Whether it’s for a kitchen countertop or a bathroom countertop, you’ll see that marble tiles are used in almost every home. This is because marble tiles provide a luxurious and aesthetic effect, and they’re very easy to clean.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s exterior and interior spaces through beautiful new countertops, you should know that sufficient care and consideration must come along with it. Apart from decoration, you should also know the proper marble countertop installation process and its maintenance, among many other things. Not having basic knowledge can only make things trickier and more difficult for you.
This article will discuss the know-how about marble countertop installation, proper care, and the things you need to keep in mind along the way.
Marble Countertop Installation Process: The Ins and Outs
When purchasing brand-new countertops, knowing the installation process ahead of time is essential to be better prepared for what to deal with. For efficient results, a professional fabricator is often hired to install specialty and stone materials like quartz, marble, or granite to ensure that it’s the right fit for your space. Otherwise, you can always opt to do it yourself just by having the essential tools and equipment.
How to Install Marble Countertops
Here are the steps you need to follow when installing a brand-new marble countertop for your home.
1. Level Your Cabinets and Get Rid of Your Old Countertops
The first step you need to take for marble countertop installation is getting rid of your old countertops and ensuring the cabinets are leveled and secured tightly against the wall. You should know that a flat surface is often delicate for this process, especially since marble countertops are extremely rigid and may crack if they have been forced to bend or flex. If the cabinets aren’t flat enough, minimal small-leveling adjustments can be done afterward, then using some shims beneath your countertop may be the way to go. If not, you’ll have to uninstall and then reinstall your cabinets later.
2. Take Cautious Measurements for Your Marble Countertop in The Bathroom/Kitchen
Once your cabinets are level and flat, the next step is to make a wood template. To do this, take careful measurements of the cabinet’s top part and use these to cut an accurate template from approximately 5 x 8-inch plywood. After this, you can try testing the template to see if it fits and keep on making necessary cuts until you see that it now fits your countertop perfectly.
Your wood template must span the length coming from your interior’s wall up until the countertop’s edge since it needs to serve as support and a template for the last countertop previously installed.
3. Utilize the Wood Template to Make Cutting Marks
The plywood template will then be used to make a mark on the marble for the cutting process. For this, ensure that you consider the marble’s fabricated edges, which are necessary for overhanging the cabinets and plywood. You also might need to make a mark on the sinkhole at the same time.
Remember not to opt for prefabricated marble that already has its edges pre-polished should you decide to follow this step. Otherwise, this process will only get more difficult.
4. Using A Diamond Blade, Cut the Marble Countertops
After you have finished all the steps, you can now create the necessary cuts. In this step, you’ll have to utilize a diamond blade in cutting the marble neatly and more efficiently. If you prefer, an angle grinder may also be feasible, or a circular saw with a larger blade to ensure faster cuts.
Cutting stone as thick as marble can be quite a long process – keep it slow and steady instead of forcing it. All you have to do is exert constant pressure and leave it all up to your blade to do the hard work; otherwise, you’ll only heat your blade up. You can also put water to assist you in cutting the tile even faster while reducing dust, but make sure to use eye and ear protection, among other things. It’s also better to possess the appropriate equipment to avoid any injury when cutting tiles.
5. Place the Marble Bathroom Countertop Tile
After all the necessary cuts are finished, you can start the marble countertop installation for your kitchen or bathroom.
First, you have to screw the wood template down to your cabinet. Use shims for this if your cabinets aren’t leveled perfectly yet. Next, dry fit your marble tile to ensure that it conveniently fits and positions well on the countertop, though do make sure to be cautious and keep the stone supported while positioning it. You want the marble to fit as tightly to the wall in all areas.
6. Glue the Marble Tiles
After a successful dry fit, use silicone to act as an adhesive for the marble tiles. Carefully position the countertop and set it in place where you want it to be.
7. Install Your Backsplash
For the backsplash, you can opt for a matching stone or anything that you think matches the interior of your kitchen or bathroom space.
8. Install the Sink
Lastly, make sure to have any edges caulked up against your wall. After installing the sink, feel free to decorate your countertop with any other items,
Cleaning Your Marble Countertop
Of course, the process doesn’t stop with marble countertop installation. Despite their wonderful feel and rich colors, natural stones are materials that can be quite delicate despite their durability. Knowing how to care for your marble countertop is vital to ensure that it’s well-maintained and clean at all times. While there are natural home remedies for this that you can follow, you can also check out our Countertop Kit that contains effective materials for your countertop maintenance.