Trimming a Stone Countertop

Measure the width of the stone countertop with a measuring tape to determine how much you need to trim.

Place a length of masking tape or painter’s tape over the excess along the width of the countertop. This tape serves as a cutting guide so you don't trim more than required. Walk around the countertop and repeat the process of taping other overhanging sections.

Wear thick gloves, eyeglasses and a face mask. Install the diamond or stone cutting blade in your circular saw. Spray the countertop and blade of the saw lightly with water to reduce dust and heat.

Grasp the saw firmly in your hand and plug it into a nearby electrical outlet. Position the blade of the saw at one corner of the tape along an overhanging side of the countertop. Turn the circular saw on a medium speed that you can control.

Slice through the corner of the countertop with the blade. Maintain steady pressure while the saw cuts through the counter along the guideline. Turn the saw off and spray the countertop with water if the friction between the surfaces creates too much smoke.

Maintain steady pressure as you extend the saw along the taped line. Turn the saw off periodically and touch the stone countertop surface to check whether it's hot or not. Lightly mist the counter with water and resume the process of trimming the excess, until you reach its other corner of the guideline.

Set this loose section aside. Pull off the tape, and discard. Wipe the surface of the countertop with a moist rag to remove residual dust.