skip to main content

Woodworking DIY Kitchens

Raised wood breakfast bar overhang on quartz - supports?

6 years ago

I have an island (with one of the short ends against a wall), and thinking of installing a breakfast bar on one of the long sides (~47 inches / 1.15m long).

I've found a suitable wood block, but it is a chipboard core with wood veneer. About 24 inches (60cm) wide, so thinking of 12 inches (30cm) overhang, 12 inches (30cm) on the unit.

I'm having quartz worktops, so the wood block will be sitting on the quartz, like in the picture below.

What would be the best way to secure the wood block, through the quartz worktop, to the unit below? And is there a solution without using L-brackets or corbels and other overly visible supports?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Michael Menn Ltd.
6 years ago
There is no way to secure the top thru the quartz. There are some very nice brackets made. Look at www.federalbracket.com for some interesting ideas.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I just spent an hour removing a shelf that had been secured to a tile wall with silicone today. Wipe the quartz and wood with acetone, dab a nickel sized bead of silicone on the quartz in a random pattern every 16" or so across the 12", set the wood and forget about it.

You can stand on the cantilever the next day and you'll only get it off by driving shims between them, just like I had to do. Mechanical fasteners are unnecessary. Silicone is reversible.

A chipboard core with veneer is much more dimensionally stable than the real thing. If you're not chopping on it, it's the best choice.
Related Discussions
Beating the dead horse: counter-height breakfast bar overhangs
Q
Comments (27)
try hard, i think you should not forgo your breakfast bar or your ability to use it comfortably. if i understand the way you describe it, the 12 inch overhang will only protrude into the doorway, not the actual room, and then only by 3 inches. it really sounds fine to me. unused, sitting there with stools tucked, i think it will be seen as the kitchen. whether you use the 9 or the 12, your actual bodies or backs of stools will probably graze the family room but so what? counters and bars are often transitional spaces to the next room anyway, and i think that either way it will be fine and you will enjoy it so go for the 12! by the way, former owners of my house made the counter bar extend 11 inches which we find comfortable for knees. however, they removed the wall between kitchen and dining room and the entire counter protrudes the 11 inches into our small dining room which completely throws off the center of the room and makes the stools way too close to the dining table. i can't gut the whole space, so i live with it and really love using the counter bar. your situation is far far better and i bet it will look fantastic. good luck and let us know what you decided.
...See More
breakfast bar--counter (36') or bar (42') height?
Q
Comments (23)
we are just finishing a 2-level peninsula similar to your plan. will post pictures soon. we were well aware that this is "off trend" but figured that by the time the kitchen is finished, it will be almost back "on trend" again! you just have to go with what you need to function best. hiding all the s*#% (stuff) from the dining area was big for us. we also really enjoy sitting at a counter. my husband makes pasta a lot and likes the idea of having 2 levels-- one to work on, and one to dry the pasta on. we put outlets all along the 6in. support, as you had mentioned above. we also put one outlet facing toward the bar side (also in the support) which i think will be handy. i also had an idea (after the fact) to build in a little soap/sponge holder into the 6inch support right by the sink. it would have been nice. ah, well. next kitchen. as mentioned and shown above, we also used hidden brackets for support. they are routed into the side so the face piece went over them and then the under-counter part of the bracket does not show at all. we didn't have room for the corner bar section that you show in the last picture. i like the look-- it does seem to update the bar look-- but don't know how it would work for your situation. have fun! kawh
...See More
Granite breakfast bar support
Q
Comments (9)
Hi, Boxerpups gave some great visuals and advice but I'll add mine anyway. We have plywood under our granite, it's supported on one side with cabinets and then goes into a 15 1/2" overhang. We made a support ledge on peninsula wall side and then added three 12" x 8" counter brackets. Husband & I did not want fancy bulky corbels to cover brackets, we wanted something shallow so we hollowed out/routed some standard moulding from HD to mimic spice cab doors and painted to match upper cabinets. The first few pictures were taken from the floor. The last picture is what it looks like if you are sitting or standing. http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=viewÃÂ¤t=countersupportsandboyspicture002.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=viewÃÂ¤t=countersupportsandboyspicture004.jpg" target="_blank"> http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/kitchen%20progress%20pictures/?action=view&current=moldingsupports002.jpg" target="_blank"> Sorry if the picture shows large I have resized but it does not show that on my preview.
...See More
? for Raised (Breakfast) Bar Owners
Q
Comments (6)
mimom26 - Yes, one of my 3 is a little one and he has no problem getting up, staying up or getting down. The saddle stool seats are nice and wide from side to side so they are very stable - my guy most frequently sits on his knees and he's never wobbled or fallen. Ironically, in our last house I had big beautiful stools and having the backs to rest up against made the kids more comfortable to push their feet on the backside of the island - this led to one of them tipping the back-heavy stool over backwards, gouging my plaster wall, denting my walnut floor and splitting the carved wood back of the stool right down the middle! We broke the rest of the back off and left the stool that way for quite some time, calling it the "seat of shame" and I can say that the boys never "reclined" in their stools again!! Here's a pic of those stools at the counter: I'd also say that I hated having "arms" on the stools because they got very chipped and marred from banging into the granite island top!
...See More
Boon Koh
Original Author
6 years ago
Interesting, I've never considered a silicone only solution before. Is it really strong enough to hold up the cantilever?

What specific silicone brands or types do you recommend for super strength?

And thinking of the application pattern, would it make more sense to apply the silicone in a grid pattern on the quartz, to provide more bonding surface area?
LTS
6 years ago
Bookmarking!
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
I've ripped 1/2" thick Corian tops that were bonded to cabinets with dime sized dabs every 16" or so, so yeah, it's plenty strong enough.

Most guys think if a little silicone is good, more would be even better. Not so. You are bonding dissimilar materials. You want the bonder to retain enough flexibility to allow the wood to move independently of the quartz. That's why dabs, not grids or heavy coverage.

Any 100% silicone will be fine at $5.99 a tube, but if you want the perfect adhesive for this application and have the money, here it is.

Related Stories

KITCHEN DESIGN How to Fit a Breakfast Bar Into a Narrow Kitchen

By Kathryn Peltier Design

Yes, you can have a casual dining space in a width-challenged kitchen, even if there’s no room for an island

ENTERTAINING Trending Now: Houzzers Raise a Glass to 15 New Home Bars

By Erin Carlyle

Most popular new home bar photos on Houzz offer plenty of ideas for a dream entertaining space. So what’ll it be?

KITCHEN DESIGN 12 Breakfast Bars With Coffee Shop Appeal

Give even a small kitchen a sociable vibe by inserting a stylish seating post

FARM YOUR YARD How to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants

By Annie Thornton

Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Creamy White, Wood and Brass in an Open Plan

By Jeannie Matteucci

A design-build firm helps a Minnesota couple create a roomy L-shaped kitchen with off-white cabinets and a walnut island

KITCHEN DESIGN Wonderful Wood Countertops for Kitchen and Bath

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Yes, you can enjoy beautifully warm wood counters near water sans worry (almost), with the right type of wood and sealer

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Quartz vs. Granite: The Battle of the Countertops

Read about the pros and cons — and see great examples — of these popular kitchen countertop materials

LIFE A Caregiver’s Guide to a Supportive Home

By Shana Levy McCracken

A daughter who’s been there shares 9 tips on tailoring a home for a loved one with dementia

KITCHEN DESIGN Bar Stools: What Style, What Finish, What Size?

By KitchenLab Interiors

How to Choose the Right Seating For Your Kitchen Island or Counter

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Why I Chose Quartz Countertops in My Kitchen Remodel

By Lyndsye Felsman // By Design Podcast

Budget, style and family needs all were taken into account in this important design decision

Sponsored

Daniel Russo Home

13 Reviews

Premier Interior Design Team Transforming Spaces in Franklin County

More Discussions

stain grade vs finger joint handrails?

2

How to un-paint these railings

13

Wine Cellar Construction

1

Reviving this old wood screen door

3

Advice Needed on Installing a Wood Accent Wall

2