granite tiled worktops

[dexion7]

Hi guys - newbie so go easy on me please!.

i'd really like to fit start galaxy granite worktops in my kitchen but the cost is too much.

tiles are available much more cheaply than complete tops and i wonder in anyone has tried using these in a 'diy' fashion to make a worktop. 600mm square size tiles are freely available and since the two worktops i need are both straight with no edges to finish i'm considering giving this a go.

my idea is to fit them on 18mm ply and butt them so i guess it would be a case of ensuring that they are exactly square and flat. the visible edge would be stainless steel strip (to match the carcass doors) bonded with epoxy to the edge of the tiles/plywood.

any ideas or comments welcome.

 

[doug boardley]

I wouldn't butt them, I'd go with a small joint and use epoxy grout

 

[dexion7]

I wouldn't butt them, I'd go with a small joint and use epoxy grout

thanks for the reply.

why not butt them, is that to ensure that any out of square can be managed easily?

does the idea sound ok in principle?

 

[diamondtiling]

Welcome to the forums dexion, as Doug has said butting them is not the way to go. Epoxy grout for food areas.

 

[doug boardley]

thanks for the reply.

why not butt them, is that to ensure that any out of square can be managed easily?

does the idea sound ok in principle?

liquid and food bits will seep into joints harbouring bacteria. Can't see a problem otherwise though

 

[suave]

:welcome:

 

[dexion7]

liquid and food bits will seep into joints harbouring bacteria. Can't see a problem otherwise though

when i said i was going to butt them i meant joining them by coloured epoxy with no designated gap between the tiles (usually there is 2-4mm when they are used on the floor)

the question about the viability of butting them realy centred around the liklehood of them being a) square, b) of constant thickness and c) do the tiles have a bevel on the edge.

what would be the best adhesive to stick the tiles to the ply?

thanks for the replies fellas

 

[doug boardley]

a single part flexible adhesive that needs to dry before you grout with epoxy. I'd be tempted to use hardiebacker 250 (6mm thick) on top of your ply too

 

[Dontiler]

hello dexion
in my opinion what you trying to do will not gonna look nice, i would save bit more money and would buy slab of polished galaxy granite, you could cut granite with grinder and finish it off with diamond pads, you can buy pads from trimline
good luck

 

[White Room]

Hi and welcome

 

[tfs]

alot of granite will have a chamfer on the four edges of the tile aswell so if you butt them there will be a gap of a few mm depending on the depth of the chamfer.

You may find a good deal if you call around some stone merchants.

If you are happy to live with the tiles appearance then go with it but you will deffo get a better finnish with a large peice of granite in my opinion

 

[ACTROS1945]

HI :welcome:

 

[jay]

:welcome:

 

[albyshellshear]

hi dex if you go ahead with your proposal could you take a few pictures so i can see how this turns out by the way couldnt you butt them together then use wax for the joints just my opinion i will probably get slated now :20::lol:

 

[Polishtradesman]

hello dexion
in my opinion what you trying to do will not gonna look nice, i would save bit more money and would buy slab of polished galaxy granite, you could cut granite with grinder and finish it off with diamond pads, you can buy pads from trimline
good luck

I would not butt them too, you must leave gap between tiles to put grout into. (epoxy wiil be the best for such a place, cement grount class CG2 is not good for worktop for sure). You must use adhesive class C2 to fix tiles to ply. Best idea is just save a little more money and do it nice with one piece.

 

[biffa]

Hello and welcome
I did this myself in a hairdressing salon. Laid 100m2 of star galaxy on the floors and made worktops with remainder.
Used 18mm ply double thickness, glued and screwed, so finished thickness is about 50mm. stuck them down using a 2 part flexible addy (Fastflex). grouted in microcolour black. its used for mixing hair colours.
2 years on still looks the same as the day i did it