Personally, I would NOT do this. I feel the granite would overheat and might crack. Remember, the kitchen is a working room first!

My question then is why is it an option according to Miele?

Lots of things are optional that aren't advisable or optimal. Appliance manufacturers don't know diddly about countertops. That would be like you taking your granite guy's advice about how to properly install an dishwasher. Yes, he might know something, but you can bet he doesn't know enough.

Weakening the granite by making it thinner at the edge of the cooktop where it is supported might just result in it failing when in use with a large heavy pot or just with regular heat cycles. It's a BAD idea unless you might somehow engineer added support under the cooktop that really takes the weight of the whole thing.

We've done this before - as far back as 1999-2000 when none of you guys ever heard of such a thing. Currently have a gaggenau smooth top done this way.

It's not for the DIY or neophyte, but can be done with lots of planning and paientence. Live Wire & cpovey - we are not talking about "thinning" the granite very much. At most it's 3/8". With 3cm stone this leaves approx 7/8" for support. On some cooktops the flange is very thin (like the gaggenau) so there is well over an inch left. If using thicker tops that are gaining popularity then even more support is achieved. Still doesn't hurt to add additional support underneath the "can" of teh cooktop. The German kitchen firms are a fairly closed group so everyone copies each other to some extent. Miele makes appliances and Kitchen cabinetry and may do counters too, I haven't checked in a while. I know for a fact SieMatic has their own countertops in stone, tile, lava and stainless. You can get a flush cooktop right out of the catalog.

Here's the kicker -Kicker: Many granite fabricators cannot do the necessary work because of lack of tooling, skill and risk/reward. Are you going to indemnify him and still pay him for the time invested if he breaks the top trying to do this? Fancy buying another slab if this happens? The best way to have this done is on a CNC machine, they cost well into 6 figures so the guy down at the depot or running a special at $49 a foot isn't going to have one. Program in the details and get a coffee. You don't want square corners anyway that's where cracks start. You should have the largest radius that still looks good with the partiular cooktop. You just haven't found the shop with the correct skills.

Bottom line is: it's possible, not all cooktops can accomadate it, most stone fabricators won't have a clue, it does pose a bit of risk but not that bad (never had a call back on ours), and it looks way cool mostly because your neighbor isn't going to have it.

This is going back a while, but someone here had their Cooktek hob flush mounted. Just talked about how great it looked, I do not recall anything about the fabrication being an issue. If that is what your heart is set on I would look for a new granite guy unless you are already locked in.

antss - Even with a good job is it worth the trouble? Where you wrote "large radius", I read "crud collection". In fact the whole perimeter has me thinking crud collection, regardless of how tight they make the fit. Or is the seam filled/sealed somehow?

ya think - is it worth it? Who knows, is that $6000 liebherr worth it? What about the $15k french range, or $5k oven? It boils down to the taste and pocketbook of the end user.

Yes, the joint can be a crud catcher. Sometimes it's filled and other times not, depends on specific circumstances. I wrote "largest radius" , obviously you wouldnt want a 7/8" radius for a cooktop with a 1/8" radiused corner.

Actually I really meant worth the trouble more than I meant money. In other words does it look significantly better? But maybe it should not be that much trouble or money:

I just called the first granite company I found in my yellow pages. The the tone of her response, "Of course, we do it all the time!" made it sound as if the lady was rather surprised that I even had to ask if they could do it. (Yes, based on my description and her follow-up questions it was very clear that she knew exactly what I was talking about.) I asked her how much it would cost and she said roughly $150, perhaps a bit more depending on if there was a need to polish the inside edge.

So that brings me back to my comment in the previous post: "I would look for a new granite guy."

Would it be possible for someone to post a picture of one installation vs. another? It would be helpful for a rookie like me to the difference so I can make the call as to whether or not it would be worth it for me to spend the additional money to find that top quality fabricator who can work the kind of magic (and has the tools) required. Thanks!

ya think - ask to see one of their previous or current installs before you commit. It is not as common an install as she is making out, unless it's become the "norm" in your area. Doubt it since all cooktops are not suitable for the detail.

Kuppersbusch has a decent pic of the technique about a 1/3 way down the page.

also: http://renovate.realestate.com.au/popup?source=193038&imageNo=1

Here is a link that might be useful: flush tops

Note the the above referenced Kupperbusch is inset (pretty cool install, I admit) into a ceramic/glass top. This material is more heat resistant than granite, which always contains hairlines cracks, waiting to crack.

antss - I am not as confident as I was yesterday that she fully understood me, even though I used terms like "rabbetting" and she asked if it was a frameless cooktop. If I am ever in the area I will stop in and talk more.

Attached is a link that shows a flush mounted Wolf. Unfortunately the picture does not show it too well. But see the product notes bottom left which specifically call for granite or other heat resistant surface.

Here is a link that might be useful: wolf flush

ya think - Don't get too disjointed by my comments, She asked if it was a frameless cooktop which is the style that almost all that are suitable, are. Once you've done one and/or have the tooling to do so it's not really that big a deal. All I'm saying is that it's not a very common practice.

cpovey - what do you think the "glass guy" is going to say when you tell him you want a 3cm thick countertop and "oh. I needs some octagonal cutouts with a rabbet put in it?" I've seen those hobs in stone and stainless tops before also. Hold on to ytuor wallet because that system is very expensive even before you go to have the counter made.

Kicker27 - How are you liking your Miele cooktop? I am considering the same model and would like to get your feedback on the unit itself.

It's a great look and more common than you would believe. It presents no danger as it is a smooth top electric, not gas. Very big in Europe and growing here.