Is there a cost-effective and safe way to trim a vanity top to fit a non-standard size without risking damage?
Asked by Rachel Day 
3 months ago
Last Updated: September 2, 2024
Do you know of a good way to trim this vanity top to fit our non standard size vanity?
It seems like the standard size is 60 or 61 inches, but ours is 58.75 inches and stuck between walls on three sides. We looked into custom vanity tops, but I don’t really want to spend $1,500 on an older vanity. They make them pretty affordably in various materials like quartz. Do you think any material would be easier to cut than others? My biggest worry is accidentally breaking it while cutting 🙈
Use a right angle grinder with a diamond blade. Measure the correct amount to cut off, let’s say it’s an inch, then cut off half an inch from each side to keep your sinks centered.
Hey , do you think it’s doable as a DIY project? I’m a little nervous about messing up the whole thing. I’ve done tile work in the past, but cutting quartz or composite tops seems intimidating.
Hey , especially if you’re cutting tile, try taping the edges where you plan to cut to avoid marks from the tool. I tape up my grinder head too. Take your time when drawing your lines and work slowly. If you’re working indoors, use a vacuum to catch the dust.
You could also try using a spray bottle to reduce the dust, but be careful as it might wash away your line.
Thank you so much for your help. It’s truly appreciated!
You can also attach a straight edge on top to assist with guiding your cuts. I prefer to cut the cut line without going full depth on the first pass. This creates a channel for water to cool the blade and scores the cut line to prevent it from washing away. You got this!
Cutting with a diamond blade on a grinder is effective if you have a steady hand. There are also diamond blades available for circular saws, allowing you to run the saw along a straight edge. A couple of key points to note… create a template using 2″ wide strips of 1/4″ plywood against the walls and glue them together with hot melt where they overlap. This template helps transfer dimensions accurately. Ensure strong support underneath the counter. Make a partial cut at one end and then complete the length from the opposite side to prevent corner breakage.
Ric Diato, I happen to have a circular saw. My main worry was the blade getting stuck and potentially breaking the countertop. But maybe I’m just overthinking it.
Diamond blades used on saws don’t have teeth, so they won’t likely get stuck. I recently did some granite counters for a kitchen. I used a circular saw with a rigged water line and a grinder. I purchased the granite from the marketplace and got the blades from Amazon. They are wet or dry blades. I also used the saw and blade to cut 2″ bluestone, which was done dry.
Ric Diato has some really helpful advice!
Once you make the cut, you can smooth it out with a sharpening stone or diamond sandpaper. Sometimes, regular sandpaper works on composite tops to clean up the cut edges.
It’s a waste of time and money… it might be more cost-effective to find a similar version that’s just slightly smaller. Keep searching, there’s something out there.
I’ve been searching for weeks and I can’t find anything precut that would fit. The size difference is too big to just cut out the drywall a bit. The current vanity is lower, which is nice for my son, so we want to make it work for a few more years before considering a custom vanity.
How long is it exactly? Is it about 1/4 inch or more like 2 inches?
Hey , do you think we could slide the vanity over a little? It’s much easier to move around the plumbing under the sink than to cut the countertop.
Unfortunately, I can’t move the vanity. It’s custom-built into a nook and sits flush with the wall on the back and both sides. The standard size tops are 2 1/4 inches too wide.
Diamond blade, just like cutting through stone.
Cut some openings in the drywall to make it fit properly. Then repair the drywall.
Hey, just wanted to mention that the prefab tops are 2 1/4 inches too wide. I’m not sure if I can make it work though.
Not the best idea but you could cut notches out of the 2 by 4s.
If you’re worried about cutting it yourself, consider taking it to a local stone fabricator. But keep in mind they will charge you. It might be worth looking for a closer size. I’ve seen a 59 x 19, so there must be wider options available.
I’ve also noticed that but they don’t seem to be deep enough ðŸ«
I saw them do that around a month ago. He used an angle grinder to hand-cut it with a dry diamond blade and then polished the edges using a diamond polishing disk. Cutting and polishing two edges cost $250.
Do you think you can make notches in the drywall on the sides to create enough space? They had to cut into the drywall to install our countertop and make it fit.
The difference is 2 1/4 inches. So, I don’t think I’d have enough room to cut out the drywall.
I live in Hawaii and got a custom quartz counter for my unique size vanity, along with a Kohler undermount sink, all for less than $399. I didn’t have to do any cutting or installation. If you’re considering Home Depot or Lowe’s, that might be the issue. Lowe’s quoted me 3-4 times higher for the same job than the custom stone shop I used.
I might have to search for more quotes. Our countertop was purchased from a local shop.