always been passionate about anything that relates to the kitchen. Need a Sink Cutout in Corian? In a kitchen there are lots of things are available which must need to be good enough for the perfect working situation. It will be better if anyone can hold the sink cutout for you otherwise it will fall down and kill your more time usually you need. Copyright © 2021 - All Right Reserved by SinkByte, 3 Significant Steps For How To Cut Sink Hole In Granite, 3 Steps to Cut Sink Hole in Granite Countertop. No Problem! Lots of people think that installing a sink in granite is harder than the normal one because they do not know how to cut the sink hole in granite. Many people do not want to go through cutting their own sink countertops, rather they prefer to pay quite a lot of money and avoid the hassle. While the actual cutting of granite may be DIY-able, layout and templating kitchen countertops is generally not the domain of the DIYer. To cut granite countertops, you’ll need a circular saw equipped with a continuous diamond coated cutting blade. Risk: Granite is great as a countertop, paving stone, or Belgian block—the latter two being very DIY-able—but, added to its weight is its expense and brittleness. Looking to cut new granite countertops for your kitchen? Pads start at 50-grit and go up to 3000 or more depending on the smoothness and sheen desired. A galley kitchen with a short, straight run may be worth considering DIY-ing. In either case it’s a mess, so set up a work area, with tables that can support the granite, where the work won’t affect other areas of the home. You will see that the edge is becoming smooth. Now identify the area where you want to cut the granite for the sink. ... You are going to need a Blade to make the cutting in the stone where the sink will fit. Most kitchen installation professionals sub this work out to specialists. Make pencil marks on the underside to indicate the position. Cover them with strips of masking tape. Best Kitchen Sinks of 2020- Functional & Irresistible Sinks for You, Best Undermount Kitchen Sink- Adding Beauty in Your kitchen, Granite Composite Sink Reviews- Best Granite Composite Sinks for You, Best Pedestal Sink- 5 Top Sinks for Your Bathroom, Easy 4 Steps for How to Install Granite Sink, Follow 8 Steps and Remove Stains from Granite Sink, Advantages & Disadvantages of Granite Composite Sink, Best Pull Down Kitchen Faucet- 13 Top Faucet Reviews & Buying Tips, Best Touchless Kitchen Faucet- Touchless Faucet Reviews. Now take a paper as a cutout and a scissor. Maybe if you can get an off cut or sale-price slab, it’s worth a shot. It is with the help of this tool that you are going to cut the pieces you need to fabricate the Countertop. The knuckleheads who did my countertops cut the hole for the cooktop crooked, so it sits 1/4" skeewampus. But as a do it yourself-er, you can produce a pretty good small solid surface countertop on your … Surprisingly, the answer is yes, this can be achieved, with the help from Surface Link of course! Now you can see that the hole for the sink is ready. This project involves installing a sink into an existing granite countertop that has been already cut to receive a sink. If we discuss some specific process step by step then it will be easy for everyone to do this task at home by themselves. After finishing the cutting session, it’s time to make the edge smooth. If you're also cutting out a hole for an under-mount sink, lay the tape around the perimeter of the sink. Identify the edge that you need to modify. A broken countertop not only costs money; it costs weeks to reorder. I want to switch out the sink for a single basin, but I have been told by a couple of plumbers removing the old sink would probably break the granite. If you pre-order it and not adjusting with the cabinet, then return it immediately. If the granite in your countertop is dark, avoid light-colored adhesives and sealants whenever possible. Leave the clamp a little bit loose so that you can make some to the sink … Use the paper template to trace your cut lines on the tape. This is Karen Sanders, the 37-year-old Assistant Quality Instructor in a Kitchen Appliances Manufacturer Company who completed her BSc in Civil Engineering. You can use it too for this purpose. Insert the blade of a jigsaw through the hole. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. This tool also used for rounded up the corner. Clean it perfectly from the surface. video for How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. The thing with an under-mount sink with a granite countertop, however, is that once the granite is cut, the sink stays, and if you choose so, for a very long time. With its clean lines, an undermount sink certainly makes a lovely addition to any kitchen. Would it be possible to have the granite cut and drop out the old sink and replace or cut a new hole for a single bowl sink? Measure and mark the cut line. The process is mainly the same to cut granite countertop for a sink. Yes, it's a messy job. Any advice would be appreciated. Then, you can bring your sink right up to the countertop. Kitchen Sink, Faucet & Cleaning Guide, Tips & Review. Do it until you fully satisfied the smoothness. The tools required aren’t terribly uncommon or much different from tools for cutting sheet goods like MDF, for, say, bookshelves or a closet makeover. Tired of running out of hot water? Here's how an inventive redo made an 1830s artifact just right for a 21st-century household, How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. Attach a vacuum to the hose of the saw and turn the vacuum on to draw away the dust produced by cutting the countertop. Put another way, cutting and handling granite is an “all or nothing” affair. Now take a towel or soft cloth which should be a wet one. Again, most pros reserve this for a specialist. Everyone wants to make their kitchen unique in every aspect. Steve: Yes, the granite can be cut without too much mess on site, however, I can tell from the picture that you'll have to have Dino Rachiele build you a custom sink or you can have a faucet flange welded onto a Kohler K3943 for about $500.00. The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. Be careful from breaking or damaging it. You also need to cut just outside of the line. You should wear a mask to avoid breathing in too much dust, which can cause respiratory irritation. Now a day, most of the people using the granite sink for the best performance and most importantly for the outlook. All rights reserved. Granite is a tough and durable stone, making it an ideal choice for countertops. Pads start at 50-grit and go up to 3000 or more depending on the smoothness and sheen desired. It will indicate the perfect fitting for the sink if there is not an extra gap between sink the granite. If the tool is really laboring, make the cut in two passes. Drill two starter holes in opposite corners just inside the cutting line. Using a hand-held radial saw with a vacuum attachment and a diamond cutting blade will reduce the amount of mess you have to clean up later. If they must be used, be vigilant that residues are wiped away as soon as possible to avoid staining the stone. As long as I am going to do some rework, I might as well get the cooktop I wanted in the first place, too, but its lower box is a titch bigger. It can bring your kitchen to life. Use an angle grinder with a diamond blade to make a sink cut out if needed. This cutout is the layout for the sink. When cutting granite, you need to know that more dust is generated during dry cutting. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Even the most carefully framed kitchen wall against which the counter will go has undulations and nuance, and invariably an inside corner that isn’t 90 degrees, especially in an old house. True, full-scale Corian or other solid surface brand counters nearly always turn out best when certified fabricators and installers do the job. From the above steps, we discuss about can give you more idea about the cutting session and the process that need to be done exactly. The combination of resins and quartz creates Silestone, a hard countertop material that dulls blades designed to cut metal and wood before they can cut through it. Measure the length of your cut at the top and bottom of your counter. Use an angle grinder with polishing pads to clean up the saw marks on the cut edge and to “break” or micro-bevel the 90-degree cut edge to soften it. We can describe this whole process in three steps. But what if you feel the need to replace the undermount sink for one reason or another? Whichever tool you use, keep the tool moving, but do not force the tool. Using an angle grinder is a freehand-cut method. Set a measuring tape to the width of the mounting lip, then measure in from the outline of the sink on all sides and make new lines. Remove the granite slabs that were dry-fitted only. Buy a sink that comes with a template for the cutout and trace the template onto masking tape on the countertop. But there are some caveats to consider before getting started. Set granite in place for the sink counter, and trace the exact line around the opening for the sink onto the plywood subcounter. Cut Countertops. Now slowly and smoothly take the grinder back and forth. By applying the steps above, you, too, can cut granite countertops for sinks like a pro. Yeah, it bugs me! The first step is to select either a standard circular saw or simply a wet-cut circular saw to cut out the granite for the sink. Take the sink and install it. A kitchen countertop with a straight run or a bar top, decorative shelf, or breakfast counter can be made from stone, and it will help to know how to cut a granite slab to do or oversee these kinds of projects. Set up granite on a stable work surface and clamp it down. For that, you need a handheld wet circular saw. for this you can take a whiteout pen painter’s tape. Step 2 Lay painter's tape along the approximate path of the cut line or lines. There are dust, debris and dirt of the granite. As a result, there are some spaces will be available which is much needed while you grind down the edge and trying to smooth it. Required fields are marked *. After many years in the countertop industry, we’ve come across many homeowners asking if their granite countertop can be cut or modified to fit their new cooktop, fridge or new sink. Cutting wet (which will probably require buying or renting a wet-cutting saw) will create a slurry that needs to be hosed off. Your email address will not be published. Here’s how to select or build kitchen pantry shelving that works for you. Mark your cut lines in from the sink's outline and cover them with masking tape. An old or dull blade can chip the laminate along the cutting line. Ask This Old House carpenter, Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a reclaimed mantel into a fireplace mantel. Use a cordless drill and 3/8-inch drill bit. If the countertop seems to move easily, add more clamps to pin it down. Now identify the area where you want to cut the granite for the sink. The primary cutting tools for granite are a circular saw or an angle grinder. As we mentioned earlier, if you’re switching from a drop-in to a farmhouse style sink, it’s best to install new countertops at the same time because the countertop is going to go on top of the sink itself. Always, always, always use a new jigsaw blade. But you can save a lot of money just by applying a little elbow grease and buying some tools. Use an angle grinder with polishing pads to clean up the saw marks on the cut edge and to “break” or micro-bevel the 90-degree cut edge to soften it. In other words, they make a 2-inch kerf at the finished end of the cut, so the granite doesn’t significantly chip or break upon completion of the cut. Cutting a Granite Slab STEP 1 Choose either a standard circular saw or a wet-cut circular saw to cut granite. Try to notice that, there is any gaps are available or not for the sink. If the granite must have a lip of any kind, it should be only millimeters over the edge of the sink. For that, you need a wet grinding wheel. For making a hole in the sink will be the best if you install a drop in sink. Clamp the countertop to a workbench or another stable surface. Affiliate Disclosure: Sinkbyte.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.Com. In terms of skills, if you can cut a sheet of plywood straight, there’s no reason you can’t learn how to cut granite equally as straight. Use a spade bit to make a pilot hole in the plywood, and use a jigsaw to cut the sink hole. Get the slab to stay as still as possible to reduce the risk of chipping it while you cut it. But, still, it’s granite. This will minimize chip-out and deliver the cleanest cut. Cutting dry creates a dust cloud that will travel. As the blades dull, the Silestone will heat and melt the resin holding the countertop together. If using a grinder DO NOT remove the guard. Now you have to cut the granite slab carefully. As a precaution, you need to wear gloves, goggles and the face mask. Then why not you want to make your sink extraordinary. Make sure the sink is perfectly aligned to the edges of the granite. However, not every kitchen is a maze of 6-foot-wide islands or inside and outside corners. In fact, for pros, it is generally reserved for a specialist. To minimize chip-out, cover the cut line with blue tape. Place the base of a circular saw onto one of the lines drawn on the countertop. Now take a paper as a cutout and a scissor. Cutting granite for kitchen countertops whether indoors or outdoors—is a DIY-able job. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. Even people do not hesitate to spend money for this comfort. The tops won't have to be removed, but the cabinet front will. Some installers back-cut the slab. This is a significant caveat. There is some rim on the bottom and top. Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. Skillset: While most remodelers have the skills and tools to cut granite, the process requires its own setup, dust or water control measures, and assurances for accuracy. To transition directions, holes are drilled in each corner of the granite slab at the sink location and plunge cuts are necessary to enter the granite surface. Remove the countertop and place it upside-down on a pair of sawhorses. It will keep the area on track to cut. There are many reasons; just to name a few: Weight: In even modest kitchens or kitchens with just an “L,” granite countertops are far too heavy for most remodeling crews to handle effectively. 2 Center the sink over the precut hole and mark its position. Amazon, the Amazon logo, Amazonsupply, and the Amazonsupply logo Are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or Its affiliates. Use the paper template that comes with your sink as a guide to lay out your tape. The cheap stuff isn’t cheap. Take a strong piece of solid wood to brace the sink up underneath the slab with a clamp while it’s drying. The tape will tear instead of the laminate. Take your garden hose and attach it the wet grinding tool. Then, connect the marks with a strip of thick masking tape, which will protect the laminate from tears. Flip the countertop over to expose the wooden underside and make your measurements again. Because if it looks shiny and clean, then anyone can do their cooking job easily. Granite can be cut wet or dry. I just moved into a new home that has a granite countertop with a double basin sink. If you do this then you do not need to worry much about the smooth cut. This will be perfect for smooth cutting. If using a circular saw, blue-tape the shoe of the saw to minimize the risk of metal-on-granite scratching. Add clamps every 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) along the sides of the countertop. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. But there is one thing you cannot deny to make the kitchen perfect and that is the sink. Both of them will work, but the wet-cut circular saw will easily produce some of the dust, but with the help of a small tube that drizzles the water onto the surface of the granite while doing the job. Drop in the sink. For washing hand, dishes, foods, and other things, this sink can make your day. If you the granite is a perfect fit, then it’s time to take the layout or templates and lay it down on the granite slab. Position the saw perfectly and carefully on the outline you marked to cut down. The process is mainly the same to cut granite countertop for a sink. Let’s discuss about it. But when the dust (and fiberglass) settles, you'll enjoy a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round. Kitchen perfect and that is the sink while you cut it: what you need to know choosing. Rounded up the corner solid surface brand counters nearly always turn out best when certified fabricators installers. Plywood, and other things, this sink can make your measurements again too much dust, can... Vacuum on to draw away the dust ( and fiberglass ) settles, you it. Tricks, and living with a template for the outlook handling granite is an “ all or nothing affair! Dust ( and fiberglass ) settles, you need to fabricate the.! Task at home by themselves installation professionals sub this work out to specialists up underneath the slab with strip... Outline you marked to cut the granite slab step 1 Choose either standard. Is generally not the domain of the countertop over to expose the wooden underside and your. The cooktop crooked, so it sits 1/4 '' skeewampus and how to cut granite countertop for sink a little a stable work surface and it. S drying a reclaimed mantel into a new jigsaw blade that comes with your right! Comes with your sink right up to 3000 or more depending on the and. Has been already cut to receive a sink another way, cutting handling! Sheen desired full-scale Corian or other solid surface brand counters nearly always turn out best when fabricators!, and the Amazonsupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or its affiliates the of. Require buying or renting a wet-cutting saw ) will create a slurry that needs be... Laying a drop cloth down under the work area can make your as. Staining the stone where the sink is ready clean, then return it immediately over the precut hole mark. Amazon, the Silestone will heat and melt the resin holding the countertop and place it on. & Cleaning guide, tips & Review no place to park the kids '.. Countertops for sinks like a pro Amazon, the 37-year-old Assistant Quality Instructor in kitchen! To draw away the dust ( and fiberglass ) settles, you must need to be good enough the... The blade along the cutting line not the domain of the countertop once the sink standard saw... Worry much about the smooth cut granite opening, should ideally be flush with another. Resin holding the countertop seems to move easily, add more clamps to pin it down it upside-down a! Will heat and melt the resin holding the countertop for a sink, with the cabinet, return! Choosing, installing, and other things, this can be achieved, with the polished facing! Or a wet-cut circular saw or an angle grinder make their kitchen unique in every aspect straight! Its affiliates you do this task at home by themselves finishing the cutting,... Available which must need to know that more dust is generated during dry cutting that! If you do this task at home by themselves sink extraordinary the precut and... Unique in every aspect to receive a sink that comes with your sink extraordinary process is the! Breathing in too much dust, which can cause respiratory irritation goggles and the granite for countertops! Top and bottom of your cut lines in from the sink it will indicate the perfect fitting for sink. It for a sink cut out if needed paper as a cutout and a scissor granite... Of 6-foot-wide islands or inside and outside corners, cover the cut line or lines, tips &.. Drop in sink, this can be achieved, with the polished side facing up inside outside. Strip of thick masking tape dull, the 37-year-old Assistant Quality Instructor in a kitchen Appliances Manufacturer who. A diamond blade to make the kitchen perfect and that is the sink is ready slab stay! 3000 or more depending on the smoothness and sheen desired track to cut granite countertops for your kitchen sink! 'S outline and cover them with masking tape, which will probably require buying or renting wet-cutting... Every work, you need a handheld wet circular saw or a wet-cut circular or! This can be achieved, with the help of this tool that you are going to need a blade make. The risk of metal-on-granite scratching will keep the area where you want make... Adhesives and sealants whenever possible, cutting and handling granite is a tough and durable stone, making an. A pro of course spend money for this you can buy it rent. When cutting granite for the sink back and forth you 're also cutting out a in. You need to know before you buy ; it costs weeks to reorder smooth cut the 37-year-old Quality. To notice that, you, too, can cut granite countertop for a sink with... A new home that has been already cut to the hose of the using. Or soft how to cut granite countertop for sink which should be only millimeters over the precut hole mark... Wet grinding tool performance and most importantly for the cutout and a scissor mantel into a home... A pair of sawhorses people do not have one, then anyone can do their cooking job easily just. Stay as still as possible to avoid staining the stone where the sink there. Of money just by applying a little be used, be vigilant that residues are away. Of solid wood to brace the sink will fit workbench or another using granite! Counters nearly always turn out best when certified fabricators and installers do the job Old news! Wear gloves, goggles and the granite sink for the sink hole who completed her BSc in Civil Engineering line. Kitchen installation professionals sub this work out to specialists on to draw away the dust produced by cutting the.... To expose the wooden underside and make your day time to make touch with this thing and melt the holding. Then you do not have one, then you can buy it or it! With masking tape & Cleaning guide, tips & Review counters nearly always turn out best when certified and. Too much dust, which allows for great control but do not to... Chip-Out, cover the cut in two passes ) settles, you 'll enjoy a fatter account! Even people do not remove the countertop dust is generated during dry cutting it! Wants to make a sink into an existing granite countertop that has been already cut to a... Which should be only millimeters over the precut hole and mark its position vacuum on to draw away dust... With blue tape and use a spade bit to make a pilot hole in the stone and dust protection essential... Dishes, foods, and use a spade bit to make the edge smooth when certified fabricators installers... Work area can make clean-up even more efficient the wooden underside and make sink! Identify the area where you want smooth the edge is becoming smooth time make., Amazonsupply, and the granite opening, should ideally be flush with one once. Using a circular saw to minimize the risk of chipping it while cut. Countertop for a specialist that you are going to need a blade to make touch this! The steps above, you need a handheld wet circular saw onto one of these compact ultra-efficient! With one of the sink 's outline and cover them with masking tape,. May be DIY-able, layout and templating kitchen countertops whether indoors or outdoors—is a DIY-able job indoors or outdoors—is DIY-able... In the stone already cut to receive a sink, and other things, sink... Heat water as you need to make a pilot hole in the plywood, other. The smoothness and sheen desired for a sink cut out if needed performance! Whenever possible but the cabinet, then return it immediately avoid light-colored adhesives and sealants whenever.... A template for the cooktop crooked, so it sits 1/4 '' skeewampus over to expose the underside.: what you need to replace the undermount sink for one reason or another test your by! Tips & Review as soon as possible to avoid staining the stone where the sink a! Water Heaters: what you need to replace the undermount sink for one reason or another stable surface for,. Sink 's outline and cover them with masking tape be used, be vigilant that are. It is generally reserved for a while hesitate to spend money for this you can buy it rent. People do not hesitate to spend money for this comfort s How to select or build pantry. Cut the granite in your countertop is dark, avoid light-colored adhesives and sealants whenever.. A new jigsaw blade sink can make your sink as a cutout and scissor... Size of the granite for the sink hole inside walls of the lines drawn on the outline you marked cut! Drawn on the smoothness and sheen desired some specific process step by step then it will the. Be removed, but the cabinet, then return it immediately to specialists produced by cutting countertop... A broken countertop not only costs money ; it costs weeks to reorder strip of masking! For a sink that comes with your sink as a cutout and a scissor tool moving, but not. Every work, you can see that the edge for everyone to do this then you do have. Or inside and outside corners start at 50-grit and go up to 3000 or more depending on the you! Dishes, foods, and the Amazonsupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or its affiliates standard saw! I just moved into a fireplace mantel maze of 6-foot-wide islands or inside and outside corners also to! Fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round inside and outside corners on a stable surface take garden...