Granite Work Tops. How are they fixed/bonded/glued? How do we 'unfix' them?

FrankFalcon

Hi all

In our house we are changing our worktops because one of them was badly damaged (by us).  The Granite worktop company have been out to measure up.  In the meantime, our drier has broken and we need to replace this built in drier.  Bizarrely...yes I know that this is unbelievable... but when we had underfloor heating fitted a couple of years ago the floor was finished higher than the bottom of the drier.  The top and bottom of this is that unfortunately the only way we can remove the drier is to now remove the granite worktop above it.  At this time, we are lucky, because as I said, the worktops are being changed anyway.  So, because of this we need to install a new drier before the new worktops get fitted.  Therefore, it is clear that we need to break open the joints on this particular piece of worktop to get to the drier.  With this in mind I would like to ask the following questions?
What are these worktops joined with? Is it silicone? Grout? some sort of cement?
How can I break open these joints myself? Stanley knife? Hacksaw blade?
Please look at the Red Arrows that show where the worktop is joined.
Thanks in anticipation all.

Sorry that there are 2 similar images of the worktop but I couldn't work out how to delete the image with NO Red arrows on it.

Eldi_Dos

@ FrankFalcon

Not the question you asked, but storing potatoes on the counter in front of the window is not the best idea, especially if there are woman of childbearing age in the household. It is something our family folklore would really have frowned upon. 
I think it is one of the main reason why potatoes in clear bags have short sell by dates in supermarkets.

grumpy_codger

FrankFalcon said:

Bizarrely...yes I know that this is unbelievable... but when we had underfloor heating fitted a couple of years ago the floor was finished higher than the bottom of the drier.  

Again, it's not an answer to your question, but not only this isn't unbelievable, but in fact this is very common for UK underfloor heating cowboys.

rob7475

Does the appliance not have adjustable feet? You should be able to wind the feet back to lower the machine. You can then lift it out? For the rear feet, sometimes there is a hole at the front that you put an hex key or screwdriver in and it'll adjust the rear feet.

grumpy_codger

rob7475 said:

Does the appliance not have adjustable feet? You should be able to wind the feet back to lower the machine. You can then lift it out? For the rear feet, sometimes there is a hole at the front that you put an hex key or screwdriver in and it'll adjust the rear feet.

Wet UFH is usually 50mm+. No adjustable legs can cope with this, not to mention that it's next to impossible to reach them because of the step.

QrizB

FrankFalcon said:

What are these worktops joined with? Is it silicone? Grout? some sort of cement?
How can I break open these joints myself? Stanley knife? Hacksaw blade?

I would expect the joints to be made with something like this:

https://www.howdens.com/hardware/sealants-and-adhesives/sealants/stonegate-125ml-black-granite-worktop-joint-sealant-wor9041

If it's polyester resin, in your position I'd start with the hand tools you suggest. You might also find that acetone (nail varnish remover) will soften or dissolve it.

Escalate to power tools if necessary.

If all else fails Mr Angle Grinder will definitely deal with it, but might make far more mess than you'd like in a working kitchen!

Also, @Eldi_Dos thank you for your top tip 😀

Here's the background to the folklore:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

FrankFalcon

rob7475 said:

Does the appliance not have adjustable feet? You should be able to wind the feet back to lower the machine. You can then lift it out? For the rear feet, sometimes there is a hole at the front that you put an hex key or screwdriver in and it'll adjust the rear feet.

Yes, but the gap is too large. Thanks