Stainless steel countertops with marine edge & custom sink - questions
Has anyone done custom stainless countertops? I need to finalize my order next week, this is my biggest splurge (queue anxiety attack), and I want to make sure I'm not missing anything. I'd love a marine edge (I had one, effectively, made out of tile in my 1950s house, and it's amazing how much it kept things from dripping/rolling/spilling onto the floor), but I'm not clear on what dimensions I should ask for on the profile.
First, is a 1/4" raise enough? 1/2" looks obtrusive to me, but maybe it's not so bad in person? This looks good to me, but no telling if it's effective at keeping things from rolling/spilling:
Second, do you raise the edge to abut the range? What about a side wall or tall cabinet? I think my contractor was going raise the edge everywhere except where the countertop will meet the backsplash. A raised edge by the (freestanding) range makes sense to me, but not really by a wall or a tall cabinet, where there is no risk that things will fall/spill over the edge.
Finally: Any tips on custom sinks? I want single basins and offset drains, but I haven't specified anything else yet. Anyone know a comprehensive checklist of everything you are supposed to ask to make sure they turn out right?
Comments (16)
jslazart
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Stainless steel countertops?
Comments (27)Our substrait is plywood as well. We wanted it to approximate the 3cm granite on the other counters so we used two layers of marine grade plywood. Marine grade isn't necessary, but we had it on site from our shower construction and didn't mind the extra protection it gives in a water area. Our fabricators came out three times with the counters to do a dry run on the fit, then went back, cut, banged, etc and finally arrived at the finished product. Between the raised counter, the corner sink, the runnels going into a sink, integrating the sink, integrating the backsplash and wrapping the front around the bends in and out, they said it was the most complicated countertop they have ever done. I thought it was pretty simple actually heh heh (it's so much easier to be the designer LOL) Our sink is actually not an exact matched finish to the counters. It went in shiny like any new sink, but after a few months of use it's patina is pretty much the same as the counter. So I think with yours the finishes will blend quickly. My sink had a rim on it (it was able to be installed either as an undermount or overmount because it was a commercial sink). To put the runnels in on the corner they had to chop a bit off of one corner. I was worried how it would look, but really, it's totally seamless. That's what you'll get with a good fabricator. They really do wonderful work, just be sure to ask to see some of their work before you go with whoever you pick. Sometimes cheap means weld marks, dings, etc. You don't want that :) "igloochic-love the faucet! Did you replace it or modify it? Faucet shopping is on my list of things to do...It looks easier to clean without the coils. How on earth did they integrate your sink so well/seamlessly? That looks great!" Those are both KWC Systema faucets. The tall one was actually our first choice. We wanted the reach, and that professional look, but once it was installed, it didn't really work in the windows. We have two friends who have that same faucet and they love it. Cleaning the springs is not an issue at all (they really don't get dirty, even here in dusty alaska). It's a gorgeous and heavy faucet, which was also part of the problem. That swing arm weighed a ton, which was GREAT for use! It functions so easily, smooth movements, etc., but the head is heavy, and given the proximity of the windows, we had grave concerns about it hitting a window and breaking it. We have a 3 year old who loves to play in water and I could just see that thing getting a little shove...it takes a crane to bring in windows to the location, so we figured it was cheaper to buy another expensive faucet than to replace the windows at some point heh heh So that tall one is sitting in a box in the garage waiting for me to decide what to do with it. Poor darling...it's lonely for a nice kitchen heh heh (it's next to a plastic shop sink now...I think it needs to be humbled a bit) :oP So we went for the shorter Systema, but it's still nice and heavy. The visual is better for the location than the taller one, and it does not have the open swing the spring one had (I prefer the open swing frankly, but not with a 3 year old and windows). I'll probably use the tall one in the victorian house...or sell it...gad I don't know LOL (Our remodel is like a shop project from little boy hell...it seems to be together but we have LOTS of extra parts)....See MoreQuestion about stainless countertop/sink quote
Comments (6)Thanks for the responses! live wire oak, excellent point. The cabinet depth is 24", so that would mean I would need to adjust the dimensions to 66"x 25.5", if a 1.5" overhang is standard. I hadn't thought about that when I asked for the quote. What I want to do is match the marble countertops overhang in the rest of the kitchen. Maybe I should ask my GC if that is the amount of overhang he plans for the marble. Also, do you know if a #4 brushed finish is good? I don't want it to look too shiny; what I have in mind is more a commercial kitchen finish. What finish are you asking for, live wire oak and wallycat? (and any others who have/are getting stainless?) Also, are you getting it the same way as I was quoted, with a MDF substrate and the SS laminated onto that, or is there a better construction? Thanks again, Liz...See MoreOpinions on Stainless Steel Countertops
Comments (38)We just had stainless counters installed. I can tell you how we sourced and priced it. We have an L shape that is 13'9" in one direction and about 5' in the other direction. Near the corner is a double integrated sink and a drain board (sloped area, but no runnels). We tried getting quotes from 4 sheet metal fabricators in San Diego - the cheapest was $6000, the most expensive was $8000. We started giving up our dream of stainless counters. Then my husband went to restaurant supply place - he asked if they could make it. Their quote was $3700 (plus shipping and tax). It worked out to just over $4000 as the final number. It was fabricated up in Los Angeles by a vendor they work with. This put the pricing less than the silestone counter we had been considering. Ours is a 16 guage. We also have a turned up backsplash... which added tot he cost. We've had it in for 3 weeks. We've made pizza dough and pie dough on it - great surface for both. It's super easy to clean. If I could reclaim the section full of power tools (we're mid-remodel and DIY) I'd be thrilled. Sorry for the poor quality of this picture - this was taken the night we lifted it into place. I was tired and the flash was giving me fits. Here's a cluttered daylight picture of the integrated sink....See MoreStainless steel countertop questions
Comments (11)I don't have SS in my kitchen, but I have a SS table from a restaurant supply store in my work space. Sometimes I like to leave the doors open (it's a large space with roll up doors) just to get some nice air in while I'm working. I have found that when the sun is at the right angle in the afternoon, I can't work facing it because the glare off the SS surface is harsh. I move to another side so that it's not an issue. I'm not sure what your window placement is, but in my kitchen at home I don't think SS would be an issue because I never have that much light streaming in. My kitchen windows are large and south facing, but I have a pergola and trees filtering the light. So it really depends. In direct light at my work space, SS is blinding, but I think any light polished surface would also be blinding....See Moreemilymch
3 years agoUpdate: I decided against the marine edge because the place I used was not able to do a 1/4" rise, and I thought any more would be too much. I picked up the first side of my counters and am very pleased! The welded-in sink is amazing. I had them do a ledge for cutting boards, sheet pans, etc.
We're doing our kitchen in stages, so I haven't gotten the other main countertop done yet. It's a bit unconventional, but its allowing us to continue having a semi-functional kitchen which, during the pandemic, has been very helpful since we're eating all our meals at home. We have plumbers here today hooking up this sink, which is going to be the cleanup sink. The prep sink side of the kitchen has been demo'd and is in progress now.
Here's a sneak peek with the ledge in action:
Isaac
3 years agojslazart
3 years agoemilymch
3 years agojslazart
3 years agoI'll never be one of the cool kids with my devotion to function over form, but I am very *very* happy.... (hood chimney will also be stainless, but was mis-measured and will have to be rebuilt.)
Pre- counter clutter..
Post-clutter (clearly we're not quite done yet...)
Now if only I could find a single bar stool I like..emilymch
3 years agojslazart
3 years ago
PROJoseph Corlett, LLC
3 years agojslazart
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3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoemilymch
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emilymch