Taking on the challenge of cutting a granite countertop can be-An ambitious DIY project to say the least. Granite is the hardest wearing material used in the home building materials, widely recognized for its aesthetic appearance and durability. But for those looking to take on this project on their own, rest assured there are many major hurdles to cross and requirements to meet.
Granite Composition And Hardness Explained
Granite is the nice type of stone is produced by nature, and made up of quartz, mica, and feldspar. It fall between 6 and 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. With hardness level as high as that, you will need specialist cutting tools that are not normally a part of the average home toolbox.
Indispensable Equipment to Cut Granite
You Will Need To Cut Granite
Diamond blade Wet Saw - An important tool in this list as the wet saw lowers dust and cools the diamond blade while cutting. Granite is a particularly hard stone so that is why diamond blades are best suited for the project.
An angle grinder - for small cuts and tickling edges after the primary cuts are made with dust emitted wet saw.
Safety gear: Goggles, gloves, dust mask. Breathing in granite dust is dangerous
How to Cut Granite in 5 Easy to Follow Steps
1. Get your space ready Have a desk/table available where you can work in at a well-ventilated area, away from kids and pets. Based on size of your granite slab, it could easily weigh more than 200 pounds.
2. Regardless of material, we always measure and mark our cut: Our cut was marked with chalk line Skip, or paint tape heap on the granite. It is necessary to be extremely accurate in here not to print away material.
3. Prepare Your Wet Saw Fix the diamond blade into its place and make sure it is steady and in a straight line. Load water into the saw to keep the blade chilled.
4. Cut: Slowly pass the piece of granite through the saw following the line you marked. Strip off the old adhesive, and then, using a good, sharp blade, ever so carefully slice away the old pad: go slower than slow with the blade; allow the blade to do the cutting, DO NOT FORCE IT.
5. Clean up the edges: If the edges are really ragged, straighten them with an angle grinder, then smooth them with a polishing stone or a diamond grinding cup wheel.
Challenges and Risks
SAFETY: PROTECTION against injury with no basic safety idea + experience injuries is quite high. Wet saws and angle grinders for cutting the tile pose a potential safety threat.
Potential for making a mistake: One missed calculation or one slip could ruin and unfixable expensive slab of granite.
Price of equipment: To cut granite you need a good quality wet saw which will cost you a pretty penny and is itself an expensive investment.
Final Thoughts
Is it possible to cut granite yourself and will it give me a sense of accomplishment, but let me be clear, it is a very difficult task and not for the weak of heart. Those inexperienced with heavy or expensive materials may wish to consider professional services. On the other hand, those of us that do take on this project can definitely pull it off if we prepare adequately and follow the necessary safety protocols.
There is much to learn about cutting if you are interested in the topic - check out "cortar encimera granito" for more on handling and refining granite tops.
Be safe and make sure that you are doing the work with accuracy when it comes to cutting granite. Proper technique and personal protection should always be first and foremost to a successful, injury free project.