How much overhang can I have without further support? The short respond everybody is seeing for is 12 inches. The Marble found of America recommends no more than 12 inches unsupported. This short respond is not adequate as there are variables that must be understood to safely respond this question. The maximum overhang depends upon the hardness of the stone and just how much counter Is Fully supported vs how much is not. Cantilevered weight offset, is what we are seeing for.
Here is an ultimate example. If you only have 6 inches of stone on top of a wall cap then the maximum safe overhang is 2 inches following the 2/3rds rule. The Marble institutes 12 inch guide line may lead person to believe that it is ok to have 12 inches of overhang when in this situation it would immediately fall off the wall and potentially injure anything with feet in the path of the falling granite.
Granite Buffet
So to account for the maximum overhang is the lesser of 2/3rd or 12 inches. Even that depends upon the fragility of the material. I would not advise a 12 inch unsupported overhang with Onyx due to how soft and brittle the material is and you can get away with 16 inches if the material was Absolute Black as the material is fissure free and highly hard.
How much overhang can you have without further support? This ask comes up daily and affects layout and allembracing found of many kitchens.
The right respond is up to 12 inches for granite, providing 2/3 or more is cantilevered to offset the unsupported weight.
Peninsula overhangs can make or break the allembracing functionality of a kitchen. The use of Corbels or legs to support further overhangs can sway chairs and leg areas so seeing solutions can sway the functionality of a kitchen design.
You can have more and sometimes less is recommended depending upon the actual stone. Very hard stones can safely support more overhang, providing the 2/3 cantilevered criteria is met. Softer or more brittle stones may dictate less overhang.
What options do you have if you just have to have more overhang. Well there are concentrate dissimilar ones to consider.
Below are some of the favorite solutions and options as well some pros and cons to each solution.
-Corbels- illustrated but decorative
-Brackets- inexpensive and effective, installed properly works best on wall tops than upon cabinets
themselves.
-Legs -Visible, attractive but in the way of chairs and peoples legs.
-Granite Countertop support brackets- private and concealed but offers great support. They must be installed before the granite and cut into the cabinet itself. They are specifically designed for this challenge.
-Rods- Can be installed inside of the stone to strengthen and potentially enlarge the limit as this technique does reinforces brittle stones, but does nothing to enlarge the cantilever rule of 2/3rds.
Think a worst case scenario such as person deciding to jump up on top of a countertop and ask yourself, "would that be safe" consider the application as well. What is safe in a frat house is not the same for what is safe in a retirement community. consider the application, material, cantilever support and err to the safe side when designing and planning the whole of overhang you might engineer into your granite countertops.
Dan DiTomaso Stone Masters Inc. http://www.stonemastersinc.net
How Much Overhang Can My Granite Countertop Have Without further Support?