How to Cut Angles on a Pre-Made Countertop

Place the countertop onto a pair of saw horses face-up and mark the angle you wish to cut on the countertop. Use a straightedge across the countertop to keep the cutting line straight across the surface, and extend the mark down the front of the counter as well. Use a sharp pencil to make your mark. On the backsplash, mark a vertical line up and over the top of the backsplash with the straightedge to assist, at the point that the angled line ends on the countertop.

Cover the marked lines with a strip of masking tape to prevent chipping in the surface of the countertop as you make the cut.

Turn the countertop over and repeat the marking process on the rear of the board, using the marks on the top of the backsplash and the front countertop edge to guide you in line placement. As with the top of the counter, use a straightedge to keep your lines as straight as possible.

Attach a fine-toothed finish blade to a circular saw to make the cuts. The large number of small teeth in the saw will cut through the countertop without causing chipping in the counter face.

Align the saw blade with the drawn cutting line on the countertop rear. Turn on the saw and cut through the counter along the line. Use as little force as possible when controlling the saw movement, just enough to direct the saw along the line. Allow the blade to do the work for you. Stop the saw when you reach the backsplash. Realign the saw on the backsplash cutting line, and then cut through the backsplash as well.

Remove the tape from the front of the counter, and wipe with a clean, wet rag to remove any tape residue or pencil marks. Wipe dry with a second clean rag.