COUNTERTOP TIPS 

We suggest 1 1/2" thick countertops. 3/4" or 1/2" material is recommended for splashes. Always try to avoid 3/4" thick or 3 cm. thick countertops. Be sure to choose an edge profile as well as the color. Pick your slabs, as small samples can be deceiving. Be sure there is enough stock for your entire job and the supplier will hold your material until you are ready. Check if the stone you have chosen is stain resistant or if a sealer is needed. Discuss where the seams will be placed in your countertop by the fabricator. Find out if extra support or subdecking is needed and who will supply it.

We suggest rounding corners with a 3/4" or 1" radius. This is a must next to refrigerators or tall cabinet pantries. When countertops have extra overhang over seating, you should consider larger (3"-6") radius corners.

Front edge countertop overhang on full overlay door styles should be between 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" but never greater than 1 3/4". Inset door styles should have a maximum of 1" countertop overhang. On finished ends overhang should not be greater than 3/4". If you have doors on finished sides (maybe on an island) they should be treated the same as front edges. Extra thick door styles (larger than 3/4") or applied molding doors may require extra overhang. Consult your cabinet supplier.

Undermount sinks are the most popular with granite, marble, & corian countertops. Most kitchen sinks will fit standard depth (24") kitchen cabinets, but there are exceptions. Accessories like tilt-down sponge trays require sinks to be placed within 22" from back wall. Your faucet may require more room than that leaves. Faucet space becomes a bigger issue in bathrooms. Again, most bath sinks will fit standard (21") bath cabinets but larger sinks leave less faucet room. Consult with your fabricator and plumbing supplier if a larger than standard cabinet is needed. Remember to discuss the number, placement & pattern of faucet holes.

If you are using a matching backsplash, a 4" splash is the most common for kitchens and bathrooms. You may also use a full height splash in your kitchen. This will fill the wall completely from the bottom of the wall cabinet down to the countertop. If you have chosen this please let us know so cabinet light valance is not installed until full splash is up.

If your stone countertop fabricator is doing any cutting on the jobsite, be sure he is supervised as this can be very messy and can damage cabinetry. The most common damage to cabinetry are to the drawer runners and hinges. These parts left uncovered or unprotected from dust or sand from a stone cutting tool can be permanently damaged. Getting the right counter on your cabinetry is important. Let's be sure to follow this guide to insure a problem free job.