Getting new countertops can be fun and exciting, but the installation process can be a bit difficult. If you don’t want to hire someone to set up your countertops for you, there are steps you can take to do it yourself. First, you will need to properly remove your old countertops. Next, make sure your new laminate, wood or granite countertops are properly adjusted before attaching them to the top of your cabinets.
Remove the sink. First, remove the garbage disposal and drain valve, and put a shop rag in the hose to prevent foul odors from entering it. Then disconnect the hot and cold water supply lines from your tap. Use a screwdriver to remove the sink supports located under the sink. Next, stand over the sink and place your fingers under the outside rim of the sink and pull it up and out.
Glue the counter with silicone sealant. Lift or remove the pieces of granite. Spray a dollop of silicone sealant the size of half a dollar on the top of the cabinets every 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches), over the entire surface. Then lay the pieces one at a time and adjust them if necessary to make sure they are positioned correctly.
Use a compass to straighten the edge of the counters. Place your new laminate countertops where the old ones have just been and make sure they are as close to the wall as possible. Find the part of the new backsplash that is furthest from the wall and place a compass at this exact width. Draw a line along the entire rear edge of the backsplash while keeping the compass set to this width.
Use shims to level the meter. Once all the pieces are in place, you will probably notice that there are spaces or places where the counter is not level. To fix this, place small plastic shims between the top of the cabinet and the bottom of the granite. Check several places using a level to make sure your countertop is perfectly flat.
Sand the edge of the counters with a belt sander. Remove the pieces from the counter. Sand the edge of the backsplash using a belt sander to the line you have drawn.
Seal the seams with caulk. Use silicone sealant to fill the joints between the backsplash and the wall. This will help keep your new counter in place.
Put the granite in place. Place each piece of your new granite countertop in place, one at a time. Make sure that each piece is correctly positioned and that it is positioned flush against the wall.
Tighten and tighten the miter pliers. Make sure the countertop is flush against the wall and use a miter clamp kit to tighten and hold the countertop in place. Use a wrench to first tighten the clamps furthest from the backsplash, then tighten the clamps closest to the backsplash.
Cut the plumbing and electricity in your kitchen. Turn the valves located under the kitchen sink to shut off the hot and cold water. If you can’t find them, you can also shut off the main water line for your entire home. Then flip the switch in the breaker box that supplies electricity to your kitchen.
Cut and glue the strips of fur every 16 inches (41 cm). Use a hand saw to cut strips of plywood 2 inches (0.64 cm) in length 2 inches (5.1 cm) shorter than the depth of your cabinets. Next, lay these strips of fur on top of the cabinets at a distance of 16 inches (41 cm) from each other. Use beads of bathroom and kitchen sealant to attach the strips of fur to the top of the cabinets.
Drive the cutting deck screws through each hole from below. Position yourself inside the cabinets and drill a platform screw with a washer through each hole and into the butcher block. Make sure the screws are long enough to pass through your furs and halfway through the thickness of your butcher block.
Clean and seal countertops. Wipe the counter with a clean cloth and a mixture of warm water and dish soap. Thoroughly dry the counter with another clean cloth. Then saturate the counter surface with a sealer. Let the product sit for 10 minutes, or as long as the product indicates, and wipe off the excess with a clean cloth.
Wipe the counter with mineral oil. Put a little mineral oil on a clean, lint-free cloth and wipe the entire surface of your butcher counter. Let the oil soak for a few minutes, then wipe off the excess with another clean cloth. Do this every month to keep your butcher block in good condition.
Glue the edges together with the caulk. Apply a thin bead of silicone caulking to the edges of the countertops which will be placed next to each other. Press the edges together for several seconds, or for the time recommended by the caulking instructions. Once all the counter parts have been glued and pressed together, put the counter back in place.
Drill a hole through each strip of fur and place the counters. Use a drill to punch holes in the center of the fur strips from below. Drill a hole in each cabinet. Next, lay the butcher block countertops on the fur strips and place them so that they are flush with the wall. Tighten each screw until you feel it pull the countertop toward the cabinet.
Sand and wipe your new counters. Use a hand sander or an oscillating sander to sand the entire surface of your butcher block countertops. Start with 150 grit and work up to 220. Then wipe the counters with a damp cloth and let them dry. Sand and wipe them once or twice more until they are no longer rough to the touch.
Remove the old counter. Use a lever, hammer and putty knife to remove the backsplash and any caulk or glue that keeps the countertop in place. Pass your knife where the backsplash meets the wall to minimize damage to the wall. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws that secure the current countertops to the cabinets below. Then gently remove your countertops from the front, one at a time, starting with the smallest piece.
