Placing a lot of weight on granite countertops can cause them to crack and split. This means do not sit or stand on them. If you are making a large dinner, try to set as much as possible in areas where there is more support.
You must be thinking about standing or sitting on your countertops and unsure whether your countertops will take the weight, right? Granite is fairly thick, often at the very least ¾ of an inch. If the weight is evenly distributed over a large area, the countertops can hold up to 1000 pounds.
You should not sit or stand on a granite, quartz or marble countertop. These stone countertops are not flexible and do not have any type of wood backing on them, so too much weight in one place could cause cracking. Laminate – No. Countertops are not a ladder.
Granite can be cantilevered up to 12 inches if it's a large piece with sufficient support on the fixed end. 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.
Granite is Heat Resistant
Placing a hot pan on a well-maintained granite slab will not cause it to crack or weaken. Just remember that repeatedly placing a very hot pan on the same spot may cause granite to discolor.
DO NOT put hot pots, pans or appliances such as toaster ovens and slow cookers directly on your counter top's. Such items can cause serious damage to your stone or quartz counter tops.
Granite thickness – granite tops with a thickness of 3 cm can have an 8-10 inch overhang without additional supports. If your granite top has a 2 cm thickness, we recommend attaching a support system should the overhang exceed 6 inches.
The minimum countertop overhang for seating is 10 inches, however, 12″ or more is ideal. Assuming you have the space, you can add additional seating by extending the countertop, or installing a tiered bar or table height island.
If your island has seating, the counter should overhang at least 15 inches. An island with a taller height for bar stool seating should be 42 inches high and the overhang should be at least 12 inches. An island with a sink or stove should be larger.
Granite countertops are fairly thick, durable, and can hold a weight of about 1000 pounds. While you probably wont break your granite countertop overhang if you set a few things on it, try to avoid placing heavy objects on it.
You might want to rethink standing or sitting on your quartz countertop. While a quartz countertop is strong and durable, do not use it as a sitting or standing tool.
White marble will always be an elegant choice for kitchen countertops, but if the maintenance and potential for staining has you worrying about its longevity, consider butcher block. The go-to choice for farmhouse kitchens, butcher block will wear beautifully over the years, and you can prepare food directly on it.
It's also one of the hardest natural stones—surpassed only by quartzite and gemstones. Coming in at between 6–8 on the Mohs hardness scale, granite countertops are favored for their durability, hardness, scratch-resistance, ease of maintenance and aesthetics.
As a local fabricator here in Raleigh, North Carolina, of both granite and quartz countertops, I can tell you that either choice has the potential to increase your home value. Granite tops are generally more expensive than quartz for high-end colors but often more affordable for lower-end ones.
1. Purpose. If the counter is to be used for food prep, the standard measurement for the overhang is 1-1/2 inches. This is long enough to provide some protection for your cabinets without forming an obstruction.
If seating is to be created at the counter, it's important that it will be comfortable, and that means following some additional guidelines. 'Comfortable seating requires a minimum of 15 inches of countertop overhang,' recommends Erika Jayne, a DC designer, general contractor and owner of Erika Jayne Design.
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.
A typical overhang for a comfortable seating area should be around 25-30cm (10-12”), this should leave enough knee room and adequate space between the countertop edge and the person seated. Therefore, as the depth of the overhang increases, so does the comfort and usability of the bar.
An average size granite slab that might go into your kitchen can weigh anywhere between 700 and 1200 lbs. You can have your granite countertops sized however large your space is needed, but the larger it is the heavier it will be.
The typical overhang is 12 in., but some people choose to extend their granite countertops further than that.
Most cabinets should hold up well for granite countertops, and provide them with proper support, as long as the granite is at least 1.25” thick.
Granite can be chosen to fit any decor or design scheme. Granite is also very durable and resists heat. This makes it great for kneading dough, making roll-out cookies, and other tasks that need a cool countertop for best results.
Natural stone materials like granite, marble and limestone require the application of a sealant to protect the countertop's finish. The heat and moisture from pans or other hot items you place on the countertop will eventually cause the sealant to weaken.
Placing hot appliances on the countertops
Even if your countertops are tough, heat from heat-producing appliances such as ovens can destroy them.