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How Granite Countertops Work

By: Richard Winter  | 

Cutting Granite Countertops

Most granite cutting takes place at the quarry, but some of the cutting must be done at the installation site. It's essential that the proper equipment is used.

To shape the dense material, a standard household circular saw needs to be upgraded with a diamond cutting blade. These blades are available at major home improvement centers. To avoid chipping the edges of granite, professionals use collars that act as big washers on both sides of the blade to reduce the vibration, allowing a cleaner cut.

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When granite is cut dry, a considerable amount of dust is generated. Some installers will use a handheld diamond-bladed radial saw with a vacuum attachment to help minimize the mess. A contour diamond blade is needed to cut out curves like sink openings [source: Walton].

The edge design of the countertop can be shaped in a number of ways: flat, beveled, curved or rounded. But it can be a challenge to cut the edges so they match perfectly or meet precisely in a corner — unless you have access to an automated edge-shaping machine that both cuts and polishes the edge.

Assuming you don't want to buy an expensive piece of equipment, one option is to have a local company cut the edges for you. Typically they'll charge a fee per square foot that includes cutting, edging, profiling and polishing the countertops. Extra fees may apply to sink cutouts (getting these accurately sized for under counter-sink mounts is tricky). Don't forget the delivery charge — granite is heavy and often requires two or more people to carry into your home [source: HGTV].

Get out your big guns— how to install granite countertops is next.