It’s a question that we hear a lot: Can I install my own granite countertops? The answer is an emphatic yes, but with the caveat that you may not want to. After all, installing granite countertops is an expensive, arduous, and often difficult task that is perhaps best left in the hands of a professional installer. So, while installing your own granite countertop is something that you can do yourself, it is probably a project best reserved for only the most die-hard of DIY enthusiasts.
Get The Right Tools For The Job
Before you get started, you’ll need to measure your space and order the granite. Obviously, the closer you can get to the exact measurements, the less you’ll spend on granite that doesn’t end up in your countertop. This is one of the places where professional installers have an edge—they’ve done this a lot, and have gotten really detail-oriented, allowing them to get their measurements down to within a fraction of a millimeter.
Next up you’ll need the right tools—and maybe a few strong friends who’re willing to help you move the slabs. When it comes to tools, you’ll need things like a seam setter, a level, a caulk gun, and an angle grinder with a diamond blade. Getting the right tools may cost you a pretty penny, but you also don’t want to skimp. Granite countertops are a big investment, after all, and to install them correctly you’ll want the right tools for the job. Feel free to price compare and shop around, though, as that’s always a smart approach.
Do Your Homework
Before you start work, you’ll want to make sure that you know exactly what you’re going to be doing. Preparing the area for installation is nothing short of demolition, and may include removing the tile backsplash, which can leave you with some drywall or sheetrock repair to do. So before you get started, you want to be sure you have your bearings. YouTube can be a great resource for how-to videos of projects like this.
First you’ll do what’s called a “dry install”—think of it as a trial run. You put the slabs where they’re going to go in order to see if they’re level and flush against the wall, but don’t actually attach them yet. This is where those strong friends come in handy. Then, once everything looks good, you install the countertops for real.
Or… you could hire a professional and let them sweat the details while you relax with a beverage and read up on how to care for your new countertops with the best granite cleaning products around!
Clean, Polish, & Seal After Install
However your new granite countertops ultimately get installed, keeping them looking their best is as easy as 1-2-3 when you’ve got the right tools. For granite installation those tools include all the things we listed above. For granite care and maintenance, the right tools are Rock Doctor’s specially formulated line of granite cleaning products, which you can find at fine retail stores like Lowe’s Home Improvement, as well as participating True Value, Do it Best, and Ace Hardware locations.
