Weight Of Countertop Materials 1

[GlobeTrekker]

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Greetings all !

I am looking for information \ design standards regarding
the weight of stone materials installed on countertops,
and the amount of overhang.

Thanks !

@ ~ @[/tt]

 

[Shotzie]

Why not contact a local supplier and ask them?

 

[racookpe1978]

It becomes a matter of sales, price, and practicality - not an rigid, Code-Enforced "engineering" specification (Thou Shalt Use Granite Weighing No Less Than 45 lbs/ft's at No Less Than 2.121 Inches Thick Averaged over every 4.8 Sq Ft Extending No More Than 1.758 inches from the Unsupported Edge of the Counter ....)

Rather, "How much can I (the archetect) can upsell the future kitchen owner to make the future kitchen owner think he/she/it/they are getting the kitchen of their dreams?"

Any countertop (stone) weight needs to be estimated at the heaviest rock potentially sold, and the supported weight should allow for the near-certainty of some future homeowner/kitchen user standing on the edge of the countertop while climbing up to get something from the top shelf. So, that bending moment (of maximum reasonable load x maximum un-supported edge distance) must be less than than your chosen building material.

Then check yourself. Go to the nearest box store and decorating center than displays kitchens. And measure what has been sold successfully to real customers.

 

[MotorCity]

Do a google search for the density of material you are planning on using. If you have a granite or concrete countertop and are concerned about the floor's ability to support it, the weight of a 1.5" concrete countertop will be less than a typical residential live load so its a moot point (you wont have live load where the countertop is).

 

[JoelTXCive]

I have no idea if there are standards on that, but I do know that there are two popular versions of granite installed.

Some installer use 2cm thick granite and then laminate the edges to make it appear thicker. The 2cm granite requires a plywood underlayment to provide support.

Other installers use a 3cm granite, which does not require the plywood underlayment.

The 3cm is not necessarily better than the 2cm stuff. I think there are more edge treatments available with the 2cm so its often more popular with customers.

I would estimate a material weight with the 3cm thickness + a live load of 6 year old child. An alternate loading condition would be adult person standing on countertop to change a lightbulb.

 

[IRstuff]

I stand on my countertop way more often for other things, like hunting down the inlet for latest ant incursion. In fact, I can't actually use the countertop for changing bulbs, since the ceiling's too high

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[GlobeTrekker]

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Thank you all for your input !


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