Granite breakfast bar - do I have enough support?

zareer

Hi, I have a stressful problem with my kitchen design and hope that someone can help.

Basically I would like to add in a breakfast bar in granite - see picture:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/zareer/kitchen.jpg

the total length of the breakfast bar is about 180cm. to the left will be an integrated washing machine (60cm wide), meaning that there is around 120cm of area to sit/eat etc., with only the granite end bit to support it. I have spoken to a couple of installers today who say that the max unsupported length for granite is 60cm.

is there any way i can have this breakfast bar without putting in supporting columns under the granite, which IMO will ruin the look and might make it difficult for people to sit? i have read somewhere that maybe using plywood underneath will provide enough strength for the granite - will this be much more expensive?? can any other material eg silestone help if granite is out???

i would be grateful for your thoughts. Thanks for reading.

Old_Skool

Hi Zareer,

As strong as granite is it can also be quite weak in certain areas - being a natural stone product there will possibly be veins running through the material which are a natural weak point.

What thickness of granite are you considering also what is the construction of the end gable?

Plywood would provide additional support but I would strongly advise taking on board any advice from the fabricator/installer not just from a cost point of view but safety. There's a lot of weight in a granite top

Have strengthening bars been mentioned?

I have heard of reinforcing bars being cut into the underside of the granite and bonded into place to provide support for sink and hob cut-outs. Maybe this could be a question to your fabricator.

Quartz surfaces such as Silestone are made up with 90+% quartz chippings bonded with a polymer resin and are a bit lighter & stronger than granite when flat - again I would strongly advise taking on board any advice from the fabricator/installer.