Quartz for worktable top?

ellabee_2016

14 years ago

The kitchen here was most recently redone in 1963, to my mother's specifications (I live in the house in which I grew up). Built-in cabinets with slab doors, countertop of red laminate edged in stainless steel, fake wrought-iron cabinet and drawer pulls, etc.

The kitchen table was an old heavy painted wood number with turned legs, whose 3x5 top was replaced in the redo by a sheet of plywood topped with laminate, again with the 1960s stainless surround.

The table is still here, but is now a work surface that functions like a peninsula counter. It's where I assemble ingredients, since one long side of the table faces the pantry and fridge. It's a good location for rolling out dough, or kneading, or doing anything messy -- it's the largest single work surface.

But fifty years is enough, and by next summer I want to replace the laminate top with something else, and am strongly considering a slab of quartz with eased edges. Is that feasible? Would it be pretty much the same installation cost as putting in a counter? If I have to buy a whole slab ($1000. or so, I understand), how much would be left over from a 3ft x 5ft top?

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Comments (5)

adel97
14 years ago
Many stoneyards and fabricators have remnants of slabs lying around that you can get a very good deal on. And some people who buy slabs and don't use the whole thing post on Craigslist to sell their remnants, so you can check there as well. If you're patient, I'm sure you can find a 3x5 remnant somewhere close to you.

...FOR EXAMPLE (ahem), I don't know if you're in the Boston area, but I just posted this to Craigslist: http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/hsh/2934213693.html
User
14 years ago
Different fabricators charge differently for square footage. Some charge by just the amount you use, and others charge you for the whole slab. I'd try to find a remnant if I were you. Granite would come closer to having a remnant than most quartz manufacturers would.

Stone is MUCH heavier than a plywood top, so you would need to assess the structural integrity of the table. Check any glued joints, and make sure that they are something other than just plain butt joints that have been glued and possibly nailed. Mortise and tenon type construction would be best. You would need support all the way around at the perimeter, as well as crossbars at least every 12" across the 3' dimension.

Another alternative would be to discard the table in favor of 5' worth of base cabinets. You would still need to have some bracket type supports for any seating overhangs, but you would gain storage that you could possibly use as well as a work surface. Of course, kitchen cabinets are 36" high and table height is 30", so you would want to decide what height would work best for you. If you wanted to split the difference, then vanity cabinets can be found that are 32" high and they are more shallow as well, so your surface could be slightly narrower to give better walking clearance or to have better knee room for the seating.
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ellabee_2016
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to both of you for the tip re remnant searching. It seems that most quartz slabs are 120 inches by 54 inches or so, so what I want would take less than half of a slab.

The extra weight is something I'd wondered about, although this table can probably take it. It's solidly made, with mortise and tenon joining; probably dates from the 1910s. Because using the table is the point, replacing it with cabinetry isn't really an option.

If the weight seems to be too much, I'd consider Corian or something else like it, though I'm not very drawn to their colors/designs. Maybe I should start reconciling myself to Corian now, though, because truthfully, I don't really want the look or feel of stone, either. I'm considering quartz because I want an easy to clean, non-porous work surface with smooth edges, and it seems to be available in a pretty wide array of colors and (visual) textures.
colletteone
14 years ago
You want something easy to live with? Why would you even consider Corian? We're talkin cutting board forever with that. What about Silestone quartz with Microban? It is practically indestructable and germ free. Even the granite would be better, IMHO. Comparing Corian to Quartz is apples and oranges...With the quartz you could roll dough, slice and dice with no worry.
ellabee_2016
Original Author
14 years ago
I've been living happily with Formica for a long time; that's why I'd consider Corian -- that, and the weight. I never cut directly on a counter, and neither should anyone who cares about their knives unless the counter is wood.

I'd consider Silestone or any other manufactured quartz, _if_ the table seems up to it (will ask a fabricator how much a 3 x 5 piece would weigh, unless someone here can give me a good estimate) and especially if I don't have to buy a whole slab and can get a remnant in a color/pattern that appeals.