More and more people are choosing to go with quartz for their countertop surfaces and a lot of them wonder if overhang support brackets are needed for quartz countertops.
Whatever type of stone your countertop is made of, there are standard measurements on how long and wide a kitchen countertop should be and the brackets are dependent upon what project quartz countertops you are working on. Countertop brackets for quartz come in various sizes each for specific purposes and overhang lengths.
Many factors need to be considered such as the type of stone being used as a countertop, the measurement of the stone surface, and the thickness of the surface.
The countertop overhang is the part of the countertop that extends to cover the drawers and cabinets below. It serves as a protection for the drawers from crumbs, spills, and other mishaps that may fall from the countertop surface.
The standard countertop overhang is 1 1/2 inches. However, there are many factors that might change this. One factor is the quartz’s brand and another one is whether you accomodating people with disabilities in your home. But the 1 1/2 measurement is the standard overhang measurement seen in most households.
The very first thing you need to consider when choosing the size of your overhang is the size of your kitchen space. If you want a longer overhang because legroom is important to you but you don’t have enough kitchen space then this will be a huge problem. This is especially true when it comes to kitchen islands since you need to have a good amount of space to walk around it so you’re not constantly bumping or running into the overhang. Additionally, if a person is already seated at the island, you need to be able to get around the overhang without any issues.
For kitchen islands, the typical measurement is 12″ but some people want to extend this further. Additional extensions will need extra reinforcements to ensure that the granite is stabilized. This will make sure that the overhang will not fall over if someone leans on it or places a heavy object on its surface. The extra supports will of course add cost to your remodeling budget.
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Lastly, even if you decide not to have a big extension on your countertop overhang for legroom, you still need to consider having an overhang. As mentioned above, the typical size is 1 1/2″ for design and function. This is to prevent crumbs and spills from falling from the surface to the drawers below.
You can opt to not have an overhang for your countertop but this means that there will be no protection to the drawers below. When choosing a no overhang look for your kitchen, this means that you need to exercise a little extra care when you are using the space to prepare or eat food. In addition, the knees of anyone sitting at the counter would be blocked by the cabinet doors or drawers if there is no countertop overhang.
The type of stone for the countertop is an important consideration in determining the type of support needed for the overhang. Some stones are more durable than others and quartz is one of the hardest materials in the market so it needs less support compared to more fragile stones like granite, marble, and soapstone countertops.
Additionally, the measurement of the overhang extension needs to be looked into. Extensions on your quartz countertop overhang will require you to install corbels, brackets, or legs.
You will also need support when you do have cutouts close to the overhangs. The most common type of cutouts that create risks is the cooktop cut out and sink cutouts.
And lastly, the thickness of your countertop is another factor on whether or not you will need overhang support. Naturally, the more raw materials that go into the construction of the countertop, the heavier it will be. Thus, more support will be needed.
The following recommendations help determine the needed support for quartz countertop overhang installation:
The following are the different types of supports for quartz countertop overhangs:
Corbels are a type of bracket used to support countertop overhangs or decorative shelving. These are wedged between the horizontal surface of the stone countertop and the vertical surface of the cabinet where the top rests. They offer good support by extending the cantilevered surface area of the countertop.
Brackets are like corbels, they are also installed between the horizontal surface of the stone countertop and the vertical surface of the cabinet. They also function the same way as corbels do, they extend the cantilevered surface area of the countertop. The only difference they have with corbels is they are less expensive.
Legs allow for extensive lengthening of the overhang and they provide good support by adding the required cantilever at the extreme end of the overhang. Legs are usually installed on long overhang extensions. The disadvantage of legs is that they hinder the legroom beneath the countertop.
If your quartz countertop overhang exceeds 24″, substrates or posts are a great way to ensure proper support. For maximum stability, make sure that the overhang is balanced on multiple posts with a 3′ distance between each of them.
The use of posts and substrates could cost you some of your legroom around the quartz countertop, so it may be better to create separate islands. This would allow you to get an extended quartz overhang, going up to 4′ in length.
Apart from practical purposes, quartz countertop overhang also improves your aesthetics. There’s a wide variety of styles to choose from; here are just a few of them:
So, just how far can quartz overhang without support? Because of its durability, a quartz countertop can actually sustain approx 14” of overhang. However, most of it should lean on cabinetry. The thickness of the stone is also a variable you should take into account, among many others.
If you need help, you can call Granite Selection to assist you in installing your countertop. Give us a call at (888) 906 3317 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
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