9’ Island with 5’ open seating: Granite support problems

8 years ago

We are in the process of rebuilding our 1st floor after Harvey flooded us out in August. We are building our kitchen now and I have a dilemma on how to handle the massive island, particularly when it comes to creating enough support for a granite counter without ruining the aesthetics. Basically their is a 9’ island floating center in the kitchen. 4’ of it is cabinetry but the remaining 5’ is open on all sides to provide seating for 5 people. I ordered 4 bun feet for the island and 2 matching legs for the eat-in end. I was told by a kitchen expert that two legs on the end of the island would not be sufficient support for the granite countertop. He suggested a 3rd leg in the center but I feel like that will look goofy and will interrupt the open feel I’m going for. So my question is how do I properly support a solid 9’ granite counter that has 4 feet of cabinetry under it and 2 legs on the opposite end? Will this setup be sufficient support or will I need to provide more support somewhere else? If so, what options are out there that don’t look stupid? TIA! :)

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

That’s easy then. The stretcher bars linking the posts to create the table are just pocket screwed by your installer. 3:4”x 3” filler stock, or maybe if they have something with a bit of profiled edge, use that..

The tricky part comes from attaching the stretcher bars to the island. You need at least a 3/4” side to screw into, or 1/2” side with a well attached applied 3/4” door. The whole assembly needs integrity down to the floor, so if this is a 3/8” cabinet sides line, apply 1/4” plywood over the whole side. Glued and screwed. Then skin, and put applied doors. Then the stretcher bars have meat to attach to.

Between the stretchers, you need an H ladder construction, on edge, just like the stretcher bars, side to side. To keep the longer sides from racking. I don’t think your overhang is so much as to need steel.

the posts shouldn’t be those flimsy 2x2 spindle things. Not from a structural standpoint and a design weight. I’d want them to be 3x3 at s minimum. 6x6 would be pushing it scalewise.

The island needs to have a 2x4 framework under each cabinet that each cabinet gets attached to.

As Joe Corlett says, if you can’t dance a conga on your counter, it’s not supported well enough.

Remove kitchen and bath design from your services offered until you learn enough about them to do design. Design is not decorating. If design is bad, it can kill you. Not kidding. There’s a huge liability attached to design. Be sure you have proper insurance.

Sign up for some classes from the NKBA, and take a CAPS class from your local builders when offered. If you want to learn kitchen and bath.

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Comments (8)

acm
8 years ago
You should be able to run a support structure between the legs and the cabinetry, but everything will have to be reinforced and made specially (of steel!) -- it can be invisible, but it needs to be sturdy as heck to support that length. I will defer to the experts here as to appropriate engineering of such a beast, as I've only seen the sketches in discussion threads.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Post your design diagram. Legs don’t float in mid air. They need to have stretcher bars attached to legs and the island. And the island needs to be attached to the floor properly. Plus the required electrical outlets.

You need to hire an actual knowledgeable design Pro for a consult. Preferably a K&B Designer. You have multiple issues posted that all have incorrect design involved. Dangerous life and property threatening incorrect design.

You have somehow accidentally listed yourself as a Pro. You might want to contact Houzz and get that designation removed.
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Catherine Rawson
Original Author
8 years ago
I will definitely look into the steel structure. I plan on meeting with a granite pro this weekend to talk it over. That’s sort of what I was thinking as well just wanted to survey my options.
@Sophie, I understand that legs don’t float in mid air. The carpenter will build the supports across the legs. I just wanted to see if a wooden support structure would be sufficient. Perhaps I wasn’t clear enough in my question. Also, I’m an interior decorator starting my own residential decorating and staging business. I concede that I have much to learn and am glad that their are pros to bounce ideas and questions off of online and IRL. I would hope that you can allow for others to ask questions without the fear of being belittled. FWIW, I promise I won’t create a “life-threatening” island in my home kitchen.
Catherine Rawson
Original Author
8 years ago
Kissel Residence · More Info

This is basically what we are going for.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
I'd have a custom 2" square tube steel frame welded, ground, painted, and installed onto the cabinet on one end (after reinforcing the back) and supported by the legs on the other. No third leg needed. I'll Conga on that.
truly16
8 years ago
Neat Refresh...how did this go? I'm doing my island and it's basically exactly like yours and this is what it looks like now. It's 9' X 4.5' I'm no pro and I looked at this and told my contractor it needed more support. The center is sagging. There is no way I'm accepting this. Very frustrating!! We are installing Taj Mahal Quartzite as one big slab on top. To be fair, he's going to add more support and ensure we can dance on it, but I'm curious how your project ended up. Thanks in advance!
jgbarajas2001
4 years ago
How did it go Truly?