And I should also add, how would I go about having the granite cut and/or polished?

Those remnants probably won’t be wasted as most stone yards save them for small projects. As far as having the granite cut and polished, the labor is often a very large part of any counter project, so you may find that ”saving“ the remnants is far more expensive than it’s worth.

@kudzu9

so when granite is ripped out of a kitchen, it doesn’t just go to a landfill?

I know I could probably donate it if the pieces are intact. But I was thinking of making a table, side tables, cutting boards, shelves, etc.

Would I take the pieces to a fabricator to cut?

It just really bothers me to have it go to a landfill when it’s perfectly useful (just not really the look I like)

I shouldn’t have referred to remnants...I’m talking about pieces removed from a house...sorry

I used some remnant pieces for my patio. Had a leftover slab of BlueBahia, but it had a crack down the middle of the slab. couldn't use it for anything. broke them into large 'flagstone' pieces and mortared them w/cement and pebbles . (granite is very slippery when wet, hence the pebbles all around it for tractions)

I've used other remnants for a corner coffee bar, and to top a cabinet I bought. the fabricator cut both of those to size for me.

you could top a dresser, nightstand, bar top, make shelves, coasters, a cutting board, desk top, etc.

I even had a remnant marble piece done in my bathroom for a make up vanity. used iron brackets (into the studs) to hold it.

Katie, I still have a 5' piece we removed from the desk area from my cabinet redo. It came off in one full piece.

If you’re removing your counter, you could try putting it on Craigslist or asking Habitat for Humanity if they could use it.

Not sure granite would make a good cutting board, it would be heavy.

For a table, someone would need to build you a base.

The shelves you posted look more like marble, which is cut thinner and therefore much lighter.

Katie- You could take the uninstalled pieces to a fabricator, but be prepared for a significant labor charge. If you were handy and had the right tools, you could cut and polish pieces yourself...there are a number of videos about this on YouTube. But, if you decide to do this, you need significant respiratory protection -- a fitted respirator, not just a dust mask -- as the dust can be very damaging to your lungs.

Also, the thickness of granite counters does not lend itself to things like trays because of the weight. The one shown in Maureen's picture looks like it was created from a much thinner piece of stone.

Thanks guys.

I have gone over every possible scenario of what to do with my kitchen, and I think changing the counter is the best long-term solution (versus intermittent solutions like painting cabinets, just changing backsplash, etc.), AS LONG as I’m not putting the granite into a landfill. @Beth H. : you told me this would happen 2 months ago, but as you can tell, I like to ask for a hammer just so I can beat myself over the head with it, repeatedly. 🤷🏼‍♀️

What do you think the labor would be by a fabricator? do you think we are talking hundreds or thousands?

These are ideas I’ve found that seem realistic.

I‘ll ask my handy man and maybe my carpenter what they think about doing this project with me.

well first you have to make sure your current countertop can be removed in one piece. most likely it won't. Out of my entire kitchen, I was only able to remove the one 5' desk top in one solid piece. The adhesive on the others made prying it off (without damaging my cabinets) impossible. I tried, believe me.

we actually lifted up the entire island off of the floor trying to remove the island piece. you can see the L portion is still there. I could not get it off in one piece. only the far right desk one came off easily.

even calling in a fabricator to try and cut it won't work. it's the adhesive they use on the back.

try taking a crowbar and prying it up. see if it will lift

and they might use this stone to grind up for other things. (as for the landfill, it already came from the earth so what's the diff???)

good advice- thanks

I’m thinking the 6” riser and backsplash behind range will come off in one piece. As for the counters, I like the rustic jagged edges for shelves or trivets or whatever-I’d just want them buffed? a bit. I guess it makes me feel better to make use of the material and not just throw it away. We want to tile our cheap builder showers too (they’re plastic inserts or whatever and practically new because we never use those showers)- I’ll donate those. It’s like I want to alleviate my guilt for doing projects that are unnecessary. First world problems.

The best way to not fill a landfill is to live with what you have and be happy that you have a nice kitchen when so many in this world, even the US, do not.

thanks yvonne. lets guilt trip everyone who wants a nice kitchen. sigh.

Most of the world doesn't have half of what we have here in the US, which is probably why many of them want to come and live here. And there are plenty of people here in the US that could have nice things if they worked for them. Not all, but quite a few.

I'm not going to feel badly and suffer w/something I don't like merely because someone in Chad is living in a grass hut. You can, and that's your prerogative, but don't insult the rest of us w/your self -righteousness.

I wasn't insulted. Practicing moderation and being grateful for what we are blessed with in this country is not being self-righteous.

I’m not offended, but I think I’m being reasonable here wanting to reuse or donate the materials I plan to replace. I try to be conscientious of this earth, and the people on it, and I’m beyond grateful for what I have. I am privileged, yes, and I know and appreciate that. But I’m also not naive- our planet is far more innocent than many of the people living on it, especially here in the US. Beth knows this well, as do I. My decision to replace my counters is inconsequential to the world’s problems. Some might even say it’s the right thing to do... Consumer spending and home improvements are a huge part of our economy, so it actually benefits our nation and world to spend your money if you have it.

kudzu, there's a way to word it so that it doesn't come off as self righteous. she didn't. I wasn't offended or insulted, just tired of the trite statements when it comes to this kind of thing.

yes, of course we are blessed, but does that mean we should live like those who aren't? I worked very hard for my money. If I wanted a new countertop and my old one had to go in a landfill, (which Ironically is where it came from. the ground) then I'll do so. I don't need to be reminded of how fortunate we are.

Besides, think of all the families that are being fed in those countries where this stone is mined? did you ever think about that side of it? all the people employed to get that stone to my kitchen? that's a lot of people and a lot of mouths to feed. If we were all so 'happy with what we have', no one would upgrade and all of those people (in those other countries who aren't fortunate to have our way of life) would be out of work.

Having spent time in multiple Countries in South America, I can attest to the importance of the stone mining industry. Villages located in mining areas are vastly more "better off" than many others. In many places, mining is the only source of employment, allowing people to remain, as opposed to seeking "work" in overcrowded cities. All the sand in the world...was once solid stone.

I like to use countertop remnants in my garden. Small pieces are stepping blocks in the flower beds. The short backsplash pieces are good for edging beds and larger pieces are good for steps and walkways. I often end up flipping pieces upside down because the top side is too slippery for exterior use.

I have had quite good luck removing countertops without breaking. Perhaps we have just been lucky or some other factor applies in this area. ReStore here gets some quite large pieces donated but the large L shaped pieces are usually broken, often at the sink cutout.