Securing a dishwasher into granite?
Discovered today that a remodel done on my son’s kitchen didn’t include a plywood subtop on the new kitchen counter cabinets. The contractor simply installed the granite directly on top of the cabinets. The granite is more like an 1″ I think, instead of the 3/4″ I’ve seen more often, so the goal may have been to minimize the countertop’s overall height. What’s done is done… now I have tp solve the problem.
The problem is that the dishwasher isn’t secured from overturning forward when the door is open and the drawers pulled out. So, the question is… do I screw thru the plastic side panel of the dw (there’s room between the door gasket and the front edge of the panel to get a small screw into), or do I drill a small hole up into the granite, fill it with glue or something similar, and put a short screw into the granite? I’d not want to drill more than 3/8″ to 1/2″ up into the granite, I presume.
I’ve put drywall screws directly into cmu walls before (great picture hangers); will they go directly into granite? I’m sure I don’t want to risk the countertop… this seems unwise even if they’ll bite.
Suggestions would be appreciated…
Replies
Here you go.
I have seen on granite installs everything from a let in strip (into the granite 1x1x24) a drilled hole with a plastic anchor, a drilled hole with epoxy filled at the mounting bracket and a nice fender washer size (with slots all around) "nut" that you used a threaded screw into (At the mounting bracket-they shimmed the DW, located it exactly where they wanted it. Mixed up some epoxy, put it on the "nut" (remember, wide thing with slots) and mounted it at that location, stuck the shortened threaded screw in and tightened it down.
Epoxy set up, they can now remove the screw to release the DW.
No holes, pretty easy. Nice if you could find this specialty "nut", if not, keep the epoxy out of a regular nut.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
This is a common installation when using 3CM thick material. they did not do anything wrong.You have a couple of options. Most new dishwasher provide for installation thru the top or sides, Check owners manual.If unable to mount via the sides. cut a piece of material that matches the cabinets and attach it to the underside of the countertop using
SIKAFLEX (available at Home Depot We buy from our slab supplier.)You will break the granite before the SIKAFLEX failsScrew away and you are doneFrank
What Frank said. If you have, can purchase, or can fabricate brackets for side mounting use them. Otherwise glue something to the underside of the granite to connect to.
This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in. --Theodore Roosevelt
Silcone sealer...
Bud
go thru the side panels if you can. Helluva lot easier...
There's a pic floating around somewhere showing 2-3 DW screws through the sides of the dishwasher tub. Pretty funny. I know that is not what you mean, but I could not help but recall the image.
This is one of those niggling little details that so many contractors neglect time after time after time......
The granite installer should have been required to include a means to mount dishwasher to underside of countertop.
IF you can get him back there to provide you with something to secure to, great. My guess is fat chance.
As others have mentioned though....many of todays units have the ability to be secured through the sides and into the cabinets themselves.
R.I.P. RAZZMAN
Is the dishwasher new? Some of the newer ones are designed to be screwed in from the side.
John
Have you examined the dw or read the install instructions? Perhaps it would be easy enough to attach the dw through the sides to the adjoining cabinets. Most newer models are designed this way.
Even with some older models it is possible to screw thorugh the plastic liner.
Good suggestions, thanks. I'm not sure if there's room above to glue in a strip to receive a screw, we'll see. The side wall brackets are definitely worth looking for as the dw is pretty new. Thanks for your time!
On our Bosch the side brackets were attached to the frame -- you broke them off to use them. Look up the install instructions for your unit and see what they say.
This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in. --Theodore Roosevelt
I jusy had granite counters installed yesterday, and they have begun using a bracket that spans the width of the diswasher, is screwed into the side of each cabinet, and has many predrilled holes that are used to screw the DW brackets to. Works great, and the installer claims it only costs 5 bucks. He did not say, however, where they got it from.
Edit: Here's a link to the bracket. 5 Bucks. He didn't lie.
http://www.granitecitytool.com/showitem.cfm?itemnum=2065
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Edited 12/5/2009 5:29 pm ET by NickNukeEm