- 1). Remove all wall socket cover plates, and remove the bottom window trim if the granite reaches to the window. If the wall is painted, scrub any dirt or grease from the surface. If there are any bumps in the surface, sand them down. Rough up the surface with 80-grit sandpaper to give the wall tooth for the adhesive to grab on to.
- 2). Check the backs of the granite slabs to make sure they are dry. If they aren't dry, lay them backside-up across two saw horses. Heat the back of the granite slabs with a propane torch until all the water has evaporated. Wait for the granite to cool before lifting it up.
- 3). Load a tube of construction adhesive into a caulk gun. Place 1-inch-diameter patches of adhesive on the wall that's receiving the granite. Place the adhesive every eight inches both horizontally and vertically across the face of the wall.
- 4). Lift the first granite slab, with the help of another person, and rest the bottom edge of the slab on the countertop. Lift again and set the bottom edge of the slab into place against the wall with the adhesive, and press the entire slab tightly to the wall. Repeat for the remaining slab sections. Leave a 1/16-inch space between adjoining slabs.
- 5). Mix up a 2-part granite epoxy per the manufacturer's directions, to glue the seams together. Mix the pigment matching the granite into the epoxy resin first. Next mix in the hardener. Use a 1-inch-wide putty knife to force the epoxy into the seam. Run the putty knife blade vertically up and down each seam to coat the inside faces of the adjoining slab edges.
- 6). Lock a 6-inch suction cup onto the face of each slab section one at a time, to pull or push one slab tight to the next. The epoxy takes between 10 and 15 minutes to set up and three hours to cure. The initial setup of the epoxy can be accelerated by lighting a propane torch and running the flame up and down the seam for five seconds. Don't let the tip of the flame come into direct contact with the granite or epoxy.
- 7). Clean off excess surface epoxy with a utility knife blade held against the surface of the granite at a 45-degree angle. Replace socket cover plates and window trim.
previous post