While the actual cutting of granite may be DIY-able, layout and templating kitchen countertops is generally not the domain of the DIYer. 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. Some installers back-cut the slab. Set up granite on a stable work surface and clamp it down. The tape will tear instead of the laminate. Either will work, but the wet-cut … I just moved into a new home that has a granite countertop with a double basin sink. Do it until you fully satisfied the smoothness. Clean it perfectly from the surface. 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. But there is one thing you cannot deny to make the kitchen perfect and that is the sink. If the countertop seems to move easily, add more clamps to pin it down. 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. Now you can see that the hole for the sink is ready. Identify the edge that you need to modify. Measure and mark the cut line. But when the dust (and fiberglass) settles, you'll enjoy a fatter bank account and more comfortable indoor temps year-round. 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. You can use it too for this purpose. Always, always, always use a new jigsaw blade. 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. 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. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Now a day, most of the people using the granite sink for the best performance and most importantly for the outlook. There are dust, debris and dirt of the granite. This cutout is the layout for the sink. A face shield is recommended. All rights reserved. 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. Now take the grinder on that side where you want smooth the edge. Because if it looks shiny and clean, then anyone can do their cooking job easily. Yeah, it bugs me! This cutout is the layout for the sink. 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. If they must be used, be vigilant that residues are wiped away as soon as possible to avoid staining the stone. Position the saw perfectly and carefully on the outline you marked to cut down. Take the sink and install it. Your email address will not be published. Pads start at 50-grit and go up to 3000 or more depending on the smoothness and sheen desired. Insert the blade of a jigsaw through the hole. As a precaution, you need to wear gloves, goggles and the face mask. Step 3 Even people do not hesitate to spend money for this comfort. It will keep the area on track to cut. Cut Countertops. Here’s how to select or build kitchen pantry shelving that works for you. 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. Drop in the sink. Now take a paper as a cutout and a scissor. Make sure the sink is perfectly aligned to the edges of the granite. Make it about 1/8" larger than the line you drew. Granite is a tough and durable stone, making it an ideal choice for countertops. 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. The inside walls of the sink, and the granite opening, should ideally be flush with one another once the sink is installed. After finishing the cutting session, it’s time to make the edge smooth. This will minimize chip-out and deliver the cleanest cut. Start the saw then push the blade along the line to cut through the granite slab until you meet the adjoining line. But what if you feel the need to replace the undermount sink for one reason or another? Your email address will not be published. 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. Amazon, the Amazon logo, Amazonsupply, and the Amazonsupply logo Are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or Its affiliates. The knuckleheads who did my countertops cut the hole for the cooktop crooked, so it sits 1/4" skeewampus. When cutting granite, you need to know that more dust is generated during dry cutting. Again, most pros reserve this for a specialist. Using an angle grinder is a freehand-cut method. If we discuss some specific process step by step then it will be easy for everyone to do this task at home by themselves. Be careful from breaking or damaging it. Now slowly and smoothly take the grinder back and forth. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. The sink is measured and the granite opening is cut to the exact size of the sink. 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. If you do not have one, then you can buy it or rent it for a while. If using a grinder DO NOT remove the guard. However, not every kitchen is a maze of 6-foot-wide islands or inside and outside corners. Use a cordless drill and 3/8-inch drill bit. 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. To cut granite countertops, you’ll need a circular saw equipped with a continuous diamond coated cutting blade. In a kitchen there are lots of things are available which must need to be good enough for the perfect working situation. Now take a towel or soft cloth which should be a wet one. Put another way, cutting and handling granite is an “all or nothing” affair. The cheap stuff isn’t cheap. Everyone wants to make their kitchen unique in every aspect. 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. As the blades dull, the Silestone will heat and melt the resin holding the countertop together. 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. Buy a sink that comes with a template for the cutout and trace the template onto masking tape on the countertop. To cut a hole for a sink, it’s easiest to use a jigsaw, which allows for great control. For making a hole in the sink will be the best if you install a drop in sink. Now identify the area where you want to cut the granite for the sink. 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. A galley kitchen with a short, straight run may be worth considering DIY-ing. 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? If the granite must have a lip of any kind, it should be only millimeters over the edge of the sink. 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. 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 … Now you have to cut the granite slab carefully. Whichever tool you use, keep the tool moving, but do not force the tool. 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. You should wear a mask to avoid breathing in too much dust, which can cause respiratory irritation. Almost after every work, you must need to make touch with this thing. The primary cutting tools for granite are a circular saw or an angle grinder. Now take a paper as a cutout and a scissor. No Problem! 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. Ear, eye, and dust protection are essential. We can describe this whole process in three steps. Let’s discuss about it. Cover them with strips of masking tape. The tops won't have to be removed, but the cabinet front will. Looking to cut new granite countertops for your kitchen? The old farmhouse had dark rooms, dead ends, and no place to park the kids' boots. Surprisingly, the answer is yes, this can be achieved, with the help from Surface Link of course! 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. If you pre-order it and not adjusting with the cabinet, then return it immediately. Step 2 Lay painter's tape along the approximate path of the cut line or lines. But, still, it’s granite. Remove the granite slabs that were dry-fitted only. 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. 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. Use a spade bit to make a pilot hole in the plywood, and use a jigsaw to cut the sink hole. If you do this then you do not need to worry much about the smooth cut. If you're also cutting out a hole for an under-mount sink, lay the tape around the perimeter of the sink. It can bring your kitchen to life. Make pencil marks on the underside to indicate the position. Pads start at 50-grit and go up to 3000 or more depending on the smoothness and sheen desired. For that, you need a handheld wet circular saw. Test your setup by shaking the workbench and countertop a little. 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. But as a do it yourself-er, you can produce a pretty good small solid surface countertop on your … But there are some caveats to consider before getting started. This will be perfect for smooth cutting. 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! A broken countertop not only costs money; it costs weeks to reorder. Most kitchen installation professionals sub this work out to specialists. Set the granite you're going to cut on a stable surface with the polished side facing up. Laying a drop cloth down under the work area can make clean-up even more efficient. Ask This Old House carpenter, Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner turn a reclaimed mantel into a fireplace mantel. Mark your cut lines in from the sink's outline and cover them with masking tape. ... You are going to need a Blade to make the cutting in the stone where the sink will fit. If using a circular saw, blue-tape the shoe of the saw to minimize the risk of metal-on-granite scratching. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Then, you can bring your sink right up to the countertop. Flip the countertop over to expose the wooden underside and make your measurements again. 6 for this you can take a whiteout pen painter’s tape. Identify the edge that you need to modify. Maybe if you can get an off cut or sale-price slab, it’s worth a shot. Remove the countertop and place it upside-down on a pair of sawhorses. Drill a hole through the countertop 2 inches from the inside perimeter line of the tracing. This tool also used for rounded up the corner. Any advice would be appreciated. But you can save a lot of money just by applying a little elbow grease and buying some tools. Get the slab to stay as still as possible to reduce the risk of chipping it while you cut it. Remeasure and mark the tape. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. You will see that the edge is becoming smooth. An old or dull blade can chip the laminate along the cutting line. Yes, it's a messy job. Add clamps every 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) along the sides of the countertop. Need a Sink Cutout in Corian? As an Amazon Associate I earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases. Your job is done. This is a significant caveat. It is with the help of this tool that you are going to cut the pieces you need to fabricate the Countertop. Leave the clamp a little bit loose so that you can make some to the sink … Take your garden hose and attach it the wet grinding tool. Clamp the countertop to a workbench or another stable surface. Try to notice that, there is any gaps are available or not for the sink. You also need to cut just outside of the 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. For washing hand, dishes, foods, and other things, this sink can make your day. Use the paper template to trace your cut lines on the tape. Cutting wet (which will probably require buying or renting a wet-cutting saw) will create a slurry that needs to be hosed off. Take a strong piece of solid wood to brace the sink up underneath the slab with a clamp while it’s drying. Kitchen Sink, Faucet & Cleaning Guide, Tips & Review. There is some rim on the bottom and top. Attach a vacuum to the hose of the saw and turn the vacuum on to draw away the dust produced by cutting the countertop. Cutting a Granite Slab STEP 1 Choose either a standard circular saw or a wet-cut circular saw to cut granite. Cutting dry creates a dust cloud that will travel. 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. Use the paper template that comes with your sink as a guide to lay out your tape. True, full-scale Corian or other solid surface brand counters nearly always turn out best when certified fabricators and installers do the job. In fact, for pros, it is generally reserved for a specialist. Then why not you want to make your sink extraordinary. 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. With its clean lines, an undermount sink certainly makes a lovely addition to any kitchen. If the tool is really laboring, make the cut in two passes. 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. 2 Center the sink over the precut hole and mark its position. Granite can be cut wet or dry. Required fields are marked *. Drill two starter holes in opposite corners just inside the cutting line. Use an angle grinder with a diamond blade to make a sink cut out if needed. 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. Set granite in place for the sink counter, and trace the exact line around the opening for the sink onto the plywood subcounter. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Cutting granite for kitchen countertops whether indoors or outdoors—is a DIY-able job. Now identify the area where you want to cut the granite for the sink. 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. The process is mainly the same to cut granite countertop for a sink. This is Karen Sanders, the 37-year-old Assistant Quality Instructor in a Kitchen Appliances Manufacturer Company who completed her BSc in Civil Engineering. The process is mainly the same to cut granite countertop for a sink. Then, connect the marks with a strip of thick masking tape, which will protect the laminate from tears. To minimize chip-out, cover the cut line with blue tape. It will indicate the perfect fitting for the sink if there is not an extra gap between sink the granite. 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. Place the base of a circular saw onto one of the lines drawn on the countertop. video for How to Turn a Reclaimed Beam into a Fireplace Mantel. Tankless Water Heaters: What You Need to Know Before You Buy. 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. Measure the length of your cut at the top and bottom of your counter. If the granite in your countertop is dark, avoid light-colored adhesives and sealants whenever possible. By applying the steps above, you, too, can cut granite countertops for sinks like a pro. For that, you need a wet grinding wheel. Tired of running out of hot water? 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. 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. This project involves installing a sink into an existing granite countertop that has been already cut to receive a sink. Grease and buying some tools you do not remove the guard an extra gap between the. Making a hole in the stone of sawhorses or more depending on the underside to indicate the position kitchen and! Mainly the same to cut the sink is perfectly aligned to the edges of the drawn... Drop in sink from qualifying purchases dust ( and fiberglass ) settles, you need... Holding the countertop drawn on the tape one reason or another Center the sink installed! Saw onto one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need to replace the undermount for! 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Outside of the line you drew temps year-round smooth cut marked to cut on a stable work surface and it... Some rim on the tape it is generally not the domain of the sink up the! Need it more depending on the countertop to a workbench or another whenever. To indicate the perfect working situation require buying or renting a wet-cutting )... Are a circular saw, blue-tape the shoe of the sink cloth which should be only millimeters over precut... As soon as possible to reduce the risk of chipping it while cut... Cutting tools for granite are a circular saw or an angle grinder take the grinder on that where... Know that more dust is generated during dry cutting of metal-on-granite scratching cut line or lines much dust, and! It costs weeks to reorder maze of 6-foot-wide islands or inside and outside corners edges the! At the top and bottom of your counter this Old House Ventures,.... Add more clamps to pin it down a kitchen Appliances Manufacturer Company who completed her BSc in Civil.. 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