Looking for someone to install a granite countertop in my kitchen
I could use your help. I am now wondering how difficult it will be to find a granite fabricator to install my new granite countertops in my kitchen. I just purchased the four 8-foot “pre-fabricated” granite countertop slabs at Menards. Menards is like a Home Depot or a Lowes in Minnesota. I was thinking I could hire someone to cut the existing 8-foot slabs to the proper lengths for my kitchen and also cut out some granite in order to insert a new kitchen sink. Specifications of each granite slab (in general they are finished on 3 edges and ready to be installed): 96 in long and 25 1/4 in. wide, 2 cm (approximately 3/4 in.) thick, Three edges finished with a curved edge style and one 8-foot unfinished edge to place against the wall. The three finished edges are double thickness to give a 3 cm (approximately 1 1/4 in.) finished edge. Each granite slab comes with an 8-foot long backsplash, 4 in. wide and 2 cm (approximately 3/4 in.) thick for optional use as part of the counter top. My old kitchen countertops are in a U-shape with a peninsula used to separate the kitchen work area from the eating area. There is one sink cutout required in the middle of a 79 in. long piece of granite (that is my measurement of the length I believe will be used over the sink). I will install all of the base cabinets and then I need someone to cut the 8-foot finished slabs to the proper lengths and install the granite counter top. I talked to a couple of Menard’s employees and obtained the names of a few handymen with experience in working with granite countertops. I called 2 of them and found out they were not interested in cutting 2cm thick granite slabs (especially for the sink). This is my first experience with granite. I thought 2 cm and 3 cm think granite slabs were the two common choices. I also thought fabricators and installers have developed routines to handle common cutouts such as for a sink. One handyman mentioned using steel rods to strengthen the area around the sink. An online search on the topic found the tactic of cutting channels in the granite and then gluing steel rods in the channels to provide extra support. I am wondering if larger companies working with granite countertops will be willing to work with countertops not purchased at their store. I was surprised that Menards didn’t suggest anyone who could handle the job but I have only called 2 prospects so far. I would appreciate any suggestions on to find someone with experience to tackle my granite countertop project? Thanks for any comments. Anyone who purchases a granite counter top or any other specialty product for that matter at a box store IMO should consider it a DIY project. With any project there is an element of risk, even for a pro, that a mistake can happen. Your problem would be to find someone to accept that risk for the small installation fee and not have a cushion of a profit on the counter top. With this in mind you might want to also get a quote from a qualified installer for the top as well as the installation. We were considering the same DIY project with the exact same slabs from Menards. What ever happened with your project, did you get them installed? Lisa, No have not had any luck... one place using my slabs $2200 I can understand if it breaks ok then I am out but this is crazy In states I have lived I have always avoid the big box stores and gone direct to granite suppliers. these are often the guys who have their shops in small industrial plazas for example. These are the guys the builders will use. They do all their own cutting, carry their own slab inventory and will install. they can cut and put whatever edge you want on, and deliver. I have done this twice with good success and lower costs in the end. I did my outdoor kitchen counter requirements including a bar top wrap around for $2000 all in. Probably 16 feet of counter and the same for the bar top. I had alot of selection at that price also. the big box store wanted alot more than the $2000 just for the granite. What I paid included install. Might at least be worth considering and checking out in your neck of the woods. I have never seen a full width cut made in the field. as equinox mentioned they are done in the shop under controlled conditions with special alignment saws. The fit is almost perfect. Then they are brought to your house, installed, and the seam made invisible. Good luck to all in finding someone to do the cutting and fitting. Specialty items like granite are not things places like Menards or HD should be selling to the public, and they know it.
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