Granite is lovely to look at and stays beautiful for a very long time if installed and cared for properly. Installation is usually best left for a professional. Here is what to expect with an installation for granite:
- The surface your granite will be bonded to must be solid with no bumps, waves or unevenness. Plywood/concrete board or plywood with a moisture sealer is recommended. The plywood is cut flush to cabinets. You can sometimes remodel over laminate.
- Dry-lay tiles and other components, such as metal inserts. Since granite is a natural product, move and/or rotate to produce the desired shading effect.
- Wet saws will cut most angles. The installer will start with the bull-nose (leading or finished edge first.) Most cuts, including both inside and outside angles, can be made and precisely fit on site.
- Better granite brands recommend a thin set that is modified and quick setting or a mortar granite mix. The professional installer will use the recommended product for the substrate and apply it with a trowel that is heavy-gauge.
- A professional will set inside corner components first to “square” the job. Precision milled pieces can be set with no joints for minimal seams and grout lines.
Here are a couple of cool tips for you to use when you are using granite in your home:
Designer tip: choose a grout in a color that is complimentary to the granite for a different look.
Maintenance tip: Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner -- no acids like vinegar or bleach! Using granite as a cutting surface will cause nicks and scratches. Granite is a porous material and requires periodic sealing to prevent staining.