Thickness of 2cm Countertop Underlayment (and Type of Material)
garhoo
15 years ago
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tom999
15 years agomidorismom
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Counter thickness: leave at 2 cm or try to build up? (pics of WM
Comments (14)OK, here is a pic of the dishwasher with the new shim under it. Please excuse how grungy everything looks in its mid-construction state, gross! There is a similar block under the stove. One could also face these with the same materials the toe kicks are made out of. Hopefully this gives you get the idea of how we solved the problem of needing extra height. The new, raised countertop went in yesterday and the kitchen suddenly feels like it's built for grownups! Tonight will be our first night of cooking and chopping and we're looking forward to the test drive....See MoreAny downsides to having 2 cm thick soapstone counters?
Comments (5)No thoughts on thickness as ours is 3cm, but we have Barroca and I would never do that again. It is a very, very soft stone--on ours, we have pitting all over the surface after only two years and you cannot, for instance, set anything with a ridged bottom (olive oil, beer, wine, etc.) down without a coaster or you will get a permanent imprint. The softness may vary somewhat based on the quarry and distributor (ours is two years old and purchased on the West Coast) but test it extensively before committing to it. I really wish we had paid more for a harder stone. (I did find that soapstone was cheaper than most darker granites where we are when we were looking, though, which was a surprise!)...See More2 cm countertop without edge buildup - mistake?
Comments (16)If you know you like the look, then you know you like the look (I do, too). It took me a while to figure out that "I don't think you'll be happy with X" most often means either "I don't like the way it looks personally" or "It's a pain to do it that way." I wish I'd had a translation dictionary at the beginning of each project! (My husband and contractor both thought 3 cm was the way to go and I didn't feel strongly enough to want to use up all my vetoes that day!)...See More2cm granite with plywood countertop from China
Comments (4)The information you attached is from a site titled "Ask Maurizio". Maurizio is very informative. Also check out Tom Cordova's blog, The Rock, as well as the NSRA-National Stone Restoration Alliance site. All are helpful. Regarding your other questions, lighter colored granites in general are more prone to stain than darker ones, however, having them sealed and re-sealed every year or so protects it. Sealing them is nothing more than spreading a liquid sealant on top then letting it dry. Dark granites usually do not need to be sealed and they do not stain. Sealing is different than resin, which is done prior to the slabs arriving at the yard. Most, if not all, granite slabs are resined. This is a good thing, as it keeps the naturally occuring fissures from cracking and the mica and quartz pieces from chipping. Unfortunately there is no universal grading system. Most slab yards use their own system of grading, which is usually based on the rarity of the stone and its colors, rather than actual quality. The quality of granite is pretty consistent. Also, other stones that aren't acutally granite, but may be gneiss, work just as well for countertops. The sites I've seen caution about black granite from China. Many of them have been "doctored", meaning black polish has been applied, which makes them look better initially, but sometime after installation this polish wears off (unevenly) and the slab is actully grey, not as black as you thought. Who wants to end up with something different than what you purchased! Anyway, I hope this helps. Good luck and keep doing research before you purchase. Make sure to view the fabricator's work in someone's home, paying close attention to seams and edges before you hire someone. Susan...See Moreaussies
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