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Granite Cut to Fit a New 30 Inch Stove, Sutton Place, Manhattan

A new 30 inch stove, and the gap between the two sections of granite was about 29 3/4 inches. The owner measured it and asked for a 30 inch stove cut: take 1/8 to 3/16 inch off each side so the new stove slides in. Both sides had to be cut, not one, otherwise the stove would not be centered between the counters. I cut both granite sides in place, right in the kitchen, and ground the new edges smooth. The job was in Sutton Place, Midtown East, Manhattan, NY 10022, New York County.

Before and after of a granite countertop side at a stove gap, the side before the cut, then after, with the new edge ground smooth — *Before and after. Left, the granite side at the empty stove gap before the cut. Right, the same side after the cut, with the new edge ground smooth.*

Why a 30 inch stove doesn’t fit a 30 inch gap

I get this email a lot. The new stove is 30 inches wide, and the opening in the granite is 29 3/4 or 29 7/8. The countertop was cut for the old stove. Some old stoves have a lip that sits over the counter, so a gap a little under 30 never mattered. A new slide-in stove needs the full width, and a quarter inch is enough to stop it. The countertop is installed, so it is cut where it sits. It doesn’t go out to a shop.

Two thin cuts, one on each side

I do the stone only. The owner’s plumber disconnected the gas and pulled the old stove out before I came, so the gap was clear. Then I cut a thin strip off each granite side, about 1/8 to 3/16 inch, so the gap opened to 30 inches and stays centered. There was some wood under the granite on the cut line, not a lot, and I cut it with the stone. It is the same kind of work as a counter side trimmed for a refrigerator niche or a cooktop cutout cut on site in a granite counter. The new edges are ground smooth, not polished. The stove covers them, so polishing there is work nobody sees. It took a whole day, and no edge chipped.

Black granite countertop at the left side of an empty stove gap, dust on the top, open wall with the gas pipe behind — *Before. The left granite side at the stove gap, with the old stove already out.*

The left granite countertop side after the cut for a 30 inch stove, the new edge ground smooth, white cabinet side below — *After. The left side cut, the new edge ground smooth.*

On the right side the granite was cut flush with the wood under it.

Right granite countertop side at an empty stove gap, dust on the black granite top, gas valve on the wall to the left — *Before. The right granite side at the stove gap.*

The right granite countertop side after the cut, the edge flush with the wood below it, the black granite top clean and shiny — *After. The right side cut flush with the wood below, the new edge ground smooth.*

The new stove isn’t in yet. The cabinets under the counters are too narrow for it, so the owner is hiring a woodworker to cut them. The plumber connects the new stove after that.

The building asked for a certificate of insurance before the work day. I carry general liability, and I issued the COI from the sample the owners got from the building. A lot of Manhattan buildings ask for one, so get the requirements from your managing agent early.

What to expect when granite is cut in place

Here is what the owners heard before the work:

The main issue is dust. Cutting granite in place makes a lot of dust and noise. The surroundings are covered with plastic drop cloths, but some dust can still settle in other parts of the room.
The cut edges are ground smooth but not polished, since the stove covers them.
I do the stone work only. Disconnecting the gas and moving the stove is for the plumber, before and after the cut.
There is a chance the new edge can chip during the cut. If it does, it is filled with colored epoxy.

One more thing to check before you buy the stove: the cabinets, not only the granite. Here they were too narrow too, and cutting cabinets is woodwork, not stone work.

Questions people ask about cutting granite for a new stove

Can granite be cut to fit a new stove without taking the countertop out?
Yes. It is cut in place, in the kitchen. The cut edges are ground smooth, and the stove hides them.

Should I cut one side or both?
If the stove has to sit centered between the counters, both. One cut on one side is simpler, but then the stove sits off center.

Do you disconnect the gas and move the stove?
No, I do the stone work only. Have your plumber disconnect the gas and take the old stove out before I come. The new stove goes in after the cut. If the cabinets are too narrow too, that is a job for a woodworker.

If your new stove doesn’t fit the gap in your granite or marble countertop, send me a photo of the gap, the width you have, the width of the new stove, and your zip code. I’m based in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan and all over New York City. Email info@marblerestoration.us.

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