How to Mount a Dishwasher Under a Granite Counter

A dishwasher must be firmly mounted before operation. To stop rocking and potentially broken dishes, two screws are mounted from the top of the dishwasher into the underside of the counter. Granite counters present a problem, as screwing directly into rock often results in cracking. There are many ways to solve this problem. With proper planning and a few extra tools, it is possible to avoid hiring professional contractors.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat tip screwdriver
• Felt marker
• One piece of wood, 5/8x4x22 inches
• Construction adhesive
• Phillips-head screwdriver
• Drill
• Two 1/2-inch drywall screws

1. Place the dishwasher in position below the granite counter. Locate the two mounting tabs on top of the tub gasket, the main compartment. Use the flat tip screwdriver to bend the tabs into position against the underside of the counter. Mark the position of the screw holes using the felt marker, then lower the tabs.

2. Hold the piece of wood between the tub gasket and the underside of the granite counter. Ensure that there is space for the wood to be mounted. If not, use a shallower piece instead.

3. Remove the dishwasher from underneath the granite counter. Cut the tip off the construction adhesive tube. Squeeze construction adhesive onto one side of the wood. Use a moderate amount of adhesive.

4. Place the glue side of the wood against the underside of the granite counter. Place the wood in position so that tab marks lie in the center of the wood. Allow construction adhesive to dry overnight.

5. Place the dishwasher in position under the granite counter. Remove the access panels at the bottom of the dishwasher using the Phillips-head screwdriver. Generally there are two: an upper access panel and a lower, recessed toe plate. Remove them both.

6. Use the Phillips-head screwdriver to move the adjustable feet. The access panels mount into the adjustable feet and can be found in the front corners of the dishwasher. The adjustable feet are used to raise or lower the dishwasher as needed so that it is level

7. Push the two tabs on top of the tub gasket into position against the wood. Use the drill to secure the tabs to the wood with the 1/2-inch screws.

Tips & Warnings

• If installing a new granite counter, an alternative is to give the contractor the dimensions between the two tab holes of your dishwasher and request two holes be drilled and filled with epoxy. When the dishwasher is later installed, screws can be driven directly into the epoxy hole, sparing potential damage to the granite counter.
• Wear gloves when applying the construction adhesive as it is quite difficult to remove once in contact with skin.
• Ask for help when installing and removing the dishwasher to avoid a potential back injury.

References

• Wood Web
• John Bridge Forums: Anchoring dishwasher

Resources

• Appliance 411