How to Install a Quartz Countertop | Ask This Old House
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- čas přidán 26. 05. 2020
- Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor learns how quartz countertops are manufactured and then helps install one in a homeowner’s kitchen.
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Time: 1-2 weeks
Cost: $1500 and up
Skill Level: Expert
Steps for installing quartz countertop:
1. Kevin starts by explaining how quartz countertops are manufactured:
a. Quartz is a mineral, which is mined out of the ground and crushed into different sizes.
b. The quartz is then mixed with a binder and poured into a form.
c. The form is compacted, vibrated, and baked at 200 degrees for 30-60 minutes, which turns it into a hard, stone slab.
2. To have a quartz countertop installed, the existing cabinets need to be templated by a stone fabricator.
3. Once the cabinets have been templated, the fabricator can cut the quartz to the proper dimensions, including cutting out a hole for sink, using a variety of specialty cutting tools.
4. When the quartz is ready to be installed, the old countertop will need to be removed.
a. Start by shutting off the water to the kitchen sink and disconnect the supply hoses with a wrench.
b. Loosen and disconnect the drainpipe.
c. Pry the sink away from the countertop. Oftentimes, the sink is clipped to the countertop and those can easily be pried off.
d. Pry the countertop off using a pry bar.
5. The quartz slab can then be installed on the cabinet using silicone and clips. Quartz is heavy, so it will take multiple people to install it.
Resources:
Kevin toured the manufacturing facility for Cambria Stone (www.cambriausa.com/). The slab that was installed at Jenny’s house was also Cambria quartz in the color “Windermere [bit.ly/2LMfgid].”
The tools required for installing the quartz, including the hammers and pry bars for removing the old counter, and the silicone to secure the new countertop, can all be found at home centers.
Expert assistance with this segment was provided by Gemini Stone, LLC of Everett, MA [www.geministone.net/about-us].
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada.
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Keywords:
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Watch the full episode:
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How to Install a Quartz Countertop | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse - Jak na to + styl
Electrician: Hey thanks for covering that bottom screw on the receptacle. What would have taken anyone 45 seconds to do is now gonna take a pro earning pro wages to do some fancy magic. Way to look out for "Our" customer, let alone the other trades. That's a Goomba move and we all knew it when we saw it. Kevin, you have no excuse, none. :)
definition of "Not my job"
@@henrychi4197 Spot on!
However they did point it out to her and it really is a simple fix.
Every other trade ever:
Shut up sparky, pick up a broom
@@peterpekny4037 I've worked many trades, that attitude would have had me picking up my last check. Get off your phone and get to work.
They misspelled the title of this video. Here you go, "How to hire someone to install quartz countertops"
5:31 “it narrows it down to from a 3-4 person job to a 2 person job”
5:46 - 4 person job
I work as an installer and it’s pretty much always a 2 person job 😂
That was for moving it, not placing it
WOW! why would you install the counter before moving the outlet???
The same reason they didn't bother fixing the plumbing...
Bunch of hacks
Not my job, not my problem.
Because they got the best in the business to do the job.
Who cares? It's a small oversight for an electrician to handle later. I love all the youtube comment experts who have never slipped up on a project in their lives.
You told a story. The electrical out should have been moved prior to countertop installation. Now it is going to be difficult to move.
7:45 damnit Jenny you didn't fix the outlet.
ha
wow thats hard, they'd need to cut out the backsplash to fit that in or have an electrician move it. The backsplash is only glued to the wall.
@moonpiespotlight4759 just move the box up the stud a bit no need for an electrician
Thanks for the video and the tour of the quartz fabrication factory!
Any waxes or polish that will hide really small scratch on white quartz?
I have been watching this show since 2005 and Kevin O’Connor has not aged. He still has the same hair style and clothes even mannerisms . What crazy is all the other guys have aged and you can tell but when it is just Kevin it is hard to notice if a video is new or old.
He’s sucking the souls of those around him...
It's important to mention that not all fabricators are created equal. Many do not have adequate dust control, leading to severe silicosis in their employees. It's important to be aware of how the people making things we use are protected while they work.
Who's good and who's bad?
so helpful & informative. THANK YOU!
When y'all going to upload Cape Ann's move in day episode? That house is epic.
Thank you very much!
Next episode : "How to notch a countertop with a grinder " for that receptacle
just cut the outlet cover lol
@@yourtechstation oh no you din't!
@@yourtechstation That's probably exactly what happened...
Correction: It WAS an easy job for an electrician, before you installed the new quartz countertop right over it. As the electrician below pointed out you actually covered the bottom screw.
I am surprised that the counter guys did not mention this before gluing the back splash. They could of waited to do that until the electrical portion was taken care of.
Haha, somebody's gonna have to cut into the quartz there!
Haha, somebody's gonna have to cut into the quartz there!
Haha, somebody's gonna have to cut into the quartz there!
Haha, somebody's gonna have to cut into the quartz there!
No silicone between the backsplash and countertop to prevent leaks to the wall, especially behind the faucet?
They don't show all the steps to any project in these vids. These are to give homeowners watching at home an idea of what happens.
@@mikez4132
Yes..... a bad idea of what happens. It really wouldn't have taken that much effort or time to show them applying some silicone between the backsplash and counter.
Did anyone notice that they covered the bottom screw of the outlet with the backsplash? Minute 7:47
Yeah the electrician is going to have to take the backsplash off to move that. I hope they didn't actually silicone that in place yet, if so, what a boneheaded move. How do they expect an electrician to move it when they block off half the box??
Andrew Merts Because they're all morons.
Andrew Merts not to mention the drywall will be harder to patch with backsplash in place
Woah! Kevin knows how to do disconnect a faucet?!
Why scribe the wall when there is backsplash? Just make sure your tight on the open ends, and shrink it down a little on the covered ends, it makes the templaters and cutters job easier.
Great point!
I never seen a sink come up so easy
Nor a countertop!
You know what’s easy? Moving the outlet before the backsplash 😂😂😂
wow counters are easier to install than i ever imagined!!!
Got some brown on the tip of your nose
it's way easier when you ignore the plugs and don't worry about doors and drawers damage! also lots easier if you leave the home half done. gotta go!
At 2:50 Kevin gives her a single wrench to loosen the faucet fittings. That's a HUGE mistake in our area. Here in the southwest, that would have snapped the CPVC pipe! Oh and what I joy it is to have to crawl under the house to repair it.
Nice job well done
What is the difference between cultured marble, stone resin, polymarble, solid surface and Acrylic composition? What can be considered major positives and negatives for each of these types of bathroom vanity counters with built in sinks integrated in one piece? Are these fabricated vanities durable long lasting, heat resistant, color change resistant, chip resistant and any other item to consider?
Did you figure out?
What a perfect installation. Could not be any better. I've just fitted a normal wood chip one in my new kitchen and it's scratched to kingdom come already. Regrets...
Thanks fa nuthin!!!
When I think about it the shut-off should be underneath the cabinets but why is it such a bad idea to have the P-trap down below so you could get to it easier in your basement a small step ladder and a bucket I mean there's never enough room underneath the sink cabinet unless that's not code
Also, did they even put any silicone on the back of the countertop? And who decided that a few dollops of silicon is as good as a zigzag pattern across the whole width?
Altough this video is informative and very good, I just want to point out that Cambria is a brand, which this video totally forget to mention. This is not the color or type of Quartz. Question: what style of quartz is the Quartz countertop you show on your video? Thanks,
Absolutely should've taken care of moving the electrical outlet before installing the backsplash. I wouldn't have expected to see that on a video from This Old House. Now you have to fix the sheetrock right above your finished countertop. Why not do things in the right order? If you see that the backsplash is covering the outlet, DON'T INSTALL THE BACKSPLASH!!
I know. F'd her over really. Should have cut the backslash to be 1 1/2 shorter. No electrician would touch that job.
I would have had a lot more respect for them if they actually pointed this out and suggest they not adhere that backsplash to the wall till the electrician completes relocating the outlet.
I wonder what the price was for the slab and install
How on earth are the taps going to be fitted. Wouldn't the taps / mixer better been fitted to the worktops before put into position ?
And the shoulda asl the home wear if they want the back splash to be cut down before installing and covering the swith
Just pry off the backsplash from the old silicone they left on the Sheetrock. Fix the outlet then reglue the backsplash. Tradesmen are always having to deal with stuff being in our way. Boom bam boom goomba out.
What if the cabinets aren't level. Or there's plywood attached to the tops of the cabinets that isn't level. How do you make sure the slab sits level on the cabinets/plywood?
Shims.
That's an S-trap, not a P-trap I believe, under the sink. No longer allowed in most areas.
*stone coat countertops has entered the chat*
What’s the wheels called is there a name for it?
She could have siliconed the backsplash herself later AFTER the electrician moved the now obstructed outlet - lol
What should a countertop like this generally cost in SWFL ?
I'm quessing 2,500 - 3,500 installed with plumbing and electrical extra.
Out of all the quartz she could’ve picked out 😕🤦🏻♀️
A strange taste......
all the clips were removed for Kevin. Also the bottom screw for the outlet is covered now.
Yeah, I think I would have had the receptacle moved before the backsplash was installed. Maybe they didn't set the silicone for that piece since that's something the homeowner could do.
Blows me away, no one thought to move or add outlets before the counter top went in
So the sink was only held in by the plumbing? lol 😆
When is it necessary to lay plywood on top of the cabinets??
Don't see why you need to since you're going to put in a counter top
I think for two reasons:
1. Provide extra support for the quartz countertop so it’s sits flush on top of the cabinets (more surface area, lower stress on the quartz so it won’t crack if there if the surface is uneven, in case someone steps on it).
2. The plywood could also provide support for under-the-counter sinks (in place of just glueing them to the countertop).
When the material is 2cm, when you have 3cm thick you don't really need to put plywood
The biggest surprise to me was removing the countertop and then having them come in to measure for a replacement. Given that the piece is a special order, fabricated to the measurements, what does she do for kitchen counters while it is being made? As for the electrical outlet behind the backsplash, you have professionals come in to do the work specifically to avoid such bone headed mistakes. Why they would post this video showing such an error is yet another bone headed decision. SMH.
Because they are ignorant! They don't know what they are doing.
I hope since it literally took two seconds to take everything apart that once they measured and templated everything they put it all back!
I have a question. I purchasing a new home. The installer of the countertop cut the quartz countertop literally in half and glued it back together for whatever reason. Is this normal? The seam where the two areas were glued together can be clearly seen. The steps that the installer took is like cutting a ceramic plate in half and gluing it. The line never disappears and cannot buff out.
Pretty common they probably should’ve chose a different location for cut or could’ve just done it better to be less noticeable
This is happening to my husband and I as we speak. It seems as though the builders cut costs by allowing the stone to be cut for “easier” installation. Which as of now looks like a crummy install to us. The seam is very noticeable, uneven, & rough to the touch. We are supposed to close at the end of August.
I had that happen but I agreed to a seam because it would cost a whole lot less using pieces instead of a full sheet where the sink was. The seam was not too noticeable.
what if kevin is secretly the most skilled one of all?
He’s so good, he makes everyone around him look better than he is.
Just like Bob Vila . He didn't know what end of a screwdriver to use .
Then the world would be in trouble....
When I ordered quartz, they came with digital equipment. They measure it with lasers, and load everything in computer. Than transfer into CNC. And it was small company. That movie must be old...
Well, the lasers do cost more (they're an up-front expense). However, with them, you should be able to knock out a job quickly with higher accuracy. This means (i) more through-put and (ii) fewer mistakes ... both of which represent cost savings. So after X number of jobs, the lasers will pay for themselves. And, obviously, all of the machining is CNC ... it's just a matter of how you get your CAD model created.
Old world stone will handle all your needs
This didn't look like a job that required laser accuracy.
Not your best work. Some interesting info, but certainly not "how to install a quartz countertop". More like "Jenny gets a new countertop while Kevin watches".
They literally just siliconed it down and put clips on though. Not a very involved process
@@bradleyperkins8684 Thats because it weighs 300-400 lbs. Keeps itself down.
Looks very nice invite me for dinner...
The outlet should have been moved first...
How much was this ?
Nice new counter, but what are those cabinets?? I would probably get new cabinets first
That's a rude comment. She's probably doing things in stages as how she can afford it.
They could be on a budget, simply not want to add to the landfill by replacing them. Or they might just like the cabinets and they may just fit the decor of the rest of the house. I thought they had character.
"Come on Shelly!"
Kinda surprised Kevin didnt at least put the new faucet in.
Kevin: ‘oh a plumber has to put your faucet in...’ 🤦♂️
The side molding on the entry way into the kitchen is destroyed.
What would something like that cost?
Natural stone and quartz vary by dealer, location, and look of the stone but they are roughly $40-100 per sq ft installed.
I’m guessing around $1500 with installation
they’re using Cambria quartz, which is one of the most expensive brands in the industry, usually starting around $100+/sq.ft. you can also get a standard grade quartz for around $50/sq.ft, so it really depends on what you decide to go for.
Ayoub Farid standard countertop cost is between $4k-$5k, but larger kitchens can go up to $15k-$20k depending on square footage
Lauren Deveau holy fck that’s way too much!
Idk about you Guys but Danny is High as CHEESE! that man came straight from Hot boxing in his Work Van. lol
😎
Aren't you supposed to put a piece of plywood underneath to support the weight of the quartz? I would not want my quartz installed like that. The weight distribution will not be even and the quartz will crack easily.
I worder if the owners ever watch the videos of their projects online and comment after the fact.
If Jenny did call an electrician it would add under counter lighting. It's too dark in the kitchen.
"comfortably do with two people"
uses 4 people to place countertop
first step remove countertop. next step wait three weeks for new countertop to arrive. Last step hastily install new one with tons of stuff left to do and cover up outlet. I can almost guarantee that she complains about the outlet being covered and want some kind of discount.
just cut the outlet cover and silicone it in lol
Ew
And that’s how you charge 6-10k dollars folks!!
This old ask house
I'm being told by a fabricator, in California, that all L shapes have to be made by connecting two pieces which will result in a seam. This counter came in one piece with an L shape. Is my fabricator wrong?
Interesting. I'm not familiar with that. Did you figure out?
yes he is. It was obviously done.
depending on the size of the L a slab can be cut in one piece but MOST california guys use the prefabs and have the seam at the angle. some are VERY good at blending it and using epoxy to hide the seam. others are not so good. MOST fab guys do not have that CNC waterjet cutting machinery as seen in this video. taking an L out of a slab means lots of extra slab gets leftover. if the stone you choose is spendy it can mean hundreds in wasted stone and also a more expensive fab due to the shop set-up with tooling
I haven't been getting new TOH video uploads in my subscription for the past two weeks. What gives?
7:13 Easy fix, are you kidding me? How are you gonna move that outlet around??
Cut the drywall around the outlet plus a few inches higher to account for new outlet placement, remove and then raise the box so it fits the hole, patch/blend the opening, paint and done. Maybe you might have to splice some extra wiring.
That process is the same with or without the backsplash. The backsplash makes the work marginally more annoying, but either way you have to cut a hole, raise the box, patch/blend everything, and paint. Ideally you'd do it before you install the backsplash, but it's not the end of the world.
@@nramos33 That's no "easy fix" though, kinda misleading on his part since you have to do extra work cutting around drywall and do all this mess.
@@nramos33 Good luck getting the bottom nail cut off of the box with that backsplash on top. You can't even get the receptacle out of the box with how they put that backsplash on. If you cut a gap above it to pull the box out maybe you could cut the top nail, rotate the box back into the wall a bit and try to pry the box sideways and get the receptacle to clear the drywall but that would absolutely suck for no good reason. If it was me I'd have the installers come back and remove the backsplash while the work is done like they should've done to begin with. It'd be a bunch of pointless drywall work to try and remove that box with the backsplash in place.
Installing any type of countertop is best left to the pros. This video should be renamed, how a counter is installed. No weekend warrior can do this type of install.
I don’t see any difference between the old countertop and the new one….I think the whole kitchen needs an upgrade….there is something missing….maybe better lighting?
Don"t call an episode "How to install Quartz Countertops" when an expert is required
I generally agree but they do show you how to do the install, just not how to fabricate the quartz
That outlet...that outlet.... sigh. They punted on everything including getting the cabinet tops level. And shoulda used lasahs to get the dimensions..
Didn’t scribe very well. Lots of gaps by the wall
4:20 🤦♂️ please say this wasn't filmed 10 months ago.
Put out correct information. Quartz can and does scratch.
Hope you know you voided the warranty on that quartz by cutting clips in the bottom also it does stain and it does scratch not to mention how toxic this stuff is for the guys who work on fabricating it
Typically, the people fabricating the countertop will fit the sink when they cut out its opening and prepare ahead of time, ways to attach the sink on site so they don't have to chance drilling any holes.
Why do they seem to always show projects done a way they are never done anywhere else. countertops are laser measured not templated like that.
I would have painted the new countertops yellow paint Rustoleum....lol...no seriously though that kitchen looks so generic considering this was made in 2020....not a fan of any hint of beige in countertops.
I do not use silcion to glue down the counter top apoxy glue is used
How does that work out for the next contractor when he tries to remove it? (that's not your problem)
Why not just trace the old counter top
They had so much play, I doubt they need to make that templet.
It needs to be noted that this fabricator is not following the most current guidelines for quartz countertops. All fabrication employees should be wearing OHSA approved face masks. As it has been found that the particulates that occur from the cutting and any other process can cause silicosis.
Just cut the wall plate to fit and u don't need to move it.
this job was far more expensive that you imagine...leaving that for a hack finish is unacceptable
They must be union cause he won’t hook up her plumbing and electrical 🤷🏻♂️
so many issues with this episode, don't know where to begin!!!
mentioning any one of them would be more helpful than this
guess they are not doing the "do you have a hot wife" thing anymore
Quartz doesn’t scratch….hmmmmm, I’m thinking you don’t own quartz. FOR SURE IT SCRATCHES. And even though you probably should seal granite, I haven’t sealed mine and it’s 20 years old. No stains….
good god what a waste of time. no budget numbers, no scheduling notes, no advice on other follow-on trades. in case anyone is wondering that job went way too easy...because they did it slap dash. they rarely come out that easily. there's also NO excuse for leaving that plug in behind a splash...how do they expect the electrician to get that out? fixing that would have been half the effort or less had they simply moved it while the counters were off. and please take the doors and drawers out to avoid damaging them during the job(s)
Unbelievable.... You know the electrician is going to be pissed. These guys made an easy electrical job extremely difficult. Then there is the patching of the hole at the backsplash. These guys should be ashamed of their selves. And why not a bead of caulk where the backsplash meets the counter?
Those hinges are awful. I would change those first. And the knobs and pulls.
Yes, partially drag countertop on floor, I’m sure that was enough to scratch floor - NEXT VIDEO - HOW TO REPAIR HOMEOWNERS floor😑😑😑
I was thinking the same thing...
that colour ..... speech less.
Does not look much different at all.
Cabinets outdated
Let someone professional do it.
Im looking how to install not a history of Quartz. ffs
$150 ELECTRICIAN JOB TO $750. SHOULD HAVE GOT NEW CABINETS AS WELL, WHY PUT A NICE COUNTERTOP ON THOSE CABINETS !!!
Unnecessary work fitting threads into the stone for the sjnk. There is a far easier method I used to do. Scrap piece of 1x2 slightly larger then the drain hole and scrap piece of 1x2 slightly longer then the sink cutout width. Thread 2 to 3 cable ties through both timbers (small timber under the sink and long timber on top of the counter over the sink). Run a bead of proper waterproof hard setting tube based adhesive called CT1 (not regular silicone) on the rim of the sink and pull the cable ties tight to secure it to the countertop. You will have enough movement in the sink in the x and y axis to adjust it's overhang. Z axis will be solid. 24 hours later let the plumber cut the cable ties and fit his drain. Doing it this way means you can fit a sink in about 60 seconds. The adhesive bonds steel to stone within 24 hours and is 100% water resistant and sets like a rock.
That's a terrible idea. The plumbing with the P trap right under it is going to do next to nothing to support the weight of the sink. That would be solely holding up the sink by the bead of silicone around the rim. A good sized sink will hold 86 liters of water, if they decided to plug the drain and fill it up to soak something that's like 190 pounds of water. I sure hope no one was dumb enough to pay you to do such shoddy work. A silicone bead around the rim between brushed stainless steel and non-porous stone is going to be marginal at best and only going to get worse with time.
@@AndrewMerts I've fit hundereds of sinks like that and they have never budged including one in my mother's house which had been in use for over 15 years It's not typical silicone I used, it's a product called CT1. You could dance in the sinks after the CT1 silicone sets, it's incredible stuff.
@@Kevin-mp5of don't diss what you haven't tested dude.
3:55 feminists got triggered
Who is the dim bulb who mentioned that moving a counter receptacle is an easy task ? Stupidest comment ever made to perform this important detail after the counter top is in place. Actually looks like more than one will need work.
your getting paid so why you make the owners do the work
I don't think the owners get charged anything...