Please need help with large island

6 years ago

We are completely remodeling a home we bought that is supposed to be our forever home. It was very outdated with sunken living room, small rooms, etc- so it was basically a complete gut job. We opened all the walls from kitchen and living room to make a large u-shaped kitchen open to living room. We decided for our lifestyle to enlarge the island for dining seating for 6-8. We agreed with the builder to make it 87" long and extend it out with storage cabinets below in order to add storage and keep from having large posts or large corbels- which we did not want. He mentioned something about metal brackets could be used underneath for support and we agreed. We also discussed rounding the island granite so that it wouldn't take up quite as much space, give more seating than with the sharp edges, and give a different look. We found out that no one was there when the granite people did the template. They were given the drawing and we believed the builder and granite people were all on the same page. After several weeks delay- the granite people showed up around 10pm last night and installed the granite while no one was there.

The island is not what we expected. It is 87" wide x 78" long and square shape. I also have huge concerns about the overhang. On the sides- the overhang is 19" and in the front it is 22". Just by looking it's obvious that it needs support and after quick google search and reading on here that granite overhang shouldn't be more than 10"-14" without support.

So my questions are: Does anyone have any ideas on supporting the granite without really big posts on each end & possibly center? Would it be possible to add more cabinets underneath?

Also, is there any way to cut the granite into the shape we wanted now that it's already been installed?

Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated!!

This is the layout of the U-shaped kitchen with the drawing of the rounded/curved island and pics below

Featured Answer

PRO

HALLETT & Co.

6 years ago

Did you approve a template? Why didn't your contractor insist that the steel supports be in? Who is in charge?

First you should have had these already installed

https://originalgranitebracket.com/products/hidden-island-support-bracket?variant=1813547075

Secondly you should have seen a template showing the shape you wanted. At this point pull the counters, install the brackets, and have the stone recut. Do it NOW before the plumber hooks up the sink. Do not let work continue or you will get bullied into keeping it.

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Comments (12)

Barbie
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for responding. So it is possible to take off the granite with the sink already installed and put metal support brackets and also cut the granite to the shape it should have been?
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Barbie
Original Author
6 years ago
No I did not approve a template. The first day they came out my husband was there and they did templates for the rest of kitchen and bathrooms. They said they could not do the template for the island because the sink was not installed. We never heard back from them.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
Yes it can be removed, they could re cut it in place but since the supports have to go in anyhow...

They will complain but be strong!
Barbie
Original Author
6 years ago
@User Our "builder" is with a large company that was highly recommended and told us originally that he would put a licensed general contractor and full crew that would be on the job every day. It was supposed to be an 8-12 week reno that has gone way, way past that. We keep getting told that they are all so busy with building 100's of houses all over. The builder has only been on the job site a few times and the general contractor twice. Things aren't getting done when they are supposed to and then things like this happen without us knowing. Communication has been terrible.

We never saw the template for the granite island. We never would have signed off/approved because we wanted to do everything possible (added center cabinets) to keep from having large posts in the way of seating. We were told that they would be installing granite at 10am, but when questioned builder that afternoon he texted me at 7:30pm that granite crew was still on their way. We don't live there- so watched cameras and saw they showed up just before 10pm and left at 1:50am. I didn't know what granite crew they were using, but saw their name on truck from cameras. I looked them up and they do have really great reviews on both Google and Facebook. I can't imagine why any of them (builder, gc, or granite company) would do this because to anyone it doesn't look right or safe. Now I just need to figure out a way to fix this. I love our kitchen and want to make the island the way we wanted and of course safe.
Lisa McLeod
6 years ago
Well island mishap aside, your kitchen is fabulous. I’m sure you’ll find a solution and it may result in your kitchen being even better. As it is, it’s gorgeous.
Tia
6 years ago
i think the easiest solution at this point is add nice legs ... those furniture looking ones. adding cabinets or recutting your granite maybe more costly and unpredictable solutions.
millworkman
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
"We never would have signed off/approved because we wanted to do everything possible"

If the layouts and the template were not approved by you it is up to you to tell them it is unacceptable. Period. However the required steel supports are not on the top fabricator/installer, those are done by the KD, cabinet company and cabinet installer.

"i think the easiest solution at this point is add nice legs"

Legs alone are not enough. You need steel stretcher bars in that set up.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
IMO lots of issues but that island is too big and how the heck will you ever clean it easily and that design was wrong from the get go . No way should this have been approved and your KD should have been there for templating and sign off on the design. Honestly poor design and poor install never a good combo. IMO you never need more that 14” overhang for seating and the weird shape is a mess. BTW why were the cabinets not taken to the ceiling so many things wrong.
Barbie
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you to everyone for all of the feedback. We met with the builder and he said the installers shouldn't have installed so late, but had been so backed up so trying to catch up. He said that they did the best thing to leave the full slab and then we could discuss and cut later. We discussed several different options. The granite installers came back and cut down 6 inches on the front and cut off edges (not exactly rounded like I wanted), but it does work. They took the slab off and added the steel brackets underneath. From the steel brackets to the end is about 2-3 inches. They both assured me that it is safe now. It really does look much better and we are still able to get at least 6 seated comfortably.