- 1). Measure your countertop area and cut pieces of 3/4-inch-thick plywood to fit over the counter, using your circular saw. Remember to factor in a 5/8-inch overhang over the front of the cabinets.
- 2). Cut pieces of cement backboard to fit over the exact same area. Do not let the joints between pieces of backboard fall at the same location as your joints between pieces of plywood. Cut backboard by scoring it with a utility knife, then snapping the piece on your score mark, and finally cutting the other side with your utility knife. Also cut 2-inch-wide strips of backboard to fit around the edges of the countertop.
- 3). Measure and cut, with a jigsaw, any openings you will need in the plywood and the backboard. You may find it easier to make these cuts after both pieces are installed, but you should at least mark the hole locations with a pen or pencil now.
- 4). Place the plywood over the cabinets and secure it with 1 1/2-inch screws, using a drill with a screwdriver attachment. Place a screw every 6 inches around the edge of the plywood.
- 5). Place your thinset mortar into a bucket and add water according to the directions on the thinset. Mix the solution together until it has the consistency of mashed potatoes. Only mix enough to apply a thin cover to your countertop, as any extra will harden before you need it again.
- 6). Apply a 1/4-inch layer of thinset to the plywood base with your trowel. Once the thinset is on, position the trowel at a 45-degree angle from the countertop and drag it across the thinset, creating ridges in the thinset.
- 7). Place your backboard over the thinset. Drive 1-inch screws through the backboard every 6 inches along the sides and every 8 inches across the face of the backboard. Place your 2-inch strips around the edges of the backboard, so the top of the strip is flush with the top of the board, and screw them into place. Place a piece of mesh tape over the side pieces and onto the edges of the board. Apply a very thin layer of thinset over the taped areas. Wait a few hours for the thinset to dry. Specific drying times will be located on the thinset container.
- 8). Place your granite tiles onto the countertop, starting at an outside corner. Place spacers next to the tiles and continue to add more tiles to the countertop until you have filled in the entire area, except for spaces which will require tiles to be cut. Position any tiles on the edge of the countertop a distance over the edge equal to the thickness of the tile, plus 1/4-inch. Measure any spaces that require a cut tile, and make a mark on that tile along the line or lines you need to cut.
- 9). Place a tile that you need to cut on your diamond wet saw. Position the line on the tile with the saw's blade, and turn the saw on. Gently push the tile up into the blade, and continue until the cut is done. Don't force the tile in, just let the saw do the work. Always wear goggles when you are cutting stone. Make every cut that you need, including the 2-inch wide pieces for the edge of the countertop, and place the tile on the countertop to ensure it is the right size. Remove all your tile once you have cut every piece.
- 10
Check each tile you are going to use for exceptionally sharp edges, especially those tiles that you cut. Use a honing stone along the sharp edges to dull them slightly. - 11
Mix up another batch of thinset mortar and apply it over a 3-foot-by-3-foot area of the backboard, starting near the corner of the countertop. Create ridges in the thinset in the same manner as before. Place your first tile into the thinset, on the corner of the countertop and in the exact same position as your dry layout. Twist the granite tile slightly as you put it in place, to ensure it digs into the thinset. Apply spacers to the sides, and then add more tile. Continue to add tile and thinset until the entire countertop is covered. - 12
Apply thinset to the back of the 2-inch-wide edge tile pieces. Place the tiles onto the edge of the countertop, leaving a 1/8-inch space between the edge tiles and the countertop tiles. Wrap these pieces in painter's tape to ensure they don't move while the thinset cures. Allow the thinset to cure, for an amount of time listed on the container, before you continue. - 13
Mix your grout with water according to the directions on the tub of grout. Apply the grout to the countertop using your grout float. Work the grout into the spaces between the tiles, then drag the float diagonally across the tiles to remove the excess grout. Wait about 15 to 20 minutes, then wipe the tiles diagonally with a damp sponge to remove any leftover grout. Wash the sponge regularly and make sure it is damp, and not dripping wet. Let the grout cure for a few hours, then buff out any remaining grout on the tiles with a rag. - 14
Allow the countertop to cure for at least a week. Then apply a grout sealer to the grout lines. This sealer is required if you want your countertop looking good for a long time. Just apply the sealer with a paintbrush, and allow it to dry for a few hours.
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