Hi,

I have an 8 foot by 4 foot island in my kitchen. Attached to the back of the island (in the center of the 8 foot lenght) is a 24″ by 30″ base cabinet that is the base for the granite table top I will be putting counter height bar stools around. The table top is planned in size for 4 feet by 5 1/2 feet.

I do not want to use any corbels or legs on this attached table top, just the attached cabinet base. The granite overhang on the two sides of the table top will be 18″. The granite overhang (or should I call it an extention?) on the last side of the table top, opposite the 8 foot island, will be 24″.

The granite table top (4 feet by 5 1/2 feet) that will be sitting on the 24″ by 30″ base cabinet will obviously need more than a plywood sub top for support.

My questions are:

• How much steel should we use?
• Are steel straps enough?
• Should we use a solid Steel sub top with the plywood?
• Should we use marine plywood with the steel or just regular plywood?
• In choosing the steel, is there a certain kind or thickness?
• Can I go with a longer overhang/extention than the 24″?

I want to put six 20″ wide counter stools arount the granite table top (that only has 3 sides) and it appears that the 4 feet by 5 1/2 feet dimension my be too small to fit all six of the stools. I think I may need to add 6″ to 12″ more to the 24″ end of the granite overhang/extention making the overhang/extention 30″ to 36″. Is it possible to go with that long of an extention with just the steel support and not adding legs or corbels?

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Susie

Hi Sue,

The information about Santa Cecelia helps because some granites colors are denser and stronger. This one is just about average. I still do not know what thickness you are going to use so that also doesn’t allow me to understand the strength of the stone. For example, 1 1/4″ thick is common on the East Coast, while 3/4″ with a built-up edge is more common on the West coast. The 1 1/4″ thickness is much stronger.

Anyway, you can do what you want with steel but because of the huge overhang, you will need to build a complete steel frame under the countertop and affix it to the cabinet. Since it is interior you really don’t need stainless but you should prime the steel, nonetheless. I recommend using galvanized steel and then prime it with a Rust-Oleum metal priming paint.

You can not cantilever granite with flat steel bar because the steel will bend and since the granite will not flex, the granite will break. You have to create “T” shapes in the frame and I recommend 1/4″ thick steel for this huge overhang. You will have to have it welded. The legs of the “T” should be about 1″ tall and the top of the “T” about 3″ wide.

This might seem daunting but all you really have to do is draw it up. Then go to a small steel shop (there are little pockets of these shops near every town) and have them cut and weld it up for you.

Make the frame as big as the underside of the granite countertop so that it slip in behind the nosing. Also, remember to have the steel shop weld 14 gauge clips to the frame where the cabinet edges are so that you can screw the frame on to the cabinet. Have them punch holes in the bottom of the clip so that you don’t have to drill through it. Note that you need to test the frame after it is place to be sure that screwing down to the cabinet has been down adequately.

Again, start with a piece a paper and just draw out the frame. Then do the measurements. Show cross “T” bracing at least 18″ apart in both directions. Make sure that there are at least two cross braces at every overhang area, extending to the nosing (perpendicular). Once you have your accurate drawing, the rest is easy.

Best wishes!

We are in the middle of renovating of our Kitchen. We have an overlay style cherry cabinets in nutmeg stain. It’s fairly a large kitchen with medium amount natural light. We are leaning towards Imperial white granite floor with Emerald pearl counter. We have steel appliances. Just not sure if we should go with black galaxy counter or stay with emerald pearl? Any suggestions for back splash? Please let me if you need additional information.

Thanks,
Nima

Hello Nima,

I sometimes like Black Galaxy when cabinets are darker and the room is formal, but I would go with Emerald Pearl. Emerald Pearl with the nutmeg stain is a perfect combination that will bring subtle color into your kitchen, while still staying as dark as possible with the countertops. I believe the Emerald Pearl offers longer lasting enjoyment as well because of its interesting opalescent inclusions that change under different lighting.

Black Galaxy is also hard to keep looking clean because it shows a lot of dust. If you ever resell your home, many people hate Black Galaxy because of its Vegas Casino ‘bling bling’ appearance.

My very best regards and I would love to get a photo when you are done!

Hi Tom, We are in the midst of a kitchen remodel. The house is about 150 years old, the kitchen is approximately 16×22 , 9′ ceiling with 2 skylights and plenty of light coming in from a back wall of windows looking out onto a deck and very green lush garden. We have chosen raised panel traditional cabinets in alabaster with a pewter glaze except for the L shaped island which is russet with a black glaze. The appliances and farm sink are all in stainless steel. The old tile floor is white 1″ hexagon center with a pink and white Greek Key border done in 1″squares and works perfectly with this kichen so it stays! I have been looking at granite and the ONLY two that I really like , are extremely different as one is VERY dramatic ( and I LOVE IT and keep coming back to it wherever I see it!!!!) and the other very soft and subtle — they are Verde Fire and Shevikashi pink— I have seen two absolutely gorgeous slabs of verde fire which have Lots of the rose tones I need to pick up the floor border pink and the various tones of green would link the inside to the garden and give me wall and accessory colors to work with but I am afraid that even with the rose tones and light green waves it might be too overpowering. On the other hand— I think that the Shevikashi pink might just be boring… What do you think? Have you other suggestions ?

Thanks, Joan

Hello Joan,

Thank you for your donation to support the Rock Blog’s World Vision Children. Your description of your kitchen is excellent and makes it easy to provide some comments. First of all, forget Shevikashi Granite. I know this stone very well and provided hundreds of vanity tops for hotels in this granite color. That is where it belongs, in a hotel bathroom, not a home. It is too orange and too boring. Basically, it has no long term appeal or excitement. The color might be initially glowing by first glance, but it is not the same under different lighting. I recommend letting that color go away.

Verde Fire is another story. Lately, it has been getting a lot of chatter and appeal. I have a feeling that a very good selection has come around and made its way into the US marketplace. Historically, the stone was dull and almost 60’s looking but lately it has been cutting edge, yet with classic old-world muted hues of greens and burnt reds. I can not think of a better granite to use to transition an old home into the 00’s, while maintaining an old world embracement. Use the Verde Fire, no doubt.

The above average ceiling height and the skylights that you have are critical to complimenting this granite. The space is more open and custom and inviting. I also think the visual transition to your garden area is very important in bringing the purpose of a more wild granite into the home. I usually write a lot more about the nuisance for consideration but I really feel you found the right color. The fact that it moves you is a major bonus and will insure long term satisfaction.

Be sure to have it professionally sealed. This granite will be low maintenance once a professional has applied the right penetration sealer.

Hi Tom,

I read several of your replies to others. They were helpful but I am still stumped about my particular situation. I have an older home with wood paneling in the kitchen. I am in the process of painting the paneling a light green and the cabinets white. My appliances are black and my floor is natural Indian Slate. I love the natural stone color variation and that is why I chose the slate but given the chance again I would save it for an outdoor floor. It is VERY hard to maintain, especially with doggy accidents and although by itself it is very beautiful, it is also very dark. I am totally undecided on what color granite I should use for my counters. I thought maybe I might do an Absolute or Galaxy Black but I worry about it being too dark and then I wonder if a Kashmir White would be too light. I love other colors but the worry there is that it might be too busy if I didn’t do anything but those neutrals with that slate floor. Any advice on what color to go with? — Christine

Hello Christine,

Actually, I do have a perfect color suggestion. You might have a hard time finding this granite near you but it is granite from Brazil called Caramelo. Get a sample and you will find it is perfect. I recently renovated a home with this combination and it was absolutely perfect. Again, get a sample before you judge it.