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Installing Granite With An Overhang

Tom,

We are in the process of replacing our solid surface counter tops with granite. On the breakfast bar the granite will have a 12″ overhang. The granite fabricator recommended that we install corbels for support. What is the best way to install the corbels to ensure that they will support the granite overhang? Is there more than one way to install the corbels?

Thank you,
Carl Wallace

Hello Carl,

I have to make a couple assumptions because you did not provide me with some important information. For the purpose of this reply, I will assume that the granite is 3cm solid stock and the granite color is not in Class D, meaning that it does not have fiberglass mesh on the back to keep give it strength.

Now then, there is some debate about how far 3cm granite should overhang without corbels. If you consider that children might hang or pull on the granite overhang or that someone might sit on it, then you should install corbel at overhangs greater than 10″. If you have Class D granite, install overhangs past 6″. In general, Granite that is solid 3cm stock does not need corbels for flexural strength at 10″. Some granites, like the ones from Saudi Arabia, do not need it at 12″. However, my comments are regarding flexural strength issues and do not apply to safety concerns. Installing corbels is important for the child safely reason mentioned above so if you can live with the knee bangs, then you should install them as follows.

Start 6″ in from the open end, and put one corbel there. Do the same on the other end, unless the counter meets a wall, in which case you should install it against the wall. Then install corbels equally apart between the two outside corbels without exceeding 30″ between any two corbels. For 3cm thick granite at 12″ overhang, I would suggest 6″x6″x 1 1/2″ wood corbels or 6″x6″x 3/4″ steel corbels. Note, you can vary from this advice slightly depending on your exact cabinet dimensions. Just use good common sense.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

This entry was posted on Monday, September 18th, 2006 at 10:35 am and is filed under Answers to Granite Questions..., Installation Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Ask a question (be sure to tell me the stone color name if applicable to your question):

17 Questions Recently Posted:


  1. June 27th, 2008 at 3:18 am

    Hi – I have a granite counter with a 10.5″ overhang. It was installed prior to purchasing the corbels. I need to install the corbels, but because of the keyslot design for the mounting hardware on the back of the corbels, if I put a screen into the back of the counter cabinets, and then install the corbels, the corbels will be 1/2″ from the underside of the granite – a pretty large gap. How do I install corbels on an existing counter and avoid the gap?

    Bryan


  2. September 18th, 2008 at 6:38 am

    Hi,
    We are purchasing granite for an island 96″x42″ with 24″ deep run of cabinets on the one side and an overhang of 16″ and are not sure if we can just use 2 3 1/2″ square at the top maple legs at either end with some frame between or need corbels in the center, or how big the cross frame needs to be or how deep the corbels must be. the granite is Prado of standard 1 1/4″ thick not sure about the fiberlagss mesh, and no kids to sit on it around. Thanks , Ted


  3. November 11th, 2008 at 8:06 pm

    I just read this entry regarding the need for corbels with a granite overhang. I have the same question regarding mine: the overhang is 12″ with a length of about 110″. The granite is 2cm Golden Ray which I believe is grade D (but might be C). Nobody will be sitting or hanging on it. Your advice woudl be aprpeciated!

    Thank You


  4. December 16th, 2008 at 9:18 am

    Is there any publication stating industry standards for high bar overhangs?
    What is the minimum overhang requirement to install corbels for an island or highbar with a 2″x4″ knee wall for a support (high bar only)?


  5. March 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 am

    We have two base cabinets 27″ wide with “pot and pans drawers” made of solid 3/4″ plywood separated by 18″ for shelving and a 4×8 sheet of plywood on top. This makes for an overhang of 12″ on each side and 10 1/2 on the ends. We plan to install granite tiles on top with a oak trim on edges/sides. Do we need anymore support, some say no, others say yes. the tile is I think 3/8″ thick. The island is 36″ tall without the tile.


  6. July 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am

    I’m just wondering how to properly attach the steel support brackets to the granite counter overhang? I was going to simply screw in the bracket to the cabinet and let the counter rest on the bracket. The other method I considered is to use construction adhesive to glue them to the counter and to the cabinet base.

    Please advise – many thanks.


  7. January 30th, 2010 at 7:19 pm

    I have a breakfast bar. The bar is attached to the wall.

    I have a over hang on both sides about 19 inches .
    I bought two corbels. 12 and 1/4 long,and 8 inches wide.

    Is this going to work. Or do i need something else. And if it does

    work how do i install the key hole corbels to the wall.

    Shirley


  8. April 13th, 2010 at 10:48 am

    I am installing a 3 cm granite countertop with dimensions of 62″ x 31″. The 62″ side has a 9″ overhang. What size and number of corbels do I need?

    Dave


  9. May 11th, 2010 at 8:20 am

    I have a breakfast bar that we are expanding. The bar is attached to the top of a half wall.
    The bar is 114″ long and will be expanded to 18″ wide with an overhang of 11.5″. The granite we chose is Sapphire Brown.
    How should I support the overhang so that the granite won’t break?
    Would a post supports on each end be enough? or should I use brackets under the granite and how many?

    Thanks,
    JeRaye


  10. October 11th, 2010 at 5:03 pm

    I am interested in installing either crema bordeaux granite or paradiso granite on my 25 X 60 maple kitchen island. Since I would like a large overhang, I am willing to install 10X10 steel corbels/brackets for support. I assume that I will need 3 brackets. Is this correct? If I do install these brackets, would it be possible to have a 20 inch overhang? Also, where do you recommend that I shop for modern clean line steel brackets? Thank you.


  11. November 1st, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    Hi Tom,
    We are installing 3cm granite, color is Colonial Cream, on a kitchen island. The counter top will be 60 X 40, with an overhang of 15″ on 1 side of the 60″ side and 14″ overhang on 1 side of the 40″ side.
    We are planning on purchasing wood corbels to support the overhang. What length, depth, and height, and how many corbels will we need?
    Hoping you can help!
    Thanks,
    Dianne


  12. November 26th, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    we are going to install a very large granite lsland top with a undermount sink cutout. granite color is called Ice Brown, with a mesh backer. the top is 74″x111″ I would like advice on the best way to lay it on cab top, we do not want to break it. the weigh is around 900lbs. Tkanks for any help you can give me. Alan.


  13. June 22nd, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    We have a small granite island in – Alaskan White also known as Delicatus, that has a 14 inch overhang but is only 27 inches in length. It is 1 and 1/4 inch in thickness. Do we need to support it? We have received different answers from various people at the company that installed it. Thank you, Donna Balistrieri


  14. August 10th, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    We have a few questions ? We purchased quartz – without the mesh backing on it. Our fabricator does NOT want to cut it without the mesh. Can it be cut without cracking or breaking? The place we purchased from said they have a fabricator who will cut it. I dont want a bunch of pieces that are glued together….! Is that a normal process?
    When we purchased our slabs we thought it was granite. Is quartz stroner than granite?

    Thank you for your help,
    Kim & Paul


  15. October 11th, 2011 at 7:40 am

    I am having blue pearl 2mm granite installed (remodel) on counters and bar with an overhang. I told him to use 3/4 in sub but he did’t mention using anything for the overhang. Please what is the right way to do this.


  16. January 16th, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    santa cecilia 3cm granite, 14″ width by 68″ length, 3 corbels – 5.5″ deep by 9″tall by 3 inches wide made of some strong wood no metal reinforcement built in, 26″ between corbels. approx 7″ overhang beyond end of corbel. corbels will be reinforced with several wood screws thru plywood, granite will also be glued down on top of 5/8″ plywood and the corbels. bar countertop will be glued to top of 3cm granite backsplash which is also glued at bottom to kitchen/sink granite countertop. will this be enoungh support to hold the countertop, will aslo have small children eating from this area. thanks for any input from anyone.

    troy


  17. January 21st, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    We are installing Kashmir White granite on 24 inch cabinets set up as a peninsula.
    The granite will be 60 ” by 42″. The overhang will be 16 inches. We want to support this overhang but am not sure the best way to do this. Had considered using a wood island post at one end and supporting along wall at other end. Do we need support in between or do you have other suggestions?