How much does it cost to cut granite?

[Coleus]

I am setup a wetbar 2'x6' and looking for the cheapest way to have granite counter top. Look around kijij and saw couple remnant slab this size or little bit bigger at very cheap around 350 dollars. I was wondering if anyone know where and what would be the cost to get it cut a sink and faucet hole?
Thanks

[Slava]

You need a fabricator. Do you need the edges done and the sink and faucet cut or just the sink and faucet?

The installation and fabrication isn't cheap though.

[Azure]

Hire a company that specializes in granite tops to do it for you. Otherwise there is a pretty good chance you or whoever that does it will wreck something.

Talking from experience here.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Azure

Hire a company that specializes in granite tops to do it for you. Otherwise there is a pretty good chance you or whoever that does it will wreck something.

Talking from experience here.

Definitely. Granite isn't something a home handyman can do!

[Azure]

Plus, it is harder than it looks to make the joint properly, if you actually have one. Applying the granite is actually pretty easy. Most companies just use a form of silicone to hold it down. The cutting part is relatively easy as well, provided you know what you're doing and you have the right tools.

We recently did some renovations in a few of our offices, and the guys who did installed the Caesar Stone from Floform did a remarkable job installing everything.

[Slava]

Well Caesarstone is a man-made stone. Its basically epoxy, quartz and crushed granite formed into slabs. Still just as hard to work with I would imagine, but a little different.

A lot of fabricators have saws to make the cuts perfect and have all of the right tools (and skills) to make sure that you get a perfect fit. This includes making the edges look nice, depending on the finish you want, getting the corners mitered properly and that sort of thing.

Depending on how big the slab is they also have the equipment to move and handle this. A slab weighs about 1000 lbs. so its not something you just call a buddy over to help move.

[Azure]

They're actually pretty good at moving the slabs around. The one piece we had was easily around 1000 lbs, and they had no problem getting it on there with two guys.

Pretty cool.

There are some work with 'cabinets' that you can very well do yourself, but when it comes to granite, quartz and even Caesarstone, I prefer to let the professionals handle it. Outside of helping our clients pick what they want, we don't touch any countertops like that. All the installation is done by the company who makes the countertop.

[Slava]

What do you do for a living, Azure?

[IGGYRULES]

I disagree with most of the the above and I've worked with alot of granite myself. The part where you need professional help is the edges. If you can get a slab that has the edges done you can easily cut and drill through granite. All you need is a small hand held wet tile saw with a diamond blade (don't get a serrated or turbo blade otherwise it will chip). You can also get coring bits from a tool store. There are a couple keys to doing it properly.

Cutting;

1. Run some green painters tape down the line where you want to cut, this helps keep it from chipping. Clamp a straight edge to the granite and run the table of the saw down it to keep you cut straight. Grab a wet sponge (if you're not hooking the water up directly to the saw) and place it next to the blade and squeeze out slowly. Cut really slowly. Your edge should turn out perfect and will be easy to epoxy together with another piece.

Coring;

Grab a 2 by 4 and drill the same size hole in it as you will be doing in the slab. Clamp the 2 by 4 down in the correct spot and fill the hole halfway with water. Keep watered down with a sponge or re-fill the hole as need be while you're coring with the diamond bit. Go slow with the drill/coring bit and you won't burn it out.

Epoxy;

Put your joints together and leave about a 1/8" gap. Tape both edges so that you have about 1/8" of slab showing on both pieces. You can level the slab from underneath the cabinet by screwing a drywall screw up where it's low to lift the top. You may need to add weight to the top as well to help get the joint perfectly aligned if slightly bowed. Get some 2 part 5 minute epoxy and some paint coloring. Mix as per directions and add color as needed to try to match. You can also use granite dust instead of coloring. If you have some extra granite from cutting or coring just run you diamond blade on it and grind until you get a small pile of dry powder. Add that to the epoxy and the color should match pretty good. Fill the joint when the epoxy starts to gel up a little. You can use a flat razor to cut flush when dry. If need be re-apply the tape and do again until satisfied with the results. Use some acetone to wipe the joint after you use the razor to get the sheen back on the epoxy.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Slava

What do you do for a living, Azure?

I work at a custom kitchen cabinet shop.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by IGGYRULES

I disagree with most of the the above and I've worked with alot of granite myself. The part where you need professional help is the edges. If you can get a slab that has the edges done you can easily cut and drill through granite. All you need is a small hand held wet tile saw with a diamond blade (don't get a serrated or turbo blade otherwise it will chip). You can also get coring bits from a tool store. There are a couple keys to doing it properly.

Cutting;

1. Run some green painters tape down the line where you want to cut, this helps keep it from chipping. Clamp a straight edge to the granite and run the table of the saw down it to keep you cut straight. Grab a wet sponge (if you're not hooking the water up directly to the saw) and place it next to the blade and squeeze out slowly. Cut really slowly. Your edge should turn out perfect and will be easy to epoxy together with another piece.

Coring;

Grab a 2 by 4 and drill the same size hole in it as you will be doing in the slab. Clamp the 2 by 4 down in the correct spot and fill the hole halfway with water. Keep watered down with a sponge or re-fill the hole as need be while you're coring with the diamond bit. Go slow with the drill/coring bit and you won't burn it out.

Epoxy;

Put your joints together and leave about a 1/8" gap. Tape both edges so that you have about 1/8" of slab showing on both pieces. You can level the slab from underneath the cabinet by screwing a drywall screw up where it's low to lift the top. You may need to add weight to the top as well to help get the joint perfectly aligned if slightly bowed. Get some 2 part 5 minute epoxy and some paint coloring. Mix as per directions and add color as needed to try to match. You can also use granite dust instead of coloring. If you have some extra granite from cutting or coring just run you diamond blade on it and grind until you get a small pile of dry powder. Add that to the epoxy and the color should match pretty good. Fill the joint when the epoxy starts to gel up a little. You can use a flat razor to cut flush when dry. If need be re-apply the tape and do again until satisfied with the results. Use some acetone to wipe the joint after you use the razor to get the sheen back on the epoxy.

I never meant to say that it couldn't be done, but when you screw up a $15,000 dollar countertop and have to replace it, you tend to let the company that makes the granite do the installation.

But, for smaller pieces, if you're not worried about possibly wrecking it, by all means it is possible.

[4X4]

I definitely found IGGYRULES' advice interesting, and theoretically sound, but I'd still be hesitant to cut my own granite. It's just one of those things that once you screw up, your choices are to buy a new slab and try again, or buy a new slab and pay someone to do it professionally, or live with your crappy cut and look at it all the time. I don't like any of those options.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I definitely found IGGYRULES' advice interesting, and theoretically sound, but I'd still be hesitant to cut my own granite. It's just one of those things that once you screw up, your choices are to buy a new slab and try again, or buy a new slab and pay someone to do it professionally, or live with your crappy cut and look at it all the time. I don't like any of those options.

And its not like the darn thing is cheap.

[You Need a Thneed]

I'm assuming that most people don't just have diamond saw and coring bits sitting around the house. If you want to do the work yourself, it will cost well over 100 bucks for the bits/ blades you need. If you are doing a small piece, getting it installed professionally probably doesn't cost much more. If you are getting something big, the chances of screwing up and wasting a lot of money is too great to chance doing it yourself.

Just my opinion.

[Flames_Gimp]

if u could transport the slab to a granite place yourself i bet its not too expensive for a couple cuts

[Flames_Gimp]

http://www.calgarygranite.com/

give them a call, i used them and was happy with their work

[Coleus]

thanks everyone, I will not going to do it myself because i know i will wreck it somehow. Guess i will have to call around to get the price

Thanks

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Coleus

thanks everyone, I will not going to do it myself because i know i will wreck it somehow. Guess i will have to call around to get the price

Thanks

Just phone some places and ask them for the price if you supply the stone. Some may not be interested for various reasons (they want to sell the granite, they don't want to agree to work with an unknown quality of stone, too busy, etc) but some may give you a good idea of varying costs.

Like any business, I find if you call a few you will get the info you need to make the decisions.

[surferguy]

I have used Alberta marble and tile a handful of times in the past and was always happy with them.