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installation of granite countertops & island top

What is the correct way of installing granite countertops? Do you need a water barrer under granite? Do you glue tops onto plywood or float on a thinset? Can you lay island top on plywood without gluing or thinset?
 

Dear Diana:

 

Do you need a water barrer under granite?

 

No.

 

Do you glue tops onto plywood or float on a thinset?

 

I prefer to glue it, but just with a few dabs of glue here and there (and the right glue: 100% silicone or epoxy). Be cause of the difference in expansion value between the two materials I don't like full contact bonding.

 

Can you lay island top on plywood without gluing or thinset?

 

By all means.

 

Now remember, it's never too early to think about the proper maintenance of your stone. The issue of what you'll be doing day in and day out to your stone is – as it should be intuitive – vastly more important than its sealing (if and when possible and/or advisable) and it's all too often neglected. As you can tell by reading many of this site's postings, you're not likely to get good information about routine care from your dealer or installer. Don't become another statistic! By logging into the Helpful Hints section of our website at:  http://www.mbstone.com/HH_promo/helpful_hints.htm , you will be able to get the short version of our maintenance guidelines at no charge. The full version of it – a 7-page document considered by many as an industry benchmark – is available in pay- per-download format in our Educational Literature section at:  http://www.mbstone.com/literature/literature.htm .  

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