A normal kitchen in a normal house can handle the weight of granite just fine. A refrigerator puts many pounds per square inch on y our floor than the counter tops do, and their weight is evenly distributed over a large area. Cabinet construction does not have to be anything special either. Any decent quality cabinet can handle the weight of granite.

Thanks Ccoombs! I thought we were ok but I am learning much through this remodel so wanted to verify.

Residential floor loads have been 40 pounds/square foot (PSF) live load and 10 PSF dead load (50 PSF total) for a very long time on the main floor, and 30+10 for bedrooms/second floor.

The joists are sized for the entire floor area to have this load.

That means a 10 ft x 10 ft kitchen is designed for a total load of 5000 pounds. The design is for uniform loading, but since heavier loads are also normally at the perimeter there is seldom an issue.

3 cm granite is around 30 pounds a square foot, but is far from covering the entire floor area.

That means a 30 inch deep counter runs about 75 pounds per foot of counter run.

Anything but a very flimsy cabinet will be fine.

I am a Fabricator that's been in the trades for 32 years........

I have actually weighed (to see for myself) what 1 SqFt of granite in 2CM and also in 3CM actually weighed.....

Here's what I found weighing Absolute Black:

2cm = 15 pounds per Sq Ft
3cm = 22 pounds per Sq Ft

I used an electronic scale that was certified at the time - so I am pretty sure the weights were right on the money for AB......

hth

kevin

One of the ways used to identify different stones is their density.

With all the different types of stone sold as 'granite' you rarely have a true granite.