HEAVY COUNTERTOPS DESERVE HIGH-QUALITY CABINETRY

TIPS FROM THE TRADES

It’s always exciting to select and invest in beautiful granite or quartz countertops for your kitchen and bathrooms. Often overlooked is the long-term impact of high-quality cabinetry for crucial support structures beneath the countertops. It is one of the most important decisions you can make to achieve a safe and sound reliable finished product. 

There are several important elements for proper support structures.

Choose well-constructed cabinets made from strong materials. Most importantly – don’t select cabinets made of particleboard. Even a small leak within cabinets over time will compromise the integrity of the structure. Particleboard only remains in reasonable condition if kept completely dry. Although more expensive, solid wood cabinets will prove to be more durable and a better investment in the end.

Another key factor is the installation of the cabinet boxes. They should be tied together firmly and correctly with screws - not pneumatic nails. Consider the weight of the countertops when constructing the cabinet boxes. The weight of island counters is increasingly large with some exceeding 1,000 lbs. Simply shifting that amount of weight can overstress some structures to failure.

Don’t let your support system be an afterthought, an experienced carpenter will know that overhangs exceeding twelve inches require additional support spaced approximately every three feet. Overhangs can be supported by corbels or an assortment of steel brackets or posts. The support system should be designed and discussed during the cabinet drawing stage. To have brackets installed, the cabinet design will have specific placement for the brackets to install without hindering doors, drawers, or the integrity of the cabinet boxes.

The cabinetry for center islands should also be secured firmly to the floor. This is especially important for supporting cantilevered overhangs. Posts for seated overhangs should never be free-standing. They should be attached with cross ribbing tied together as one piece, like a true table base. You want to build the support system first, then allow the countertop to sit on top.

When shopping for cabinets, it is vital to seek out well-designed and quality-constructed cabinets, and that you choose an installer who adheres to proper installation guidelines. Good craftsmanship in your cabinets will allow you and your family to enjoy your beautiful countertops safely.

40 years in business --- StoneWorks fabricates and installs countertops made of Quartz Surfacing, Porcelain, and Natural Stones like Quartzites, Marbles and Granites.

This article was originally published by The Bluffton Sun. Click here to read the article on The Bluffton Sun website.