Cutting granite - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

RogersRemod · 03-01-2009, 11:06 PM

I have a customer who has his own granite and wants me to cut it to length and glue two sections together. What is the best way to get a straight cut that can be glued to another piece and yield the best seam?

**loneframer** · 03-02-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogersRemod

I have a customer who has his own granite and wants me to cut it to length and glue two sections together. What is the best way to get a straight cut that can be glued to another piece and yield the best seam?

Trust me, take it to a granite shop and have them do it for you. I have seen many installs,and when there is a problem, the stone always goes back to the shop for re-tooling. Obviously, there is not a practical way to do this on site. You will not have success without a wetsaw pretty much guaranteed. the seams, although straight, have to be scored up on the edges, and epoxy resin is color matched by eye and is used to make the connection with very short open time. It is a job best left to the stoners.

RogersRemod · 03-02-2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks for the reply. The dilemma is this. The homeowner has tried every granite shop in the city, and none is willing to cut it for him because it's not their material. The homeowner offered to sign a waiver to release them from liability if it wasn't perfect, but they still wouldn't touch it. The homeowner wants me to try to cut it anyway, despite the risks. He'll be out $1100 if I can't find a solution.

Mike Finley · 03-02-2009, 09:54 PM

He will only be out 1100 if he doesn't smarten up and hire a granite fab shop to install it. It shouldn't be too hard to find a granite fabricator who will install it and as part of the install cut it.

I would find it very hard to believe nobody in town would install it for him because it's not their material. It's never their material, it's somebody elses before they are hired and the customer picks it out and they pick it up.

I wouldn't find it hard to believe that nobody wants to just cut it.

RogersRemod · 03-02-2009, 11:34 PM

I know you're right. The owner is tough to persuade, though. His goal is to complete the home remodel then sell, so he's reluctant to spend any more than necessary. If he can find an inexpensive way to go, he will. I'm doing other work in the house for him, so he'd like me to take this on. I've done wetsaw work before, but not on granite countertop, and the owner knows this. I suspect he's willing to settle for something less than top quality if the price is right. I'm just not keen about the prospect of compromising quality.

Buck25 · 03-04-2009, 09:18 PM

Straightedge, skillsaw with diamond blade, three passes, go slow.
$50 for epoxy and color kit. Match the color good, because with the skill saw, you'll have chipout at the surface of the cut, causing the joint to look like its about 1/8". Use Liquid Nails marble/granite glue for setting on your plywood base.

For $250 you can get a diamond roundover bit for your grinder.
It's at ezedge.com, but the site is down right now.