Marble Question!!!

[Shack]

I posted this in Home improvment area, but its kind of slow over their and I figure you can kill two birds with one stone (both forum area's).

I just got about 200 square feet of Italian 7/8th inch thick white polished marble (with grey squiggly though out it). It came to me in 6 4’x4’ slabs and some other sized pieces. Its very nice stuff and I am planning on using it to build a nice serving area, bar next to family room down stairs. The thing is, it has ¾” plywood on back side. By the looks of it, some type of epoxy is plopped down every square foot on back. It does create a slight air gap on back side of slab and plywood.

My question is, (with out knowing what the glue is) what could be applied as far a solvent to remove glue and plywood. If you try to pray apart, marble will crack. This is some tough stuff. What I can see of it, the glue is yellow in color.

I could work around this plywood , but would like a fresh back side to work with. I also plan on cutting pieces to the size I need with the water jet we have at my work. The wood could be an issue when cutting on the water jet.

I am finishing the last of my basement and am about a week or so out before I would need to set Marble.

Does anyone know how much marble goes for a square foot like this?

Thanks

[sparcebag]

Shack: my guess would be a silicone adheasive,7/8s is thick but not uncrackable! I'd use it as is.If ya want to cut it with water,I'd use a skill saw first on the ply to make a slot for waterjet to clear,just multiple passes with saw to open ply.My guess at cost min.12$ Sq.Ft. max heck I've seen real Italian at 90-120 sq.ft.from a certain quarry there,cant remember name?? Before ya cut look real close!!! if its not a real custom piece it may be glued together,normally the short distance.Was it counter top ??if so a joint would travel the 2 ft width not length. Good luck!

[hitthebricks]

I would say give a wood chisel a try. It will come off in small pieces but the chisel will cut wood and the construction adhesive as well. Another idea would be to electricaly heat a wire and cut the glue as you pull it between the wood and the stone. If this is counter top quality Marble I'd bet its a easy $20-30/sf, for new stuff. Good luck HTB

[Surface Tension]

I'd leave the backing on. Use a router and plow out the plywood before you make the cuts. Clamp on a straight edge for a guide. Don't know how what you have in mind for finishing off the edge of your top. You could recess base 3/4" and overhang the marble or insert it into a frame edge.

Either way use the router again to free up the backing from along the edge of the marble.

[Shack]

Its old stuff, very nice cond...

The marble came from a downtown Mpls. 5 star hotel. It was installed between the 20’s and 40's. The hotel was built in the 20', but they feel the counter was updated after. A buddy of mine is a superintendent for a large commercial construction company, that remodeled hotel in the 90's. He salvaged the pieces from the front desk. The 4’x4’ squares where part face/front of the desk and the smaller 16”x4' panels where part of the counter top at desk. He has stored it now for 10 years and did not want it. I was picking up some other stuff for my serving area/bar (some more counter top, cabinets and brass railing/poles) and he said if I want it, I could have it.

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my guess would be a silicone adheasive,7/8s is thick but not uncrackable!

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Yes! They tried prying it apart and cracked one of the smaller pieces.

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I'd leave the backing on.

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This is most likely what I will do. My work has a Jet Edge water jet cutting table. We have cut granite and marble before and this is the easiest and nicest way I know to cut it (wood and marble together). I will entertain the idea of routering a path for the cut.

Another way that was brought up to me this morning would involve the longest Saws All blade made. Using a router to cut out the freed plywood area’s would be a great idea.Then I would just have to remove this glue. But it sounds easier to just leave back on and that way I do not have to reglue, I just rescrew.

Thanks guys!