Granite 2 or 3 cm

15 years ago

Hi I, have been reading on here for awhile. This is the best place I, have found. You all have such great advise. We are putting in granite. The granite, were going with is called golden dune. But do not know if we, should go with 2cm or 3cm. We can get either. We have 70.5 sg ft. The 3 cm will be $3096.50. The 2cm will cost $3243.00 This is for everything including the granite, and any edge we want.Is this a good deal? What do most people go with? Iam very confused of what would be best. Would love some help deciding. Thanks Sharaz

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Comments (8)

weissman
15 years ago
Usually you don't have both options available - but if you do, I'd recommend going with the 3 cm. 3 cm doesn't require a layer of plywood under the granite and you will get a full edge - with 2 cm they will have to do a laminated edge to cover the plywood - and in your case the 3 cm is cheaper!
teppy
15 years ago
hi shar-az,
i posted a very similar question a while back about 2 or 3 cm. i'm linking it for you. there is some info that you might find useful. and i say go for the 3 cm. i'm glad i did. its going to be in your kitchen for a long time and theres no need in regretting not getting later.

Here is a link that might be useful: 2 or 3 cm granite?
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Kayl- Plywood alone WILL NOT PREVENT cracks in the tops!!! Your fabricator (IMHO) needs to re-think their logic in what they are doing in relationship to using 2CM thick stone and people sitting on the countertops.... OF COURSE THE STONE IS GOING TO FRACTURE IF A TEENAGER SITS ON IT!!! Here's the saying I have for this scenario: "Countertops are made for Plates & Glasses NOT for FEET and DIRTY ARSES!!!" People hve to realize that a countertop is NOT a seating surface! I will venture a guess that the top that cracked was an overhang like a breakfast bar - or an area where chairs were under it for a dining application, and the kid sat on the unsupported top and the stone cracked where the cabinet line was - I see this all the time on jobsite inspections that I get called on to do - and have to write an "industry expert opinion" on WHY the countertop fractured - kind of like CSI for countertops..... HA! This can be prevented by the proper use of corbels and support of the assembly with either corbles or counterbalance plates spaced out no more than 16 inches on center. Whenever a consumer is going to use 2CM thick stone - IT MUST HAVE A SUBTOP - and the subtop should be 5/8 inches thick - PLYWOOD - ACX grade... This has worked for me flawlessly for over 25 years - no failures!!! Plywood should be used as the subtop in lieu of OXB, Particle Board, Masonite, etc. It should be screwed down to the cabinets- sanded side down where there is an overhang - sanded side up on conventional cabinet applications where the countertop is the depth of the cabinets (plus an overhang of 1 1/2" from the FACE of the Cabinet frame) hth kevin
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"I have also been told that 2 cm is rarely used here anymore." and ..."oh, those over there are just 2 cm so don't bother looking at them." Not really. 2 cm is pretty much the standard on the west coast. I live in the very northern part of San Diego County and have been looking at granite for about 8 months. It turns out we live in Granite Yard City; there are at least 6 granite yards within 5 miles of my house and another 8 or so just 30 min. down the road towards San Diego. Lucky us, the closer ones seems to have a better selection. In any case, about 95% of what we've seen has been 2cm. The place I linked above is absolutely the exception in offering only 3 cm. In the end, our choice was made because we liked this outfit's work, not the thickness of the stone. There are benefits to each choice, but personally, I could readily go either way. I did see a 2 cm quartzite I loved, but it was pricey (!) and we would have needed 2 slabs to be sure there was enough to cut for the extra thickness on the edge. sigh The place we went with charges per square foot and they keep the leftovers. Had the quartzite people offered that, we would have seriously considered it. 2 cm or 3? Don't worry about it, just find one you like.
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"Seek and ye shall find; ask and ye shall receive." Ten hours ago I posted " Plywood is incapable of applying constant upward pressure on a sink as straps on sinks do. And replacing the sink would be a nightmare." Well I went to work and my nightmare has come true. This sink, undermounted in 2cm stone, is supported by plywood and is leaking like a sieve. I don't know when I've seen a worse topical caulk job. A knife slides easily between the sink flange and the bottom of the stone. That leaking is contributing to the failing seam. If it leaks enough to rust a steel reinforcement rod, it can blow the front rail off and crack the rear. There's a dishwasher to the left and a wash machine to the right (small condo) that will have to be pulled so I can Rotozip the cabinet sides to gain access to the plywood so I can remove it to remove the sink. I'll have to patch the cabinet sides back together, install the sink harness or straps, remake the seams, and reinstall the sink and appliances. I'm practically writing my proposal in this post. I can change a strapped sink in an hour and a quarter. I'm going to propose a Kohler K-3942 as an alternative. The appliances could stay, no cabinet alterations, and the existing sink, plywood and all, would be cut out from the top. I won't have to make the front seam either. This bachelor likes stainless steel apron sinks. Wish me luck please. And never, ever, use plywood to support a sink.
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lisa_a
15 years ago
I've read info and threads about 2 vs 3 cm granite but what I haven't been able to determine is if there is a height difference between the two when installed. Someone told me that a counter made of 2cm would be slightly lower than one of 3cm (and yes, I know the difference is slight). Makes sense but then again, that doesn't account for the plywood underlayment - 5/8", I think - that goes under the 2cm. Wouldn't that make an installed 2cm counter higher than an installed 3cm counter?

If this has already been answered on this forum, I haven't found it. TIA!
Sharon kilber
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. All for the great advise. I, think we are going to go with the 3 cm. I, have to learn how to post pictures, when were finished. You all have a great night. sharaz
lisa_a
15 years ago
bump.

Can anyone answer my question re: finished height of counters with 2 cm vs finished counters with 3 cm granite? Thanks!
vrjames
15 years ago
Lisa,
The finished height difference is very negligible.

2cm laminated on a 3/4 plywood subtop is actially no thicker than a 3cm slab.

If you put unlaminated 2cm directly on top of the cabinets then that would be 3/4 inch less than 3cm.

James
bwaibel
15 years ago
The difference between 3cm and 2cm is about 13/32". How does it end up 3/4" less with 2cm? I'm just curious, I would have expected 3/8" under the granite to even it out, but I really have no idea what actually happens.
lisa_a
15 years ago
Thank you, James! Sounds like the differences come down to price, labor costs and edge details then.

The height difference issue would never have occurred to me until I started measuring my current kitchen. We installed porcelain tile on the island and laminate on the perimeter. The island is 1/2" higher - 36 1/2 inch counters instead of 36 inches. I much prefer 36 inch counter height so I'm hoping the granite will be closer in thickness to our laminate than to our tile.

Granite 2 or 3 cm

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Granite 2 or 3 cm

Comments (8)

weissman

teppy

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Sharon kilberOriginal Author

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Sharon kilber
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