DIY Granite Mini Slabs + Undermount Sink

My dream was to have Granite Slab in my kitchen. But after receiving a couple quotes of $4,000 for my kitchen, I quickly decided to go another route. I didn't have to have granite, I was open to other countertop solutions. But I quickly realized that, yet again, doing it ourselves would give us the biggest bang for our buck (not to mention thousands of dollars saved in our pockets).

I was introduced to "Mini Slabs" by my husband's Aunt and Uncle. They have a store called Interiors Plus Flooring and I was sold the minute I saw the granite. They are 18x26 inch tiles and range from $50-$55/tile. Average $15/sq ft! A STEAL!
** Mini slabs, at the moment, come in limited style choices. But in the end they had what I was looking for and it was worth it to me!

Credit: Oregon Tile and Marble

The "Mini Slabs" are made to cover your average length countertop, with 1 inch extra to cut and bring to the front edge to finish. Grout lines are minimal which gives it more of an appearance of slab. You can't beat that!

Because we saved so much money going with the min slabs, we decided to have Crowley's Tile Edging bullnose all the edges to give it that finished, slab look, and fulfill my dream of having an undermount sink!
TIP: My husband has never in his life installed granite before. He watched hundreds of Youtube videos (just look up "installing granite countertops" or anything along those lines). It does help to be handy and you must be very precise and accurate in your measuring. I am just glad I didn't have to do it, it looked HARD!
Installing the Undermount Sink:

This is how we picked up the tiles, before my husband cut them

Crowley's made the cut-out for the sink and this is how we picked it up (above). It was up to us to cut the tiles and install.

After my husband cut the tiles. It is now looking more like a sink!

Cut the plywood and drop the sink in. We are almost there!

You can't forget to cut the holes for the sink and soap.

Install the plumbing. My husbands LEAST favorite job.

After installing the granite top it's held down by these bad boys.
I can't forget to mention we put weights on top of the countertops to hold the granite down and make it level.

TIP: We put the tiles right on top of 1 layer of Plywood. We opted against the Hardiboard (after it was installed, then we had to tear it off) because the plywood + hardiboard would have been too thick and the 1 inch edge of granite would not have covered it. We also found if we did hardiboard that our stove would not raise high enough and it wouldn't have fit!

See the weights on the left? Gotta keep the countertop level somehow!

Tip: Use Silicone for installing the granite edge.

VIOLA!! The finished product (please ignore our unfinished backsplash):

Here is a shot of the corners with the bullnosed edge. Definantly the way to go

!

This is 2 mini slabs next to the stove. Look at the bullnose again, so pretty

Grout lines are minimal and hide VERY well. I don't even notice them.

This is our island. I bet you can't even tell me how many tiles are on here. (4 tiles)

Project Facts:

• Granite (including Bullnose edge and Undermount Sink)- $1600
• Labor- FREE
• Granite: Gialla Santa Cecilia
• Grout: Non-sanded "Light Smoke"

Total Cost of Granite Countertops: $1600

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