The Counters Blog

Our kitchen is sort of contemporary/transitional so we wanted a clean look and we got it. Before my installers left we measured all the overhangs together to be sure they were all the same at the front and at the sides. When the countertop people templated, the head guy called me later to say “did you realize that where that angle comes out, the two sides aren’t even? But the counter guy didn’t just assume that because that’s what was there that that was what it should be. If the overhang situation is not specific and in writing, they failed to provide the service you contracted them for.Can you even tell the two different overhangs from each other? I wanted the counter to line up with the doorway entrance and not cut into it. The 1 1/4″ side is the bane of my existence because spills absolutely and always go all over the doors. And also to let you know that you may just be trading issues to go for the smaller overhang on the side that doesn’t need it. Yes, i can tell, if i couldnt tell we wouldnt even be having this debate. Directly across, the overhang is so much more, so obvious, and is also creating a much longer shadow on the door fronts which makes things worse.Obviously this entails cutting a new slab, a cost that someone will have to absorb. Do you want to post a picture so that we can tell you it isn’t all that bad? I would be tempted to have a friend phone the company and ask for a quote over the phone, and also happen to inquire as to what standard overhang is. With my sink, water dispenser, faucet, garbage disposal and dishwasher. I measure the depth of the counter it is consistent all the way around. I remember thinking that wouldn’t be enough to cover the drawer/door faces but our contractor said it would be and he was right. You shouldn’t be expected to accept mismatched counters unless you did the templating. By fixing the cut the overhang was not the same on both sides of the peninsula. I believe standard is 1 1/2 inches, but that depends on cabinet style too. I ended up getting a filler piece on the dropped down section to even it out and keep the symmetry. So the two overhangs are not next to but rather are across from each other. Because the deeper overhang is on the sink side (sink and plumbing attached) and therefore more difficult to dismantle, i am actually hoping that they will redo the other side, and make a deeper piece to match. Why can’t they remove the other side and cut it to work? The top subs set her tops (4 in all) and one of them was deeper. Was it a particularly difficult top to get installed? It seems like since you specified the fridge side, then even though the fridge side is easier to redo, they might only have some obligation to match the sink side. Even though someone should have mentioned to/reminded you that the sink side was different, if you specifically asked after, then really, you have no legitimate gripe. I hate that we as homeowners doing a kitchen maybe once or twice in our lifetimes, have to become experts in so many areas. Golly, detail # 1035 that the homeowner has to be aware of! The templater told me in advance, after templating that my cabinets actually vary and so my over hang would also vary.

Measuring New Cabinets For Laminate Countertops. by mal-o-sen.com

Use a good quality steel tape measure; make sure the tip is 90° to the blade (not bent). If countertop butts into a wall, put end of tape up against wall and take measurement on exposed end. As you get your wall measurements write them down on the sketch you drew previously. Note: don’t confuse the face frame overhang with the overhangs listed below. Sometimes countertops with odd angles or nonstandard widths may need a template made before the countertops can be manufactured and cut. Now, any exposed ends may need additional overhang, see list below. Also make note of ends that get finished (capped) or may need a radius, etc. This would apply to diagonal corner cabinets, angle end bases, etc.

NKBA Guidelines by kitchens.com

When the kitchen includes additional work centers, each additional distance should measure no less than 4 feet nor more than 9 feet. The distances between the three primary work centers (cooking, cleanup/prep and refrigeration) form a work triangle . If traffic passes behind the seated diner, allow at least 36 inches to edge past or at least 44 inches to walk past. Provide at least 21 inches of standing space between the edge of the dishwasher and countertop frontage, appliances and/or cabinets placed at a right angle to the dishwasher. Locate one near the sink(s) and a second for recycling in the kitchen or nearby.

---

How To Polish The Underside & Rod Granite Countertops | Duration 2 Minutes 34 Seconds In an island or peninsula, the countertop should also extended a minimum of 9 inches behind the cooking surface. Window treatments above the cooking surface should not use flammable materials. At least a 15-inch landing area not more than 48 inches across from the oven is acceptable if the appliance does not open into a walkway. No leg of the work triangle should measure less than 4 feet nor more than 9 feet. No work triangle leg should intersect an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches. A fire extinguisher should be located near the exit of the kitchen away from cooking equipment. If the microwave is below the countertop the bottom must be at least 15 inches off the finished floor.

Overhang by graniteunlimitedinc.com

Opinions vary on this topic, but since the weight of granite can cause it to crack, making sure you have the proper support is essential. This may be modified to suit personal taste, but must be stipulated before the granite slab is cut. It should never be cantilevered where it might receive excessive stress, such as where someone may be tempted to sit on it or use it as a stepstool to change a light bulb. It’s best to assume the worst and add proper support on any extension over 6 inches. For granite, an edge requires additional installation where two sections meet in a corner. It is recommended that a dishwasher not be attached directly to the granite countertop, but be side-mounted to adjoining cabinets. Drilling into the bottom of the stone can cause stress cracks and discolorations in the surface of the granite. In most cases, support is placed underneath unless the overhang is 6 inches or less. However, the cantilevered portion cannot be more than one-third the total width of the countertop. Most counters are installed with a standard overhang of 1 inch. Granite can be cantilevered up to 12 inches if it’s a large piece with sufficient support on the fixed end.An unsupported span of no more than 36 inches is usually acceptable as long as the stone is supported on both sides.