How to Install Counters Covered With Granite

Set a carpenter’s level in different spots on top of the base cabinets to ensure the cabinets are level. Check from side to side and from front to back. Glue wood shims to the top of the base cabinets, as necessary, with carpenter’s glue to level the cabinets.

Measure and cut 3/4-inch plywood with a circular saw to fit over the tops of the cabinets to serve as reinforcement to carry the weight of the granite slab. Extend the plywood over the front of the cabinets to allow room for the drawers and doors to open. Consult with the granite countertop fabricator regarding how much allowance the countertop needs for the front overhang.

Attach the plywood to the base cabinets with 1 5/8-inch screws spaced 6 inches apart. To keep the wood in the cabinets from splitting, predrill the holes for the screws.

Mark the location of the sink hole, taking care to use the exact location that the fabricator is using. Either turn the sink upside down on the plywood and trace around it or use the template that comes with the installation kit. Drill a hole large enough to insert a jigsaw blade inside each of the four corners of the sink outline.

Insert the jigsaw blade into one of the corners. Cut along one side of the sink. Turn the jigsaw at the corner and cut the next side. Repeat until all four sides are cut. Hold your hand under the plywood to support it as you cut the last side so the plywood doesn’t splinter.

Apply a coating of the adhesive recommended by the granite fabricator to the top of the plywood using a trowel. Set the granite countertop in place on top of the plywood, taking care to align the front and sides over the cabinet. Allow the adhesive time to dry, following package directions.

Place masking tape along the edges of seams. Mix polyester glue resin with color pigments that match the granite. Add hardener and stir well with a thin plastic stick. Work the glue into the seam and smooth it down. Remove the tape. Let the glue dry according to package directions. Lightly buff the seam using a 0000 steel wool pad to smooth it.