The counter you're showing in your second picture has a mitered edge I think. (Basically they cut the counter and the edge piece at a 45 degree angle and glue them together). I'm pretty sure it's too late to do that to your counter (it's a pretty complicated thing I think and not all fabricators do it anyway.) it is also a significant up charge so I would never assume that's how it would be done unless discussed specifically in advance. I am no counter expert, but you may still have the option of adding a piece around the perimeter (depending on the overhang) to thicken it up. You will get a line through the middle though. It shouldn't be as noticeable on quartz as it is on some natural stones but it will still be there. What I don't know is if that's something that can be done after it is installed. Another option might be to pull back the trim piece a little so it's not so noticeable. Really you just need to do as suggested above and meet with the builder to find out what can be done. You may be SOL unless you're willing to spring for new counter (and if that's the case maybe you can just get the thicker edge on the island to save money). By the way, 2cm counters are not at all uncommon and many people (especially in Europe and Australia) actually prefer them. That doesn't matter if you don't like them, but I don't think anyone would walk into your home and think it looks bad.

The choice that you will be making is purely aesthetic in my opinion. 2CM with a laminated edge does look a little "more thikcer" than the single thickness that is evident in a 3CM edge, but again - this is purely aesthetics, and up to YOU.... Check with your Fabricator to see what their track record has been in their experience with laminating Quartz slabs..... we do both with no problems................. Bottom line is either will work for you - YOU just have to decide "which" look is most attractive for YOUR taste... hope that helps kevin

marissa 16: Estone comes in 1/4" (floors/vertical only), 2 cm, and 3cm. You can laminate the 2 and 3 cm to get to 4 and 6 cm respectively. The appearance of laminated edges depends on the quality of the preparation, the clamping, the adhesive color match, and the color, particulate, and movement of the particular estone. This becomes much more art than science. For the record, I am not a fan of solid underlaymnent under estone or stone, plywood or other; it is too dimensionally unstable and incompatible. Strips maybe and keep it 1/8" away from edges.

Thanks for the replies. They're helping me rethink this. I suspect, as practigal suggests, that he means some other type of material. Otherwise, yes, the overhang would be overly heavy. And thank you for the picture, javiwa. I didn't realize that the counter would extend out so far because of the application of the lamination. Not sure it appeals to me for our kitchen. In the baths, I will deal with it because I need 2 cm for the backsplashes. A point regarding cost: we got bids from three different kitchen remodeling companies. With each, I discussed the cost of 3 cm vs. 2 cm plus the additional work effort for fabrication, suggesting a trade off. In each case, I was told that the fabrication costs are the same regardless of the thickness of the granite. Doesn't quite seem right but there was no flexibility in that area Ultimately, the point might be moot depending on what is available in the granite that we choose. Thank you all for your contributions to the discussion.