Soapstone bar top installed on pony wall with supports

12 days ago

I had soapstone installed on my bar area and the bar top was installed into a pony wall with 3 iron supports. After install I saw that the countertop is hardly touching the pony wall at all, and the supports are not flush to the pony wall.

I want to know if this install is ok, and we aren’t risking cracking or breakage at all. Or does it need to be redone.

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Comments (3)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
11 days ago
Unfortunately, your pictures don't show what we need to see. If there are mechanical framing connectors between the wall studs and the top plate and the flat steel is screwed into the top plate, it will be fine, however, that is rarely the case.

Mistakenly thinking the pony wall has no structural duties, most framers end nail the plate to the studs, the weakest possible method as opposed to toe nailing or using mechanical connectors. The fabricator lets the steel into the plate, screws it down, and mean 'ole Mr. Gravity immediately starts pulling on the outboard edge of the top, causing the outermost plate nail heads to crush the plate and/or pull the nails resulting in a tipping top. I've seen this and fixed this a zillion times. On angled tops with a seam, the seam self destructs.
HU-266273310
Original Author
11 days ago
Can I get you a photo to better show? If yes, what else do you need to see? They notched the braces into the pony wall but not well. So the support is mainly that of the braces. The pony wall is nailed into our foundation slab l do know that.
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I think the idea of the platform with fixed stools will be your only option....... unfortunately someone didn't give you the right advise here... there is one option i can think of, but it would involve some extra work and there for cost - you can remove the bar top and add proper support to the outside of the wall so you can lower the piece of top to bar height - then just get another piece of granite ( a matching piece of cabinet material ) to "cap" the wall....... I am attaching a couple of pictures I found...... - one shows a platform that the stools go on, the other shows a step in front of the stools to help you hop up, then there a 2 mounted stools ( so they get fixed in place.... I also did a little snooping and on the site "hayneedle" they sell extra-tall stools for tops 44- 47" high... maybe those with the small step may work...... Good luck!!!
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How can I install/support a counter like this?
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We use 12" angle brackets routed into the bottom of the bar top and into the top plate of the wall. Getting the framing to match the Caesarstone can be done by setting the fasteners of the top plate and belt sanding the 2X4. That top looks extra heavy, so it would be possible to drill the counter top sub deck and the Caesarstone to allow screws to be installed from inside the cabinetry. Not the easiest of installations.
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First, your home is lovely and I can see why you purchased it. I would probably remove both of the pony walls. And I DO NOT think you need any railing. The delineation of the spaces comes from the TWO steps down and different flooring materials. If you redo the flooring in the foyer, will you be leaving the wood in the sunken living room? You'll know your own house, even after having a few cocktails, and navigate the step easily. The exception being if you are elderly or have any trouble walking. As for guests, unless they are sloshed, adults should also be able to handle the 2 stairs, which I would run/keep the full length of this opening. What you might consider is some in-step lighting. A few pics below. Also, the open style bookcases posted by acm are a great idea if you decide your stairway needs to be screened...which I'm not sure it does. Good luck!
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Interesting challenge Barry. I'd agree with Weil Friedman and Kerry Blossom above. Raise the pony wall about 4" or so and put a cap on it - (1" or thicker material cap and trim below to cover up the rise. I'd consider how to make this all with the post as a unified feature. Your quartz counter would terminate in same place as your white quartz photos above. Also don't know if it works for your layout, but an end wall like that can be an interesting place for a shallow bookcase / open display shelves. It looks like you have enough passage width. That would give the wall cap a greater purpose for being there (makes it wider). You'd route that existing outlet in the backsplash created by your 4" rise facing the counter. Just another possible idea. Good luck!
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
11 days ago
HU: You can't get the view I need without pulling the top and removing the drywall.

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Soapstone bar top installed on pony wall with supports

Comments (3)

Joseph Corlett, LLC

HU-266273310Original Author

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Joseph Corlett, LLC

HU-266273310
Original Author