We have an opportunity to buy some unused granite worktops cheap for our new kitchen (the vendors had a disagreement over its use). My builder is happy to fix it but appears a bit vague about how sections are joined. Searches suggest you should use some sort of epoxy resin. Is this the case and, if so, where can we get some? Any help appreciated.
Many thanks.
Ours are just butted up and filled with clear silicon mastic. The granite being a very random mix of white, grey and black this does very well.
Never having had anything to do with granite worktops (and wondering whether it's time I did!) how does it work if you want to fit a kitchen with these? Naive question I'm sure but do you order up all the slabs beforehand and hope they fit, or do you fit the whole kitchen except for worktops and then measure up for them (and have no worktops for however long?)
Sorry, no help to the OP...
David
You fit the kitchen first making sure that as much as possible is as square as possible. Do not tile the walls.
You then template the areas involved using sheets of hardboard, ply or MDF of about 6mm thickness. It is very important that the templates fit the areas properly. Certain shapes will work. Rectangles and L-shapes are OK even if there is a cutout for an underhung sink. The producers tend not to like to do large L shapes or U shapes where there is a thin section - e.g. back of a sink. There is a risk of cracking and breaking. They can machine drainage grooves next to a sink if you like.
You need to specify the front machining - for example rounded edges or fancier and the surface treatment - polished or honed.
Lead time, assuming that you have selected the material and given budgetary sizes so that it can be bought in if not in stock, is typically about a week.
The worktop is fitted by using small dabs of silicone on the cupboards and is slid into place. Then tile down to it, finally finishing with an expansion joint in silicone (clear unless there's a good reason otherwise).
I did this exercise for kitchen worktops and just recently for some shelves for my cloakroom project. A "rectangular" shelf for one end of the room above the cistern was needed. On measuring and templating the shape was actually slightly trapezoidal. With the shelf 250mm deep, the rear edge was about 4mm shorter than the front edge.
Most shops selling stone tiles and some kitchen places can organise granite worktops but usually need to send the work to a specialist place. Therefore, a little checking can usually find a place with workshop facilities. They will usually have a better selection and pricing.
I can recommend this one:
[...]
Thanks a lot for all that Andy - certainly food for thought.
David
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.