Granite Countertop Installation and Repair

Your granite countertop will be supported by your base cabinets and the surface must be secured to the base cabinet. Because it’s a natural stone, you don’t want to ruin it by screwing it into those cabinets. Instead, you’ll need a construction adhesive product that is designed specifically for granite countertops. Granite slabs should be installed with granite adhesive, which is an epoxy glue, making it a better option than mastic glue or general adhesive. You can apply this granite adhesive to the edge of the cabinet and then lower the countertop onto the cabinet. Once it’s in place, the glue will dry to keep your granite countertop secure.

If your granite slab is less than 3 cm thick, over your dishwasher, or for a bartop overhang, you’ll need something to put under the countertop. The most popular option is plywood. Plywood is durable, which will give your fragile granite the extra support it needs. Plywood is also one of the cheaper options while still being solid enough to support the countertop. If you don’t want to use plywood, you can also secure your granite countertop with poles, brackets, or corbels.

For countertops that overhang the cabinets by more than eight to ten inches, you can install support brackets or corbels. When installing brackets, make sure you secure them to one of the studs and align them with the granite countertop overhang for even more support. To finish your granite countertop installation, apply the adhesive, spacing them out six to twelve inches all along the edge. Avoid using too much adhesive to make positioning your countertop even easier.

A granite countertop is so heavy that it can actually hold itself in place. However, you should still run a layer of acrylic caulk on the underside of the slab where its base meets the cabinet top. If you need an extra layer of stability, you can use shims or brackets. Hidden countertop brackets can also be attached to the countertop. For a balanced solution, install your brackets every twenty-four inches around the perimeter.