- 1). Draw a scale map of your kitchen or bathroom on graph paper with a pencil, using one square of the graph paper to signify 1 square foot of living space. Include in this map the location of the bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets on which the Tahoe granite will be installed.
- 2). Measure the actual size of the vanity or the kitchen cabinets with the tape measure and make a note on the graph paper exactly what these measurements are. You will also need to measure to the exact location of the sink. Bathroom vanities produced with synthetic Tahoe granite may have the sink basin already molded in.
- 3). Purchase the Tahoe granite according to the dimensions you noted on your paperwork. The retailer may request that he be allowed to take his own measurements, particularly if you may have the granite counter or vanity professionally installed. This is a good failsafe measure and a good idea: Once you have purchased the granite and it is cut, you cannot return it, so you'll have to be certain that your measurements are perfect.
- 4). Prepare the cabinets or the vanity for the installation of the Tahoe granite while you are waiting for the new countertops to be delivered. Begin by removing all of the drawers from the cabinets, and all of the small appliances from the bottom cabinets.
- 5). Remove the screws that secure the original countertops to the cabinets with a screwdriver, then disconnect the faucet from the main water line with an adjustable wrench and remove it as well. With the faucet removed, lift the sink out of the original countertop. You may need a razor blade to cut away silicone sealant from the point where the sink and the counter meet.
- 6). Remove the old countertop from the cabinets. On some installations, you will find that under the original countertop is a piece of plywood. If you can easily remove this plywood from the counter top itself, retain it to use in the following step.
- 7). Install a plywood top onto the existing cabinets to support the Tahoe granite countertop. If the original countertop had a plywood underlayment that can be removed from the counter, reuse it. If not, cut a new one from three-fourths-inch plywood using a circular saw. Install the plywood using the screws you removed from the original counter.
- 8). Lay the Tahoe granite countertop in position on the plywood, then use the pencil to scribe around the opening for the sink on the plywood. Lift the countertop and have an assistant hold it while you cut out the sink access hole with a jigsaw.
- 9). Apply beads of silicone adhesive to the plywood spaced 6 inches apart around the edges of the plywood, around the opening for the sink, then lower the countertop onto the adhesive. Work quickly to push the countertop into position, then lay a framing level on top of the stone. If it is even, the installation is complete.
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Level the counter top if it is not level by drilling wood screws up through the plywood base of the countertop until the counter has raised enough to be perfectly level. No additional glue should be necessary, as the amount you should be adjusting the level of the counter should not exceed 1/32 of an inch or less. - 11
Apply a bead of silicon sealant around the base of the sink and carefully lower it into position, making certain that the openings for the faucet are positioned at the back of the counter, rather than at the front. Press down on the sink until a small amount of silicone beads out from underneath the rim, then wipe away the bead with the tip of your finger. Allow the seal to cure before continuing. - 12
Install the faucet into the sink to complete the installation of the Tahoe granite countertop.
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