How To Cut Marble Countertop

Did you know marble countertop is an ABSOLUTE favorite among the pastry chefs all over the world?

The elegant look, timeless appeal and soft, subtle beauty of a marble kitchen countertop is something that’s hard to find anywhere else!

Not to mention, the cool surface of a marble maintains a constant 62-Degree Fahrenheit most of the time, which makes it an ideal choice for kneading dough, pastries, cookies or even ice-cream!

This limestone is also a popular choice for making bathroom countertops as it has heat-resistant capability and doesn’t get damaged if you accidentally drop your curling machine on top of it once in a while!

Want to make your dream countertop come true with this natural stone?

Follow this article and you will get to know all about how to cut marble countertop like a pro without making any expensive mistake!

Tools You Will Need

1. Masking Tape

It’s also known as “Painter’s tape”.

This tape is pretty easy to tear and apply on any given surface. The masking tape helps protect the edge of your worktop and allows you to avoid all sorts of scratch marks on it while you are working.

2. Circular Stone Saw

A circular stone saw is a power tool that cuts through tiles quite easily. You can make all sorts of cuts that are necessary with this appliance including bevel cuts, straight cuts, rip cuts, crosscuts etc.

3. Clamp

While you are working on a project, you will need some sort of tools to hold your work securely in place and that’s where a pair of clamps come in handy!

However, you have to choose the weight of the clamps according to your project size and also use pads under them to avoid any unwanted scratch marks on the bench that you are working on.

4. Pencil And Measuring Tape

You probably have these two old pals in a corner of your room!

Well, grab those and keep them in front of your sight as you will need them while measuring the countertop for cutting.

5. Safety Glasses

As we all know, safety comes before anything else!

Heavy-duty power tools like tile saw need to be handles with proper caution and therefore, it’s best to wear protective glasses while you work on your project.

6. Sawhorse

A sawhorse is basically a beam that’s assisted by two pair of A-frame legs to aid you in your home improvement projects.

While purchasing a sawhorse for stone cutting project, make sure the sawhorse is made of high-quality metal elements and is capable of lifting up your project’s weight quite easily.

7. Plywood Sheet

You will need a piece of plywood sheet to set your project on the sawhorse properly. Check whether the plywood is strong enough to hold the stone up on the sawhorse and place a rigid foam on top of it to give the marble a softer surface to sit on.

8. Orbital Sander

Once you are done cutting marbles, you are going to need something for polishing the surface and an orbital sander is PERFECT for this purpose!

A little tip: if you fail to add an orbital sander into your budget, you can make one of your own with the help of a drill and sanding disc.

How To Cut A Marble Countertop For Sink At Home?

Step 1: Take Measurement

• Place a piece of strong plywood sheet in between two sawhorses and put your countertop on top of it.
• Use a pencil and measurement tape to calculate which areas you would like to make a cut and ensure the mark is easily visible afterward.
• Draw straight lines with a ruler (If necessary) so that you follow the lines with your saw blade without a problem.

 

Step 2: Protect The Surface

• To help protect your stone piece, place a 2-inch thick rigid foam underneath it before you begin working.
• Make sure the marble slabs don’t hang over the edge of the workbench.
• Cover the edge of the stone with masking tape so that they don’t get scratched by accident.

Step 3: Secure The Countertop

• After setting the slab in place, secure it to the sawhorse it’s resting on with a pair of string clamps.
• Don’t have clamps nearby? You can also use vise grips as an alternative if you want.

Step 4: Make Precise Cuts

• It’s time to put the circular stone saw in action! Turn the machine on and cut through the stone according to your markings.
• Make sure to hold the machine in both hands and keep pushing the saw blade along the line until you are thoroughly dome with that particular piece.

Step 5: Sand It Out

• Once you are finished cutting, smooth out the surface with the help of a orbital sander.
• You can also use a fine-grade sandpaper for this purpose.

A Side Note: How To Cut Faux Marble Countertop?

Faux marble is a man-made cheap alternative to stone material.

Although we don’t recommend using faux marble for making a countertop, if you DO decide to use it, take the extra measures that are mentioned down below to avoid any mistake:

• Avoid chipping the material by any means. It’s best to make the cuts from the backside so that even if some sort of chipping occurs during cutting process, it won’t be visible after installation.

• As the material is very fragile, cover the work bench with a blanket or towel to help protect the faux marbles from any scratching during the process.

• Once you are done cutting, instead of using a power tool, opt for a sandpaper to smooth out the edges of the cut properly.

Final Words

I am not going to lie, learning how to cut marble countertop can be pretty intimidating even for seasoned DIYers!

However, once you get learn the ropes and start following the instructions given in this article, this seemingly difficult task will become a lot easier and might even end up giving you a confidence boost that you needed at the end of the day!

One tip from me: Just be patient and don’t try to rush any final cuts. Marble is a very delicate material and it expects to be treated as such!