Step 11: Create the Joints

create the joints
Photo: Wendell T. Webber
«»
To join two slabs together, first pull them apart a few inches. Using painter's tape, mask off the top of the stone along the edges.

Following manufacturer's instructions, mix the two-part adhesive. Using a putty knife, butter the edges liberally on both slabs with the adhesive, forcing it into the slits you created with the grinder. Sweep off excess with long strokes.

Push the slabs back together and reshim under them as necessary. Apply pressure for 5 to 10 minutes. Peel away the painter's tape, and scrape away any excess adhesive from the surface of the stone with a razor.
Next

Related Content

Ask TOH users about Kitchen Countertops
Discuss

Contribute to This Story Below

Add Comment

    More in Kitchen

    Tools List

    Close
    • four-foot level
      4-foot level

    • bar clamps
      Bar Clamps and Spring Clamps

    • hammer
      Hammer

    • drill
      Drill/driver fitted with 2-inch diamond hole saw

    • straightedge guide
      Straighedge

    • circular saw
      Circular saw fitted with diamond blade

    • jigsaw
      Jigsaw fitted with metal-cutting blade

    • random orbit sander
      Random-orbit sander with 100-grit and 220-grit paper

    • angle grinder
      Grinder fitted with diamond blade

    • putty knife
      Putty Knife

    • single edge razor
      Razor Blade

    • caulk gun
      Caulk Gun

    Shopping List

    Close
    1. Soapstone. For the best price, buy directly from an importer (most soapstone comes from Brazil or India). You can find them online, and many will send you samples to help you select the right color. Plan ahead, giving yourself as much as six weeks for delivery time.

    2. Shims to level cabinets.

    3. 2x4s to support the slab when cutting it and act as a brace.

    4. 2½-Inch Deck Screws to hold cabinets level and flush to each other.

    5. Masking Tape for protecting the stone as you cut out for sinks and other fixtures.

    6. Painter's Tape for protecting the stone as you create the joints.

    7. 1/4-by-1½-Inch Carriage Bolts to brace an undermount sink.

    8. Undermount Clips to hold an undermount sink in place. Most new sinks come with the clips, or are available at plumbing-supply stores.

    9. Polyester/Acrylic Stone Seam Adhesive (available through stone suppliers) to form an invisible bond between two slabs. This is a two-part product that has to be mixed before use.

    10. Kitchen and Bath Sealant to secure the sink to the stone. Look for a 100 percent silicone product.

    11. Denatured Alcohol to clean the stone.

    12. Mineral Oil to finish and seal the stone.