I've literally never heard about that... I'm trying to picture how the cabinets would expand horizontally so much??? People put cabinets right up against walls without problems.. Maybe your counter person doesn't have experience with 'em which is why they're trying to steer you away...

It's true they're not a fit for every house, but they've been around as a 'trend' for going on 10 years now - I say go for it =)

Some thoughts and info here on this "trend".

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/waterfall-countertop/#.WoSLkq5KuUk

Nothing I can find anywhere on cabinet "expansion" being an issue. Who told you this? Perhaps it was someone that simply has no experience with them.

It's a very VERY contemporary look. I think they look okay, but one would never look right in my own kitchen. Make sure you are thinking about the style of what you have in there already.

I haven't heard anything about expanding cabinets causing issues. It sounds like your fabricator is not experienced in this area, so I'd take a pass (or find someone who is experienced). If you choose a waterfall counter you should know that it will add not only extra material cost, but you also will incur extra costs for fabrication as the ends have to be mitered exactly to get that seamless look. You need to ensure that your fabricator is experienced in this area.

Ya know how you're supposed to use caulk instead of grout whenever there is a change in planes? I imagine a waterfall counter seam would be subject to the same forces, and while the seam will be a lot tougher than grout, it could, theoretically, let go. Someday. I bet you'd get tired of it first. Find a different fabricator.

Posted 1 seconds ago #2
My wife and I are staying in a resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this week. I found this crack in the waterfall edge of, I swear I'm not making this up, a model unit several hours ago. This is what happens when you bond dissimilar materials with adhesive that is stronger than the stone. Waterfall edges need to "float" on dabs of silicone with minimal or no substrate.

If they asked me, I'd only do a cosmetic repair as I believe this fail will continue to self-destruct.

They are very expensive, they require a really top quality fabricator, they can be damaged if someone bags into those sides with a chair or a vacuum cleaner or a ladder - the list goes on. Stunning in a very contemporary kitchen, but it would be an extra that would not be worth the money to me.

Unless you have a very modern kitchen, I would use the money spent on the waterfall edges to upgrade something or do something else.

Yes. Its a tricky application. I haven't had any complaints yet, but I don't cut corners. I also don't steer clients away from more exotic designs just because they're more risky or require more technical expertise.

if you move away from the US predilection for plywood with it's spuriously assumed 'better quality' and use modern building materials like MDF or suitably thick particle board then you're going to half pretty much zero expansion of your cabinets.

how would you explain this not even 6 months later? no impact, no visible movement. no drastic changes in temperature or humidity.

Dissimilar materials moving at different rates and the top lost. Poor detailing. It won't stay repaired. Do-over.

How much span please? It could be self-destructing. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen this.

Too much unsupported span. Mean ole Mr. Gravity never sleeps.