Marble? Or Granite? Will it work outside and cutting it... ???


 
DanHoo

DanHoo

TVWBB Olympian
I have a piece of marble or granite countertop and am thinking about using it as a surface for an outdoor prep table.

Trying to figure out what it is, and how might it hold up?

And, I would need to cut it. I've read about diamond blades and circular saws. It's 5/8 thick.

Is this a crazy idea?20220826_210553.jpg20220826_210602.jpg
 
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I would think marble would hold up fine outside, it is a kind of stone after all. I think cutting might be the challenge, but I'm sure it can be done with the right blade. I say go for it.
 
It's definitely marble, I just can't tell from the picture whether it's cultured or natural, not that it probably matters. Does the pattern go all the way through, or is it just kind of on the surface? I think that's how you can tell.
 
Marble and granite are both porous so they need to be sealed to not stain easily.
Marble is more porous and more fragile.
Cultured stone is not porous and is stronger than the others.
More countertops are made from granite..

You can use a diamond blade to cut them.
I prefer an angle grinder but a skill saw works too.
Use proper PPE.
Try to stay out of the debris roostertail.
An assistant with squirt bottle of water sometimes helps.

Good luck.
 
If you don't have the tools try contacting a countertop place that does stone.
They might give you a price on cutting it with a water jet or something else.
 
This could be cut with a circular saw/angle grinder as described, but it wouldn't be real easy. I would suggest asking a granite slab dealer if they could make the cut for you. Next I would try talking to some tool rental places to see what they have. Diamond blades are expensive for just one job.
 
Just be aware Marble is very soft compared to Granite drop something heavy on it and it will be damaged. I know my wife wanted Marble in our bathrooms when we did them and its beautiful but you need to be careful with it unlike our kitchen granite tops. Might not matter if your using it as a grill table.
 
I think everyone has covered just about anything I can offer already. If it were mine, I’d make the table fit the marble, bigger is better!! It can crack with thermal shock and it will likely stain, for the most part I would not worry too much about the staining, it gives more “character”😉.
 
I cut a couple of repurposed granite countertops with a old don’t care if it died circular saw and a $40ish diamond blade. I did multiple passes cutting about a 3/4 inch groove first. The prep work for the cut took longer than the cut. You have to make sure the slab is fully supported so it won’t break off.

Outside job with a helper and a shop vacuum or something to deal with dust.

The dust will kill a circular saw so it will probably kill you if you are not protected.
 
Thanks for the comments, suggestions, warnings and all.

Here is what I'm thinking. I need more storage and work surfaces and am considering re-purposing a Genesis E330 cabinet.

I like the height of the E330 side tables and was planning to keep them and mount the marble so it is level with the side shelves.

I would need to cut the width down so that it sits between the frame cross bars that the cook box bolts to. I could leave it full depth, but I think it will look better if it is about the same width.

I will need to fashion some sort of front facia to cover where the control panel mounts.

20220829_122626.jpg
 
I like but if you go that route you are going to have exposed frame on both sides.
I would set it on top and overlap both sides.
 
DanHoo said:
I have a piece of marble or granite countertop and am thinking about using it as a surface for an outdoor prep table.

Trying to figure out what it is, and how might it hold up?

And, I would need to cut it. I've read about diamond blades and circular saws. It's 5/8 thick.

Is this a crazy idea?View attachment 58225View attachment 58226
Click to expand...
Hey Dan- what are the dimensions of the existing marble slab?

Length?
Width?
Thickness?
Height - the buildup looks thicker- and is the buildup on one, two or three sides?

I have been known to repurpose things from time to time, so always interested in a challenge.
 
timothy said:
I like but if you go that route you are going to have exposed frame on both sides.
I would set it on top and overlap both sides.
Click to expand...

Yeah, water dripping into the cabinet from the exposed frame is a current issue on my E330. I've been toying with making a small rain gutter inside the cabinet so it drains out the back.

I thought about not using the side tables and just putting the slab on the top. I might mock this up with cardboard or plywood first.
 
John_NJ said:
Hey Dan- what are the dimensions of the existing marble slab?

Length?
Width?
Thickness?
Height - the buildup looks thicker- and is the buildup on one, two or three sides?

I have been known to repurpose things from time to time, so always interested in a challenge.
Click to expand...
The existing piece:

5/8" thick. Front has a double thick bullnose edge.
30 wide ( side to side )
26 deep ( front to back )

If I mount the marble between the frame rails, I will need to raise the marble so it sits flush / level with the side shelves.

Not a hard requirement, but I would like to be able to revert the changes and turn this back into a grill, maybe...
 
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DanHoo said:
The existing piece:

5/8" thick. Front has a double thick bullnose edge.
30 wide ( side to side )
26 deep ( front to back )

If I mount the marble between the frame rails, I will need to raise the marble so it sits flush / level with the side shelves.

Not a hard requirement, but I would like to be able to revert the changes and turn this back into a grill, maybe...
Click to expand...

I would have the marble sit above/ on top of the steel side tables, and possibly leave it 30” wide.
The cutoff on the depth would tuck inside the bullnose and that fascia would be in front of the steel tabs that you want to potentially reuse.

I might fasten some exterior wood to the frame and use PL adhesive in a few spots to secure the marble but not sure since it might be removed eventually

A quick scribble

F4F00031-93CE-43B4-958A-13B3EA2DFB5D.jpeg
 
If I keep the side tables, I want the burner to be functional, because I use it to light coal. This limits the width of the top, and unless I narrow the width it won't be symmetrical.


20220829_142936.jpg20220829_143054.jpg
 
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