Precast concrete countertops do not require installing plywood on top of open cabinets. However, plywood does make installing large, awkward or heavy pieces easier, since the slab can be slid along the smooth top without catching on a cabinet wall.
Even though you don't need plywood to support your whole countertop, there are some places where it will be better to have some for more protection. For instance, your dishwasher has no support, so you might want to ask your fabricator to add mesh under the countertop where the appliance goes.
Do I Need Plywood under Granite Countertops? If you are asking, do I need plywood under granite countertops? You must be thinking about installing granite in your home, but aren't sure whether also budget for plywood, right? Well, you need plywood if your granite slab is less than 3cm thick.
We recommend using either 3/4″ particle board, or 3/4″ furniture grade plywood. Particle board is stable, smooth and economical. Furniture grade plywood is typically found in lumber yards with a hardwood veneer such as birch.
Since countertops sit directly on the cabinets, the cabinetry must be installed prior to the final measurements, fabrication, and installation. If an apron or farmhouse sink is being used, it must be installed prior to template process.
The biggest consideration is how thick the quartz countertop you selected is. If you have 3cm quartz countertops, there's no need for plywood. They are thick enough to absorb and distribute any pressure across the integrity of the slab. If you selected a 2cm slab, you typically don't need to install plywood either.
It's generally recommended for the cabinets to be done first, protecting their integrity and making countertop installation as smooth as possible. This will ensure that: The countertop material(s) are only moved/installed once. There is less chance of cracking, breaking or chipping of countertop material(s)
Once the fit is confirmed, the seams can be joined with butterfly clamps, biscuit joiners and glue. Finish securing the laminate countertop to the cabinets with screws, making sure the screw is long enough to hold securely but not so long as to puncture the top surface.
Apply a bead of silicone caulk or construction adhesive along the top edge of all the cabinet parts that support the countertop. Tip up a straight countertop to apply the adhesive. Insert shims under a mitered countertop rather than trying to tip it up — doing so is easier and is less likely to break the glue joint.
The support for granite countertops will depend on the design. The standard overhang is just 1.5 inches over the cabinet, so that will not require any support. However, if the design of your countertops has a longer overhang and cantilevers, then you have to show that to your countertop supplier.
A-grade plywood is ideal for furniture or cabinet doors. B-grade plywood also features a smooth, sanded surface, but may have more repaired defects up to 1-inch across.
You wonder. Well, here is the answer. After the granite technicians have placed the countertops on the cabinets and ensured everything is leveled, they apply a bead of silicon at the countertop and cabinet intersections and the stone's underside. In most situations, this is enough to hold the countertop in place.
The standard requirement for ceramic tile or natural stone tile installations is 3/4-inch plywood under a 1/4-inch concrete or fiberboard. Tile counter tops require the thickest types of plywood in comparison to all other types of finish materials.
Before our installers arrive, be sure to disconnect and remove any appliances or decorative items that you have sitting on your countertops. Things such as coffee makers, toasters, microwaves, or utensils, should all be set aside out of the way.
While quartz countertops can be placed directly on top of cabinets, their weight shouldn't be underestimated. Take a look at your countertop design and look for areas that have the least amount of cabinet support.
If you've come this far and the little gap is still haunting you, there are a few routes you can take. 1) You can ask the installer to seal the gap with caulk, or silicone. 2) You can buy and ornamental molding, and have a handyman cover the gap right up!
Usually, the conventional overhang of a countertop should be placed at 1 to 1 ½ inches above the cabinet. At the same time, the bared and exposed ends of a countertop should usually have a ½ inch overhang. The edges that suffice to a wall should not have any overhang to retain the fit flush to the wall.
Quartz worktops tend to be thinner than other worktops
In recent years, this ultra-modern look has really caught on. The thing is though that conventional countertop thicknesses (typically 30mm or 40mm) can end looking quite heavy and unwieldy on such cabinets.
Cabinets or other supports for countertops must be level to within ⅛” over a 10 foot length. The portion of the top that is above the cabinets needs support using strips of wood or plywood that are 2-1/2” to 3” wide and ¾” to 1” thick.