How can I break an Epoxy Granite joint

[BKreft]

I need to separate two pieces of granite that have been joined together by epoxy. I need to reinstall said granite once I change out the lower cabinets.

Please advise.

[Stone Dude]

go buy a small propane torch at home depot, i think theyre about 30 bucks. torch the seam untill the epoxy starts to crackle or turn black. keep an eye on the stone though, some stones will have crystals pope out with too much heat, if you see this, stop and let it cool down. as youre torching the seam, use a utility knife and firmly drag it down the seam, you should be able to cut away the epoxy a little bit at a time. work it small sections, you need to get it hot, if you work in too big a section it will cool down before you get to it.

[Mark D.]

Cameron,
Would you do it that way if the seam was done with poly resin instead of epoxy?

Mark

[Stone Dude]

yeah same way. its the fastest, easiest, cheapest way.

[BKreft]

To Stone Dude

The heat method worked. I had an electric heat gun and used that instead of a torch. Using the high setting and working the joint a little at a time I was able to separate the two granite pieces with no damage what so ever. Thank you for all of your help.

Bruce

[gimpybmxer]

To Stone Dude

The heat method worked. I had an electric heat gun and used that instead of a torch. Using the high setting and working the joint a little at a time I was able to separate the two granite pieces with no damage what so ever. Thank you for all of your help.

Bruce

heat has always worked for me as well, but getting the granite to seperate from each other and be removed from the cabinite is another story............ was the granite 3cm............ and just adheared to the tops of the cab. frames???  what do you guys typicaly use to adhear the granite to the cabinets?  i live on the west coast, where typicaly we use 2cm granite with lamination...... the cabinets are covered with plywood, and we use liquid nails to glue the decks down..... once it drys, there IS NO removing the granite and reinstalling....  what ive had to do in the past is cut about an inch away from the seam with a grinder, removed the piece that needed to be redone (in many pieces after prying it up and breaking it) and used the torch to heat the seam to remove CLEANLY what was left.  the liquid nails hold FIRM, and unless its fresh, like within the couple of days........ your screwed!!

[Mark D.]

Most fabricators use silicone, not liquid nails. Liquid nails has been known to bleed through and stain the granite top.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[gimpybmxer]

Most fabricators use silicone, not liquid nails. Liquid nails has been known to bleed through and stain the granite top.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

ive heard that from two or three fabricators, but in the 5 years ive been doing this, i have NEVER ONCE seen it.  so with silicon, you can pull up the granite after it dried easily??  do you use 100% silicon, or a waterbased clear caulking?

[Stone Dude]

we dont use liquid nails. what if you have to tear out one of your countertops? we install for durability but specifically to be able to tear out without breaking. one of our old clients had a flood in the kitchen 3 weeks ago. there was a 45 degree turn with the sink in the corner and the seam going all the way to the back of the corner. there was a one piece upper counter. we tore it all out without a single chip. we use silicone.

we just tore out a counter in our showroom thats about 15 years old. it was installed with liquid nails. no splash, no fancy stuff, it was small enough to carry with one guy. it came out in pieces. all you need is a few spots of silicone in the corners, the sink bridge and the middle, no more. people always overkill installing counters. and i have heard stories from reputable fabricators that have been bit in the ass by liquid nails after years of use with no consequences. its better to cover your A than chance it.

with the with the silicone, we use a rigid putty knife, a large square, a slim jim or anything similar. you just slide it under the counter and it cuts right through the silicone. even if there are a few beads of silicone left you cna just lift the piece right up. to start a tear-out, we use 1 1/4 screws, screw them up through the subtop into the stone, about 3 inches apart. it will either liftt up the stone or pull down the subtop, either way it will seperate the stone from the subtop.

[gimpybmxer]

i guess we learn something new everyday....... in the time ive been doing granite, ive only ever had to tear out twice, so its obviously not an everyday occurance, but this method is by far better sounding, and a good insurance policy!!  thanks for the tips

[accurategranite]

How I'd separate the two pieces would depend on whether they were skimmed with epoxy or polyester resin or glued solid all the way through. 

If they were skimmed, I'd agree with everyone else here.

If they were glued all the way through, I'd cut the seam with a marble blade.  The marble blade's segments are formulated for cutting a softer substance than granite - marble.  The glue is even softer than marble.  When you cut, the blade (with guidance of course) will take the path of least resistance through the glue.  I get better results with an old marble blade which is perfect since this process will make your blade unfit for use on marble.  I don't know that heating it with a torch if it is glued all the way through wouldn't work if it was 2cm granite but here in Maryland, we do very little 2cm granite.  When 3cm granite is glued all the way through, I feel it's bet to cut it apart.

[Stone Dude]

you have a point, 1 more cm would make a difference, and a good installer would epoxy the seam all the way through, making it difficult to seperate. havent really dealt too much with 3cm. were one of the last shops to use 2cm, i dont think anyone on the east coast does anymore.

[accurategranite]

To be completely honest, we are seeing an increase of prefabbed 2cm Chinese granite in the area lately. I don't want anythig to do with it.

[Stone Dude]

i wouldnt either. they get a great shine, but it makes me seasick looking at it. we dont bother with prefab.