Is it possible to retro fit a conventional stainless steel kitchen sink with an undermount sink. I have a granite counter top surrounding the 2 sinks. Can this be done and if so, is this a major undertaking? Thank you - Pam

Hello Pam. This might work but it will be very messy and probably not give you the best results. First of all, your top mount sink was most likely caulked around the edge, between the sink lip and the granite surface. When you lift the sink, you will see a caulking stain that will most likely be impossible to remove because it has been there for a long time.

Secondly, a fabricator will have to re-cut and polish the opening to the fit the new undermount sink. A topmount sink cut-out is usually larger than an undermount polished cutout so I doubt you will find a large enough undermount sink that will allow you to do what you want.

If you want to pursue this further, start by measuring the already cut opening in the existing countertop. You might have to get under the sink to measure how and where it was cut. Then look for an undermount sink that is bigger than the opening and still fits within your cabinet size. If you pass these two hurdles, go ahead and pull the sink up to see how bad the caulking stain is.

My question is: can granite tiles be installed over a laminate counter top. If so, any special instructions. - Madeline

Hello Madeline. I guess theoretically you could do this but I would never recommend it. Perhaps you could screw cement board to the laminate top and then install the granite tile over that. However, there are many factors that could cause the granite tile installation to fail because of the unknown integrity of the laminate counter top installation. Plus, if you do this, your granite surface will be about 3/4″ higher than it was before. This might not seam like a lot but you will notice the difference and it will most likely bother you.

You really need to remove the laminate top first. You should remove the existing top, then install 3/4″ plywood (for tile installation only), then install 1/4″ Hardi-board over the plywood by screwing it down. Be sure to put a strip of hardboard on the front counter edge as well.

Hello Tom, my wife and I are remodeling our kitchen taking down walls new cabinets and are looking at a granite called Giallo Veneziano, my question to you is: do I do a all tile back splash from counter top all the way 18 inches or all granite back splash to the bottom of cabinet….what is your opion on that.

I thank you for your time. We find your site wonderful it is people like you that help all of us out!

Regards,
Mark & Nicole

Hello Mark. I would definitely recommend using granite slab over granite tile for the splash. The granite shading difference between tiles to slab can vary too much. Secondly, the granite joints in the tile will degrade the beautiful seamless look of the countertops.

However, if it takes another slab to do the backsplash, then there is a budget consideration to go with tile. If you do choose tile, just be sure the joints are not wider than 1/16″ and that the color range of the tile closely matches the range of the slab countertops. Install the tile at a diagonal 45 degrees.

Best wishes!

Dear Tom;

We are having a new home built and we just had our walk-thru and I noticed that the granite countertop in one section about 1.5 ft long has a large gap (about 1/2 to 3/4 inches deep). It appears the granite installers did not properly install or properly cut the template. We have a ceramic backsplash that was also installed between the countertop and the upper cabinets and it is not covering this large gap. The builder is trying to say a strip of some sort will be placed in the edge but this defeats the purpose of the granite and tile backsplash. Is there a more cost effective way to cover this gap? We have the black and tan granite countertop and the backsplash is a tumbled ceramic in tan color. — Andrea

Hello Andrea,

What you are describing is not uncommon because of human error but it is the fault of the fabricator. It is nice of you to try to work with them and there is one suggestion that I have for your to explore.

First let me say that the strip will not look good so don’t do it.

Short of tearing the granite countertop out and starting over, you need to at least tear the tile out completely. Then, the contractor can install a 1/2″-3/4″ thick green board or cement board on the back of the wall where the tile will be installed. The tile can be installed over the board and this should cover the gap. Now then, this procedure will also require trim at all the outside splash edges. Tile can be cut to return the tile back to the wall. It can actually be a nice look when done properly because is make the tile on the splash look thicker and can give an ‘old world’ quality look. I prefer it this look, actually.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Hi Tom.
Recently we had a company install granite countertops in our new kitchen. We are not happy with them. We have an island in Ubatuba with a ogee edge on it, which of course, I chose. The problem is when you look down the edges you see ripples. the stone appears wavy. On the rest of the counters we had a squared edge and it doesn’t look like this. Is this normal for the stone, that’s what I was told. - Sue

Hello Sue,

It sounds like the fabricator did not have an automatic linear edging machine to do the ogee edge detail. The undulated result that you are describing is typical when an inexperience shop worker tries to route and polish an edge detail by hand. It is not common in shops that have automatic machinery. Sorry for the bad news.

Greetings Tom. We purchased a bathroom vanity with a granite countertop. The granite goes by the name of Atlantis and is the traditional forest green and black color. Prior to purchasing the vanity we purchased a bathroom faucet which we would like to use. However we’ve just realized that the holes which were drilled in the granite will not fit the faucet mechanisms as the faucet does not have two handles but only has one handle for the hot/cold tap. Can we drill into the granite ourselves? What tools do we need? How readily does granite crack or split? Thank you. - Don and Wanda

Hello Don and Wanda. An experience granite person is needed to do the drilling with a diamond core bit. It can be done but you should not try it. Check www.GraniteStock.com for a professional near you and maybe they can help.

Two years ago we had a solid granite countertop installed with a 9″ deep stainless steel undermount sink. I am having plumbing leaks under the sink and am being told that the stub-out from the wall is too high and the sink is too low, therefore causing drainage (water is actually flowing down instead of horizontal) and leaking connection problems. Also, one of the sinks is offset at the back so the connection at the stub-out is very close to the outside wall.

I was told that the stub-out can be moved by tearing out the wall behind the cabinets, but would prefer to remove and re-install a lesser depth sink if I can find one with the same sink pattern.

How difficult is the undermount sink to remove? I am thinking of having a lesser depth sink installed. Is removing the sink a task that me as a layman can do or do I need to have a granite person do this? Thanks for your help.

Hello. Unfortunately I do not know how your original sink is mounted. If it is wedge between plywood and the granite, then you must route out the wood in order to drop the sink. This is not easy but can be done. You must look under the sink to see what is involved. If your sink is epoxied to the granite, then forget trying to remove it.

I would contact a good handyman to inspect the work that needs to be done. Then get your sink prior to actually doing the work. You might not find another sink that fits. Also, you are going to have to come up with a clip system to hold the new sink up. I am sorry but I just don’t have enough information about your current installation to consult you properly. I do think that a good handyman can pull this off though.

Hi,
I am thinking about using 3cm thick granite as a counter top. About 58 sq. feet. I am concerned about the weight. This will be placed near the center of the house, not a lot of support from the basement. Will this cause the floor joists to sag over time?

Thanks, John

Hello John,

Regardless of the overall size of the countertops, you only need to consider the weight per square inch. Your countertops at 58 square feet (3cm thick) weigh about 1,040 pounds total. However, the gross distributed load (GDL) is .12 pounds per square inch (or 18 pounds per square foot) when resting horizontally on the cabinets. This weight will not create much pressure so do not worry unless your house was built with toothpicks.

My very best wishes,

Tom Cordova

Hi Tom,
We recently had Tropical Brown granite tops installed in our kitchen. We have a horseshoe shaped countertop area that required two seams. When the contractor was finished I noticed the third piece (which goes to the bar area) of granite was about an 1/8 of an inch thicker. The seams match fine on top but they used shims between the cabinets and counter tops. You can notice the thickness difference at the edge. The contractor stated that this was because the “difference in the rock”. Is this a common occurance? –Will

Hello William

No it is not common but does occur. It sounds like an honest mistake on the part of the contractor. The overseas supplier was sloppy with his gang saw blades and did not gauge the blades correctly. The difference in thickness does not look good. I would discuss this more with the contractor because obviously this in not acceptable without some sort of blending between the pieces.

My husband is building our new kitchen and has done all the work himself. We had been planning on him installing the Granite himself as well. The first fabricator/contractor told us it would not be a problem and the 2nd told us no way. We have picked Bordeaux Bronze from the warehouse distributor and have it on hold, right now. We were told that this color might be harder to install because of a chance of it cracking on us in transport or install. We can save over $700 if we do it ourself. What is your advise? Is there a similar color that we would have better luck doing ourself? It is a small kitchen. Maybe we should go without granite, if it can not be done ourself.

Thanks, Inga

Hello Inga,

Bordeaux is more fragile than other granites until it is installed. I can only say this: Paying for installation is like buying insurance. If anything goes wrong, it is not your problem. I would beg for a lower price, borrow the money, or barter with services if needed, but don’t try to install granite countertops yourself.

The odds are that you will either crack/break the top or at least install it out of level. Keep looking for installers that can meet your budget. Try www.GraniteStock.com for example.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova