Homeowner`s Guide to Countertop Installation
Contents
1. 440 250 9222 E i MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE C NTERTOP INSTALLATION IDE Fax 440 250 9223 i SI ONECOU OE ONSU www marble institute com NE DRWG NO 10 2008 Marble Institute of America OVERHANG DIMENSION CORBELS REQUIRED FOR SUPPORT WHEN OVERHANG EXCEEDS 10 IN 1 STONE OR 6 IN STONE 250 MM IN 30 MM STONE OR 150 MM IN 20 MM STONE DETAIL OF COUNTERTOP OVERHANG WITHOUT SUBTOP OVERHANG DIMENSION CORBELS REQUIRED FOR SUPPORT WHEN OVERHANG EXCEEDS 10 IN 1 STONE OR 6 IN STONE 250 MM IN 30 MM STONE OR 150 MM IN 20 MM STONE DETAIL OF COUNTERTOP OVERHANG WITH SUBTOP MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 COUNTERTOP OVERHANG DETAILS e Cleveland OH 44145 O Jan2008 MARBLE Ex d 25508 Lo MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE ax of America www marble institute com FEE DRWG NO 11 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 23 4 JP lt Straight with Straight with Pencil Round 2 Double Radius Eased Edges 1 Chamfer Eased Edges 1 Pencil Round 2 Speci pecify Specify Radius 3 Double Radius 3 Chamfer 3 Double Chamfer 3 ZU x e 2 ER ax Full Bullnose Half Bullnose Demi Bullnose Chiseled or Rocked Double Cove 3 Cove Ogee Cove Dupont EE _ Laminated 4 Waterfall Platner Stair Tread or Triple Waterfall or Knife Edge Notes 1 The term Eased Edge more commonly refers to a slightly radiused profile than a slight2. to the highest standards of workmanship and ethics MIA publishes a monthly newsletter for members markets a range of technical publications and consumer pamphlets on natural stone sponsors business and technical meetings and seminars on industry related topics provides educational programming for architects and construction specification professionals and conducts the Rocky Advertising Awards and the annual Pinnacle Awards competitions recognizing outstanding natural stone projects worldwide MIA also sponsors an industry accreditation program for high quality fabricators and commercial installers MIA is also a leading promoter of stone usage in the commercial and residential marketplaces MIA produces a number of consumer education materials on the use of natural stone and its proper care and maintenance and hosts an informative website for consumers at www usenaturalstone com 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 Cleveland Ohio 44145 USA 440 250 9222 wer Fax 440 250 9223 M R B L E www marble institute com INSTITUTE of America All rights reserved No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by means electronic or mechanical including photocopy recording or by an information storage and retrieval system without permission from the Marble Setting the Standards in the y hs Institute of America Natural Stone Industry 2008 Marble Institute of America
3. 4 RECOMMENDED AT THIS LOCATION SEE DETAILS ON DRAWING RC 005 SEE JOINTING OPTIONS ON NOTE TYPICAL JOINTS MUST DRAWING RC 003 ALIGN WITH CABINET SEAMS BELOW SERVING COUNTER CORBEL SUPPORTS REQUIRED BELOW TYPICAL KITCHEN LAYOUT WITH JOINTS AT SINK MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 TYPICAL KITCHEN LAYOUT Cleveland OH 44145 i O vanzo0s MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com a DRWG NO 1 2 1 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 13 MARBLE INSTITUTE of America Page 14 SLIDE IN RANGE REFRIGERATOR DISHWASHER BELOW NOTE SEAMS OVER DISHWASHERS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED RODDING REINFORCEMENT RECOMMENDED AT THESE LOCATIONS SEE DETAILS ON DRAWING RC 005 SEE JOINTING OPTIONS ON NOTE TYPICAL JOINTS MUST DRAWING RC 003 ALIGN WITH CABINET SEAMS BELOW CORBEL SUPPORTS REQUIRED BELOW TYPICAL KITCHEN LAYOUT WITH JOINTS AT CORNERS IN LIEU OF SINK MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 TYPICAL KITCHEN LAYOUT Cleveland OH 44145 i O Jan 2005 Tel 440 250 9222 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE C NTERTOP INSTALLATION IDE Fax 440 250 9223 ONE COU O ON GU www marble institute com NE DRWG NO 2 EEG 2008 Marble Institute of America NO JOINT IN CORNER THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST PREFERRED DETAIL VISUALLY AS IT PROVIDES THE C
4. A Homeowners Guide to Natural Stone Countertop Installation MARBLE INSTITUTE of America 1 Introduction 1 10 11 12 14 Stone Materials 1 Varieties Granites Marbles Serpentines and Onyxes Slates Limestones and Travertines Stone Tiles Communicating with Your Contractor 2 Documentation You and Your Subcontractors Responsibilities Shop Drawings Stone Slab Layout Cabinet and Substrate Requirements 3 Measurement Tolerances Subtops Cabinet Doors End Panels and Hardware Field Measurements 3 Cabinet Components Design Considerations 3 Joinery Layout Seam Placement Spans and Cantilevers Sink Mounts Edge Profiles Corner Embellishments Backsplashes Quality Fabrication Methods 4 Finishing Edge Profiles Cutouts for Auxiliary Equipment Installation Methods 5 Dry Assembly Shims Adhesive Final Positioning and Joint Filling Sealer Application Tolerances 5 Joint Seam Widths Lippage Slab Thichness Exposed Edges Joints at Materials Transition Slab Flatness and Levelness Adhesives and Joint Fillers 6 Types Seam Filler Materials Stone Tile Countertop Considerations 7 Subtops Edge Treatment Ston
5. Considerations While the intent of this process is to provide a cosmetically more attractive surface you should be aware of several characteristics of resined stone e Color The resin application normally makes the color of the stone somewhat darker than an untreated slab This becomes an issue when finishing the edges of the countertop as the color of the edge will be lighter in appearance than the color of the face surface Several products are marketed in the industry for darkening the edge but none have been found to be universally successful Page 7 e Interaction with Sealers There have been cases of incompatibility between a given resin and fabricator applied sealer combination This usually results in a cloudy or blotchy appearance after the sealer product has been applied e Structural Flaws The resin process can hide cracks or other blemishes which are structurally influential features of the material Assessment of the structural worthiness of the material can be made more difficult as a result e UV Light Exposure Nearly all of the resins currently in use are vulnerable to color change or surface degradation when exposed to ultraviolet light These materials are therefore not suitable for exterior applications 13 REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES As products of nature stones have varying strength and behavioral properties Stones of lesser soundness or stones that have had substantial areas rem
6. D OR vm Ur M TT DROP IN SINK STYLES MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 XE INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com NEIN DRWG NO 8 Page20 2008 Marble Institute of America FAUCET HOLES MAY BE LOCATE SUPPORT CLIPS AT COLLINEAR OR FOLLOW CURVE APPROXIMATE 45 ANGLES OF SINK OPENING t CENTER SINK CUTOUT ON CABINET AND OR DOORS PLAN VIEW OF TYPICAL VANITY SINK SETBACK MUST PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE FOR CABINET FRAME AND SINK LIP VERIFY THAT DEPTH AND PLACEMENT OF SINK ALLOWS ROOM FOR FAUCETS AND BACKSPLASH USE NONSTAINING ELASTOMERIC SEALANT DO NOT USE OIL BASED PRODUCTS E G PLUMBERS PUTTY IN CONTACT WITH ANY NATURAL STONE SECTION THROUGH VANITY COUNTER MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 VANITY TOP DETAILS Cleveland OH 44145 EX Jan 2005 MARBLE Ex ve 200008 Gi MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE ax of America www marble institute com LIE DRWG NO 9 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 21 BACKSPLASH COUNTERTOP CORBELS REQUIRED FOR SHELF SUPPORT DETAIL OF STONE SHELF WITHOUT SUBTOP SUBTOP BACKSPLASH COUNTERTOP l MARBLE INSTITUTE of America Page 22 CORBELS REQUIRED FOR SHELF SUPPORT DETAIL OF STONE SHELF WITH SUBTOP MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 om ose STONE SHELF DETAILS an Cleveland OH 44145 Tel
7. ERIC SEALANT OF COLOR THAT BLENDS WITH STONE AND OR SINK PROVIDE SUPPORT BLOCKING BELOW ROUTED OUT PORTION OF PLYWOOD AS REQUIRED TO CARRY WEIGHT OF SINK AND CONTENTS AVOID SUPPORTING WEIGHT OF SINK FROM STONE COUNTERTOP DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEIGHT OF CAST IRON SINK DETAIL FOR SINK EXTENDING PAST COUNTERTOP CUTOUT SINK SUPPORT BRACKET ATTACHES TO CABINET FRAME ELASTOMERIC SEALANT BLENDING IN WALLS EXACT HARDWARE COLOR WITH STONE AND OR SINK PROFILES VARY BY MANUFACTURER WEIGHT OF SINK AND CONTENTS ARE CARRIED BY FRAME NO LOADS ARE TRANSFERRED TO THE STONE TOP DETAIL FOR SINK SUPPORTED BY HARDWARE KIT MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA SUPPORT DETAILS FOR HEAVY 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 san 2005 ENAMELED CAST IRON SINKS Cleveland OH 44145 MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com NE DRWG NO 7 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 19 STAINLESS STEEL OR PORCELAIN SINK FASTENING HARDWARE VARIES WITH MANUFACTURER DETAIL FOR SINK SUPPORTED BY METAL FRAME SEALANT STAINLESS STEEL OR PORCELAIN SINK FASTENING HARDWARE VARIES WITH MANUFACTURER TYPICAL DETAIL FOR STAINLESS STEEL SINKS PORCELAIN OR ENAMELED CAST IRON SINK NOTE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT IS REQUIRED FOR HEAVY CAST IRON SINKS DETAIL FOR SINK SUPPORTED BY METAL FRAME MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA SUPPORT DETAILS FOR RIMME
8. L BELOW ALTERNATE SEAM LOCATION IN CENTER IS PREFERRED BY SOME FABRICATORS CENTER SINK CUTOUT OVER CENTER OF CABINET PARTIAL PLAN WITH JOINTS LOCATED AT SINK STAINLESS STEEL WASHER FULLY EMBEDDED IN EPOXY OR POLYESTER RESIN ADHESIVE MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA TYPICAL JOINERY KITCHEN SINK 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 Cleveland OH 44145 i MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE www marble institute com LIE DRWG NO 4 Page 16 2008 Marble Institute of America EXTEND RODDING 6 150 MM BEYOND CUTOUT RODDING REINFORCEMENT IS RECOMMENDED IN FRONT AND BACK OF SINK CUTOUT SEE DETAIL BELOW CENTER SINK CUTOUT OVER CENTER OF CABINET PARTIAL PLAN WITH NO JOINTS AT SINK STAINLESS STEEL MILD STEEL OR FIBERGLASS RODS FULLY ENCAPSULATED IN EPOXY OR POLYESTER RESIN WITH FIBERGLASS MESH COVERING DETAIL OF RODDING REINFORCEMENT dou ae DETAIL OF RODDING Cleveland OH 44145 0 Jan2oos REINFORCEMENT MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com LUE DRWG NO 5 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 17 RADIUS REQUIRED AT CORNER TO REDUCE Se CHIPPING VULNERABILITY StAX SX SA NAN SA S Z 2 gt PROVIDE METAL CLIP APPLY ELASTOMERIC HANGERS 2 PER SIDE OR 4 SEALANT BLENDING IN TOTAL ON OVAL SINKS C
9. LEANEST LOOKING RETURN SOME HAND GRINDING WILL BE REQUIRED AT THE INTERIOR CORNER THE LOSS OF YIELD IN THE STONE SLAB ADDS TO THE COST OF THE PROJECT THIS DETAIL IS SOMEWHAT MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING IF THE COUNTERTOP IS NOT SHIMMED UNIFORMLY OR IF THERE IS MOVEMENT IN THE CABINETS AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE COUNTERTOP MITER JOINT THROUGH BULLNOSE EDGE DETAIL THIS DETAIL IS WELL SUITED FOR EDGING MACHINES AS IT REQUIRES NO HAND GRINDING OF THE BULLNOSE COMMON JOINT WITH BULLNOSE RETURN CORNER THIS DETAIL WILL REQUIRE SOME HAND GRINDING OF THE BULLNOSE RETURN MITER JOINT THROUGH ENTIRE COUNTERTOP SURFACE THIS DETAIL IS NOT RECOMMENDED SLAB YIELD IS REDUCED BECAUSE BOTH PIECES NEED TO BE CUT TO FULL LENGTH THE SHARP CORNERS ARE VERY FRAGILE LEVELING OF THE COUNTERTOPS IS DIFFICULT DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE SEAM AND UNACCEPTABLE LIPPAGE OFTEN RESULTS HOWEVER THE USE OF A STONE MATERIAL WITH A HEAVY LINEAR VEINING TREND MAY MAKE THIS DETAIL AESTHETICALLY PREFERABLE TO THE PREVIOUS DETAILS MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 Cleveland OH 44145 NM Jan 2005 MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 c INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com o o i DRWGNO 3 a Tx 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 15 CORNER JOINERY EXAMPLES LOCATE JOINTS AT TANGENT SPLINE JOINT WITH STAINLESS POINTS OF CORNER RADII STEEL WASHER SEE DETAI
10. OLOR WITH THE STONE ENSURE ACCESS IS AND OR SINK AVAILABLE TO SCREWS He MAX DETAIL WHEN COUNTERTOP OVERHANGS EDGE OF SINK SHARP CORNER ON STONE 7072 7 mt CIEL LITT PROVIDE METAL CLIP HANGERS 2 PER SIDE OR 4 TOTAL ON OVAL SINKS ENSURE ACCESS IS AVAILABLE TO SCREWS DETAIL WHEN COUNTERTOP SETS BACK FROM SINK EDGE RADIUS REQUIRED AT CORNER TO REDUCE CHIPPING VULNERABILITY APPLY ELASTOMERIC SEALANT BLENDING IN COLOR WITH THE STONE PLYWOOD SUBTOP IS ROUTED AND OR SINK OUT TO RECEIVE SINK FLANGE 34e MAX DETAIL OF SUBTOP ROUTED OUT TO RECEIVE SINK FLANGE MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA UNDERMOUNT SINK SUPPORT 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 Cleveland OH 44145 O Jan 2005 DETAILS MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 a INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION GUIDE of America www marble institute com DRWG NO 6 Page 18 2008 Marble Institute of America RADIUS REQUIRED AT CORNER TO REDUCE CHIPPING VULNERABILITY APPLY ELASTOMERIC SEALANT BLENDING IN COLOR WITH THE STONE AND OR SINK PROVIDE SUPPORT BLOCKING amp SHIMS AS 3 MAX REQUIRED TO CARRY WEIGHT OF SINK AND 16 CONTENTS AVOID SUPPORTING WEIGHT OF SINK FROM STONE COUNTERTOP DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEIGHT OF CAST IRON SINK DETAIL FOR COUNTERTOP OVERHANGING SINK EDGE SHARP CORNER RECOMMENDED ON STONE TO MINIMIZE VISIBLE PORTION OF SEALANT BEAD EXTEND STONE TO TANGENT POINT OF SINK TOP RADIUS USE ELASTOM
11. The tolerances in this section pertain to large stone panel type countertops only Tolerances for stone tile countertops are listed below in Adhesives and Joint Fillers Joint seam widths between two stone units should equal 1 16 1 5 mm witha tolerance of 1 64 0 4 mm In such cases where a larger joint width has been specified the tolerance is to be 25 1 4 of the nominal joint width Joint width does not include the dimension of an arris a small chamfer approximately 1 16 x 1 16 on the stone edge When an arris is used the perceived joint width may be greater than the actual width due to the seam filler occupying the width of the arris Lippage In the stone industry the term lippage refers to the unevenness of the No Detectable Lippage at Rear Edge of Countertop No Detectable Lippage at Front Edge of Countertop Allowable Lippage Due to Slab Warp finished surfaces of two adjacent stone units Due to the relatively tight seams used in countertop installations even minor amounts of lippage are noticeable Lippage may be unavoidable due to permanent warp in the Page 5 slab stock There should be no detectable lippage at the front or rear edge of the countertop Maximum allowable lippage at the center of the countertop is 1 32 0 8 mm See sketch that follows for clarification Slab Thickness The thickness of the stone slabs used in a given project shall not vary by more th
12. an 1 8 3 mm between the thickest and thinnest slabs Exposed edges of adjacent stone slabs must be matched in thickness and properly installed so that neither the top nor bottom surface exceeds lippage tolerances Joints at Materials Transition Visible joints between stone and other materials e g cabinetry gypsum wall board shall be 1 8 with a tolerance of 1 16 1 5 mm and filled with a soft elastic material Exceptions to this would be the joint between a full height backsplash and the underside of the upper cabinets which is to be a nominal with a tolerance of 1 8 3 mm Concealed joints between the stone and other construction materials e g stone to wall joint underneath the backsplash shall be sized to ensure a minimum of 1 8 3 mm of cover Slab Flatness and Levelness Individual stone slabs are to be flat within 1 16 1 5 mm when measured with a 4 0 1 2 m straight edge Finished countertop surfaces including multiple stones are to be both flat and level to 1 8 3 mm across 10 0 3 m 10 ADHESIVES AND JOINT FILLERS Types Adhesives used for stone installation can be either standard construction adhesives or elastic sealants with strong bonding properties to both the stone and the substrate Construction adhesives will Page 6 normally provide greater bond strength while elastomeric sealants will provide some forgiveness for movement within the cabinet and subtop underneath Ex
13. be a constant thickness and smooth along the entire length Edges are finished to the same type and quality of surface as the top unless a contrasting edge surface has been specified for accent purposes When working with resin treated slabs exact color match between the edge surface and the top surface may not be achievable Cutouts for auxiliary equipment must conform to equipment templates with allowable tolerances Please verify that the equipment templates match the equipment you are installing There have been cases where the supplied manufacturer templates did not match the sink cooktop etc In the interest of safe handling some cutouts may be partially or completely performed in your home after installing your stone 2008 Marble Institute of America 8 INSTALLATION METHODS Dry Assembly At the project site it is recommended that all stone pieces be dry assembled in place to verify satisfactory fit prior to the application of adhesive Shims are commonly employed to level the stone countertops Shim material may be wood or plastic Maximum spacing between shims is 2 0 600 mm Alternatively longer spacing between shims may be used if the stone is supported with a noncompressible filler material usually epoxy or polyester resin This practice is often referred to as hard packing Adhesive The stone countertops are secured to the substrate with a nonstaining adhesive Common construction adhesiv
14. best to position them after the stone installation 5 FIELD MEASUREMENTS Cabinet Components Field measurements are taken once all cabinets have been installed in their permanent 2008 Marble Institute of America positions The following related components must be available to the Technician at the time of measurement templating e Cabinet Doors e End Panels e Cabinet Hardware e Sinks and Manufacturer supplied templates e Plumbing Fixtures e Cook Tops e Exhaust Vents when full height splash is required e Electrical Outlets roughed in e Refrigerators in some cases 6 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Joinery Layout Seam Placement The layout of the joinery seams of the countertops is extremely important to the overall appearance upon completion Details on drawings RC 001 002 and 003 show a variety of joinery schemes Make sure you understand where seams will be and how seams may affect the overall appearance of the stone This is especially true when installing some of the higher end varieties with obvious veins and movement Spans and Cantilevers In designs where part of the countertop is spanning between supports the length of the span shall be limited to 2 0 600 mm for 20 mm stone thicknesses and 3 0 900 mm for 144 30 mm stone thicknesses In designs where the countertop is cantilevered or overhanging the supports the cantilever shall be limited to 6 150 mm for 34 20 mm
15. cessive movement of the substrate regardless of the type of adhesive used will result in the cracking of seams or the stone itself Verify that the product used does not stain the stone material Seam Filler Materials Seams in the stone countertop are usually filled to the level of the top surface The most common filler materials are polyester resin epoxy resin elastomeric sealant and grout Elastomeric sealants can be made from silicon polyurethane or acrylic bases 11 STONE TILE COUNTERTOP CONSIDERATIONS Subtops Stone tile countertops must have a subtop made of minimum 3 4 exterior grade plywood or 2 cementitious backer board Subtop must be flat to within 1 8 in 10 0 Edge Treatment Exposed edges of the countertop may be finished by providing an edge profile strip of stone wood or metal Where stone is employed it is to be used as an apron to the top surface stone which limits stress on the countertop apron joint Stone tile tolerances for all stone types must be 1 32 1 mm in length width and thickness Joint Widths Unless otherwise agreed joint widths for stone tile countertops must conform to the following Stone to wall joints must be 1 8 3 mm in width Stone to stone joints must be 1 16 1 5 mm minimum 3 32 2 mm maximum and uniform from stone to stone Stone to cabinetry joints must be 1 8 3 mm in width 2008 Marble Institute of America Vein Trend When usin
16. cludes many stone materials that are not true granites by geological definition However because their properties are so similar the American Society for Testing and Materials International ASTM lumps them together as granite These stones are known geologically as gabbro anorthosite gneiss diabase and diorite to name a few Whatever the name these stones are some of the hardest of the common countertop stones offering high levels of resistance to abrasion and scratching The primary minerals in granite are resistant to almost all 2008 Marble Institute of America chemicals commonly found in a home however there may be trace minerals present in some granites and granite like stones that are vulnerable to some acids Marbles serpentines and onyxes are traditionally prized for their aesthetic appeal accentuated by distinct veining and often bold colors They are relatively softer than granite although some serpentines are as dense as some granites Marbles can be scratched by kitchen utensils so it is best to use cutting boards and other protective measures Use only non abrasive products when cleaning marble Marbles can also be etched by chemical attack These stones are calcium carbonate based and are damaged by exposure to acidic solutions such as lemon juice tomatoes vinegar etc The use of inappropriate cleaning agents may also trigger acidic attack Acidic solutions can permanently etch the surfac
17. d 2008 Marble Institute of America Pitting of the countertop surface particularly in granite material is a commonly seen characteristic on natural stone Granites are made up of several different minerals each mineral having a different hardness Granites contain quartz feldspars biotite amphibole ferrous titanium oxides and other mineral combinations On the Mohs Scale see insert on page 7 diamonds are the hardest mineral with a rating of 10 Quartz and feldspar have a hardness of 6 5 to 7 and are very durable Biotite also known as mica on the other hand is very soft 2 5 and flakes easily All true granites have biotite in their composition Because biotite is relatively soft and flaky the first few layers are removed during the polishing process causing pits throughout the slab Some granites have more biotite throughout their composition than others The higher the biotite content of the stone the more pits it will have Most polished igneous rocks will have varying degrees of pits depending on the amount of biotite muscovite and phlogopite in their composition The pits do not make the granite less durable or otherwise inferior and do not in themselves qualify the slab for replacement Pits are common in all granites and should be expected when dealing with a natural polished stone containing several types of minerals of varying hardness It is usually best to not attempt repair of pits as most repai
18. e Tile Tolerances Joint Widths Vein Trend Shading Variation Splashes Back Buttering Tile Reinforcement Resin Impregnated Slabs 8 Description of Procedure Design Considerations Reinforcement Techniques 8 Fiberglass Mesh Liner Blocks Splines Rodding Allowable Repair 9 Fissures Cracks Chips Pitting 15 Maintenance 10 Application of Sealers Topical Sealers Impregnators General Precautions Care and Cleaning Practices 16 Stone Swatches and Installations 11 17 Drawings RC 001 Kitchen LAYON tirso siisii 13 RC 002 Kitehen LAYOUT uu una En ENR 14 RC 003 Corner Joinery Examples 15 RC 004 Typical Joinery at Kitchen Sink 16 RC 005 Detail of Rodding Reinforcement 17 RC 006 Undermount Sink Support Details 18 RC 007 Support Details for Heavy Enameled Cast Iron Sinks 19 RC 008 Support Details for Rimmed or Drop In Sink Styles 20 RC 009 Vanity Top Details 21 RC 010 Stone Shelf Details 22 RC 011 Cantilever Supports 23 RC 012 Edge Profile Nomenclature 24 Disclaimer This document is written as a general guideline The Marble Institute of Ame
19. e included on drawing RC 016 With machinery and tooling available to modern fabrication shops many custom profiles can be created which are not shown here Ask your fabricator if you have something special in mind Your selection of an edge detail will likely influence the cost of your countertops more than any other decision you make Corner Embellishments Corners of stone countertops can be cut square cut toa radius or projected Backsplashes Partial backsplashes usually range from 4 to 8 high Full height backsplashes cover the entire area between the countertop and the upper cabinets Page 4 Backsplashes are normally made of the same thickness as the countertop material This allows the Fabricator better yield from the slabs as the narrow strips will aid in the layout efficiency and it also provides better color match Mixing materials of two different thicknesses requires using stone slabs sawn from two different blocks and color variation can be pronounced However some Fabricators have the machinery to plane down backsplashes using the same slab or block of material to get a thinner splash and match the rest of the counters On stones with obvious veining the vein of the splash should match the countertop below Backsplashes are not assumed to be part of the job and must be specified if you want them 7 QUALITY FABRICATION METHODS Finishing Edge Profiles Professionally finished edge profiles will
20. e of the material The application of a sealer will reduce but not eliminate the vulnerability to acidic attack For these reasons your stone dealer may not recommend marble for use in kitchens Slates have high resistance to chemicals and have been traditionally used as chemistry laboratory tops However slates are softer than granite and therefore vulnerable to scratching and abrasion Slate has a natural cleft not a smooth surface Some suppliers provide slate slabs that are not honed Be specific about the kind of finish you desire The same precautions mentioned for marbles with regard to damage should be applied to slates Limestones and travertine are calcium based similar to marble Therefore they have the same weaknesses as marbles when used as countertops Abrasion damage is a concern particularly if the stone is polished Many varieties of these stone types will absorb Page 1 water to some degree and must be sealed to help protect them Stone tiles can be used as a countertop surface material The finished surface will carry the same precautions as the particular stone type from which it is made The joint filler whether grout plastic sealant epoxy or resin may have specific requirements for protection and maintenance Follow the recommendations of the manufacturer of the material 3 COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CONTRACTOR Documentation As dictated by standard practices of good business all comm
21. equire an epoxy based rather than a Portland based thin set compound 12 RESIN IMPREGNATED SLABS The application of resin to the surfaces of stone slabs has become an ever increasing 2008 Marble Institute of America practice The intent of this procedure is to fill pits cracks and fissures of natural stones with a glossy resin to enhance the appearance of the polished slab When received the resin treatment is usually easily detected by viewing the raw edges of the slab Evidence of excess resin is usually visible on the edges of the slab if the stone has been treated Description of Procedure The process involves evenly applying the resin on the surface of the cleaned sawn slab This is frequently done in an automated process although some suppliers will do this manually Depending on the equipment used the slab may be placed over a large vacuum table to draw the resin deeper into the stone The resin is allowed to cure which may or may not be accelerated with heat application Once the resin has cured the slab is polished The polishing grinds most of the resin from the stone surface so that it remains only in depressions and some inter crystalline regions of the slab The amount of surface area that remains as resin varies due to the natural features of the material but it is usually a fraction of one percent 1 The resin used in this process is commonly an epoxy polyester or acrylic based polymer Design
22. es or silicone sealant are the most popular materials used Final Positioning and Joint Filling Final positioning of the stone is done either manually or with the aid of commercially available stone alignment tools Filling the seams is normally completed prior to final positioning of the stone units allowing the filler material to extrude out of the joint as the stones are pulled into alignment The stone surface may be masked to prevent contact by the filler material Sealer Application After the countertops are installed and the seams are filled a sealer or impregnator may be applied Refer to the Reinforcement Techniques section below for further discussion of these applications Alternatively some fabricators prefer to apply the sealer or impregnator in the fabrication shop prior to transporting the pieces to the project site 9 TOLERANCES The tolerances listed here are achieved using skilled tradesmen following standard industry 2008 Marble Institute of America workmanship practices Due to variations in fabrication equipment and stock availability these tolerances may not be achievable or in some cases closer tolerances may be achievable Therefore for any particular project you and your contractor may agree to tolerances that are more or less stringent than those listed here Such agreements should be documented in writing Unless otherwise agreed the tolerances listed here are acceptable guidelines
23. g stone tiles with obvious veining all tiles shall be installed with the vein running in the same direction Shading Variation Stone tiles are subject to manufacturing processes different from structural stone There is great latitude in the acceptability of shaded stones Ask the Installers to lay out the stone for your inspection and approval Splashes must be stone tile minimum of 4 high Back buttering of all stone tiles is required This technique applies a portion of the installation material to the back face of the stone It requires placement of one half of the setting material in the case of thin set mortar epoxy or non water soluble adhesive or a lesser quantity of very rich mortar in the case of Portland cement to the back of the stone while the balance of the setting material is applied to the bed Application should be performed so that one pass is completed in a north south direction while the second pass is performed in an east west direction thus ensuring as close as possible 100 contact of the stone to the installation bed Tile Reinforcement A common reinforcement for fragile stone tiles is to apply a fiberglass mesh to the back surface of the tile The adhesive used in this application is commonly an epoxy or polyester resin When this type of reinforcement is adhered to the tiles the Installer must use a thin set material that will bond to the resin impregnated backer Most often this will r
24. gnators will be either hydrophobic in that they repel water based fluids only or oleophobic repelling both oil and water based fluids The Manufacturer of the impregnator product will recommend a reapplication interval General Precautions When any surface protection product is used care must be taken to read and follow the Manufacturer s written instructions accurately This will provide the greatest benefit from the application and will guarantee safe handling of the product Care and cleaning practices The natural stone you have purchased for your home or office is an investment that will give you many years of beautiful services Stone is a natural product and simple care Page 10 and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful Make sure you understand which methods are best for your particular stone countertop Ask your fabricator for the MIA brochure Care amp Cleaning for Natural Stone S urfaces For more information visit http www usenaturalstone com care ind ex cfm Care amp Cleaning of Natural Stone Surfaces MARBLE INSTITUTE of America 2008 Marble Institute of America 2008 Marble Institute of America Page 11 Page 12 2008 Marble Institute of America SLIDE IN RANGE REFRIGERATOR DISHWASHER BELOW NOTE SEAMS OVER DISHWASHERS ARE NOT RECOMMENDED ISLAND TOP PROVIDE REINFORCEMENT FOR JOINTS RODDING REINFORCEMENT AT SINK SEE DETAIL ON DRWG RC 00
25. installation The shop drawing is prepared by your fabricator showing the layout of the stone pieces location and size of all seams and details clarifying all corner and edge treatment conditions Some fabricators produce full size templates that are highly detailed These detailed templates may be considered full size shop drawings Whatever the format you will review and approve this document prior to the start of fabrication This is the time to ask questions about seam placement cutouts etc Stone Slab Layout When working with highly variegated materials insist that you participate in the layout of the actual stone slabs This is very important and highly recommended so that you can fully understand what can or cannot be done Keep in mind that the pricing may change if you decide to have the stone cut in a certain way that causes unnecessary waste 4 CABINET AND SUBSTRATE REQUIREMENTS Cabinets and any trim that affects the overall size of the stone countertops must be permanently installed in their final position prior to field measuring for countertops Measurement Tolerances Top surfaces of the stone cabinets must be within 1 8 3 mm of flat and level when measured across a distance of 10 0 3 m Wall surfaces to receive stone backsplashes must be plumb 2008 Marble Institute of America and within 1 8 3 mm of a true plane when measured across a distance of 10 0 3 m When cabinets are not w
26. ithin these tolerances you or your Authorized Representative will be asked for permission to proceed with the installation Installing cabinetry outside of these tolerances will require excessive shim spaces and wide regions of filler material Any necessary aesthetic improvements to conceal this condition e g additional wood trim may be your responsibility Subtops Fragile stone varieties may require a full subtop to support the stone Generally sound varieties of granites and marbles can be used in thicknesses of 20 mm or greater without the use of a subtop However the presence of aesthetically pleasing but unsound veins cracks or excessive fissuring will mandate the use of a subtop regardless of thickness Appropriate materials for subtops are marine grade plywood exterior grade plywood waterproofed medium density particle board or furring strips Excessive weight requirements like that of a heavy cast iron sink may require the use of either a subtop or auxiliary framing to carry he weight of the sink and its contents Water weighs around 875 lbs per gallon Some of the larger sinks can easily hold 10 gallons or more That s an additional 83 pounds or more hanging under your counter Cabinet doors end panels and hardware must be installed before the field measurements are made Upper cabinets are usually required prior to installation if a full height backsplash is to be installed If not then it is
27. ly chamfered profile although the use of the term varies regionally and or with specific fabricators In either case the edge treatment is slight and normally does not exceed Ke 1 5 mm Pencil Round generally refers to a radius near that of a standard pencil approximately K to 2 3 to 4 mm Radius Chamfer or Cove edge profile can be any dimension The actual dimension should be specified at the time of sale Chamfers are most commonly 45 although not necessarily so Many of the profiles shown on this drawing can be done with laminated edge details MARBLE INSTITUTE of AMERICA 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 EDGE PROFILE NOMENCLATURE Cleveland OH 44145 1 O Jan 2005 MARBLE Tel 440 250 9222 Jun 2006 MIA RESIDENTIAL STONE C NTERTOP INSTALLATION IDE INSTITUTE Fax 440 250 9223 ee E EAE Page 24 2008 Marble Institute of America Pa Butterfly Green Granite Granite Countertops 1 in Cleanability In a recent study granite countertops A follow up study evaluated the Reduction in Bacteria rovided the greatest reduction in age differences in cleanability of three b Nom of all materials After Washing amp Rinsing common unsealed m stones tested Six countertop surfaces Granite 36 000 to 1 used for countertop surfaces against were contaminated with E coli Stainless Ste an engineered stone Overall there bacteria then washed and rinsed Concrete DUO en was no statistical difference in usi
28. ly embedded in epoxy or polyester resin The rod has greater resistance to bending than the stone and helps prevent the stone from bowing A strip of fiberglass mesh backing is often applied over the rodded region for additional reinforcement 14 ALLOWABLE REPAIR Stone countertops in need of repair require competent experienced artisans to achieve the desired results Repairing stone is permitted when the refurbished region is not in a structurally significant area of the countertop and when it can be accomplished skillfully so that the repair is consistent in color and texture with the rest of the slab Fissures occur naturally in many stone types A fissure is defined by the American Geological Institute as an extensive crack break or fracture in the rock which may contain mineral bearing material The term fissure is used commercially in the stone industry to describe a visible separation along intercrystalline boundaries or the voids between mineral crystals This separation may start 2008 Marble Institute of America and stop within the field of the stone or extend through an edge A fissure differs from a crack in that it is a naturally occurring feature in the stone Cracks occur in stones as a result of mechanically induced stresses during handling fabrication transport or installation When cracks are detected in slab material prior to fabrication the best method is to simply avoid them during
29. ng dish soap and normal and Wood 500 re 1 reduction after wash and rinse for reasonable cleaning practices Plastic Laminate 285 tol any of the four surfaces MARBLE INSTITUTE of America www marble institute com e GENUINE STONE SS Genuine Stone and the Genuine Stone seal are trademarks of the Natural Stone Council Source The Reduction of E Coli on Various Countertop Surfaces by Dr O Peter Snyder Jr Ph D of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management March 1999 Source A Study of the Cleanability of Marble and Granite Countertop Materials by Dr O Peter Snyder Jr Ph D of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management February 2006 The Marble Institute of America and its Member companies are not responsible for any use or misuse that causes damage of any kind including loss of rights materials and personal injury alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information presented About the MIA For over sixty years the Marble Institute of America has served as the authoritative source of information on standards of natural stone workmanship and practice and the suitable application of natural stone products Membership in the association is worldwide and includes natural stone producers exporters importers distributors wholesalers fabricators finishers installers restoration maintenance specialists and industry suppliers all committed
30. oved from the slab e g sink cutouts will benefit from reinforcement by a variety of techniques Fiberglass Mesh A common reinforcement for stone slabs of limited soundness is to apply a fiberglass mesh to the back surface of the slab The fabricator completes this process in the shop The adhesive used in this application is commonly an epoxy or polyester resin Liner Blocks Although not frequently used in stone countertop construction a liner block of stone material can be adhered to the underside of the stone slabs when no subtop is used to reinforce seams or other vulnerable areas The liner block need not be of the same type of stone material as the countertop Page 8 Splines Seams particularly those between narrow stone pieces are often put together using a steel or stainless steel key Commonly a large washer is used as the spline key The metal is fully encapsulated with polyester or epoxy resin and fitted to closely cut slots in the stone similar to the biscuit joint reinforcements used in woodworking Rodding A commonly seen method of countertop reinforcement is the technique referred to as rodding Rodding is beneficial to narrow strips of stone material such as those in front or behind sink or cook top cutouts This technique requires a shallow kerf a narrow cut or groove in the underside of the stone slab The kerf is then closely fitted with a metal or fiberglass rod which is then ful
31. r techniques will not cosmetically improve the countertop 15 MAINTENANCE Application of Sealers The application of a topical sealer or impregnator is a common step in decreasing the vulnerability of the stone to stains Topical sealers cure as a film on the stone surface Since the material is actually Page 9 covering the stone the appearance of the stone surface may be altered by the application of this type of product This material will provide somewhat of a sacrificial layer over the stone and will absorb most of the wear on the countertop Since the sealer is softer than the stone normal use of the countertop will result in abrasion of the sealer surface and dictate reapplication to maintain the original luster of the surface A properly applied topical sealer will normally reduce although not eliminate the vulnerability of calcareous stones to attack from mildly acidic solutions Impregnators will penetrate the stone and cure a few millimeters below the surface residing in the microscopic spaces between the minerals in the stone These products do not actually seal the stone and are more correctly referred to as a repellent rather than a sealer As such they are formulated to prevent transmission of liquids while allowing transmission of vapor not unlike breathable fibers Since they reside below the actual surface of the stone the change to the appearance of the stone surface is minimal Impre
32. rica and its Member companies have neither liability nor can they be responsible to any person or entity for any misunderstanding misuses or misappliation that would cause loss or damage of any kind including loss of rights material or personal injury or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this document MARBLE INSTITUTE of America 28901 Clemens Road Suite 100 Cleveland OH 44145 440 250 9222 www marble institute com NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOP INSTALLATION 1 INTRODUCTION The beauty and permanence of natural stone countertops are enjoyed by many The full potential of any installation is realized only when the selection design fabrication and installation are completed by or with the consultation of qualified and experienced individuals This document has been prepared and published by the Marble Institute of America to help guide consumers through the process professional fabricators use when using natural stone as a countertop surface 2 STONE MATERIALS Varieties Many varieties of natural stone have been used successfully for countertop surfaces However different types of stone have specific properties that offer advantages or disadvantages in various applications The following is a brief overview of the common varieties of stone used as countertops Granites are undoubtedly the most popular stone type used in countertop applications today This group of stones in
33. the layout process In stones with lesser soundness properties this option may not be practical or possible When working with such stones it is common practice to repair cracks by cementing them together with epoxy or polyester resin either with or without dowel reinforcement Cracks that occur as a result of handling induced stresses are often more difficult to repair as they commonly include chipping in addition to the crack Repair is frequently performed by injection of a penetrating resin adhesive which may be dyed to match the stone and then rebuffing the area after curing of the resin In many cases the entire stone must be repolished to make the repair unnoticeable If the repair is attempted but unsuccessful the stone is to be replaced with a new piece Chips can occur in stones either as a result of sawing operations or handling and restraint devices Particularly in the igneous stone varieties the exiting portion of the diamond blade will create many small chips A small chamfer called an arris of approximately 1 16 x 1 16 1 5 x 1 5 mm can be used to eliminate most of these small chips The use of an arris will make the seam appear wider than its actual dimension when filled Larger chips may be repaired with epoxy or polyester resin if the completed repair is consistent in color and texture with unrepaired areas of the slab In many materials the resin used in the repair will appear more natural if it is not dye
34. thick countertops and 10 250 mm for 174 30 mm countertops but in no case may the cantilevered portion represent more than 1 3 of the width of the countertop Cantilevered countertops exceeding these dimensions will require corbelled supports beneath the stone The exposed underside of cantilevered portions of countertops will be Page 3 sawn or otherwise unfinished surfaces Note Fragile stones may require corbelled supports for cantilevers that are less than those specified Sink Mounts Sinks are supplied in one of several types Top mount or self rimming undermount and farm home In the case of the top mounted sinks the weight of the sink and its contents are transferred to the top surface of the stone counter via the rim of the sink Undermount sinks can be anchored to the underside of the stone countertop or carried by a subtop A subtop or auxiliary framing may be required for either design when more fragile stones are used or when the sink with contents is excessively heavy Refer to details on drawings RC 008 through RC 011 for examples of sink mounting Note cast iron sinks will always require the extra support stated above for both top and undermount types Edge profiles or silhouettes add elegance to the finished project Edge profiles with narrow projections and sharp corners are more susceptible to chipping than those with a larger curved silhouette Examples of edge profiles commonly used ar
35. unications MUST be documented in writing i All natural stones are unique Some have pits fissures cracks corrosive minerals or other features that you may find objectionable These should be acknowledged and pointed out to you when samples and or slabs are being viewed You need to be aware that some of these features may become more or less noticeable when the position vertical or horizontal of the slab is changed or when the lighting intensity is changed You and Your Subcontractor s Responsibilities Cabinetry installation plumbing rough in electrical rough in etc are usually required to be completed by you or by subcontractors coordinated by you These should be specifically addressed in writing Your stone contractor will install your stone not connect electricity or water Granite is heavy Please have a clear path from your driveway to your kitchen so that installation crews can navigate through your home easily Please have walkways free of ice snow and clutter Also if you have existing countertops please make sure they Page 2 are removed BEFORE installation Also make sure that your installation date does not conflict with other work being done in your home wood floor finishing tile installation other tradesmen etc Shop Drawings can effectively communicate exact cutting information to you A shop drawing is a highly detailed document that will identify all aspects of the finished product
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