Harder stones such as granite are highly
surface sheets are the same material top to bot-
scratch-resistant. Softer stones, such as soap-
tom, so if you scratch them or put too hot a pot
stone, can be scratched, but their softness allows
if you’re cutting a finish sur-
on them, you can sand out the blemishes. Most
you to easily sand out scratches or buff them
face such as plastic laminate,
brands come with a 10-year warranty. Note that
out with steel wool. Stone is generally water-
cover the metal shoe (base) of
your jigsaw with masking tape to
this material is generally expensive.
resistant, although most stones are somewhat
keep the shoe from scratching
porous and will stain unless protected. Penetrating
Quartz composites are a new and rapidly grow-
the countertop.
sealants such as Aqua Mix® Sealer’s Choice® and
ing group that includes brands such as
Miracle Sealants® 511 Porous Plus® are well
Caesarstone®, Zodiaq®, and Silestone®; the blend regarded in the stone trade. For more recommen-
is roughly 93% quartz and 7% polymers and pig-
dations, visit www.stoneworld.com.
ments. Quartz composites have many of the vir-
Because stone is a natural material with
tues of stone countertops and few of the failings.
inherent flaws and irregularities, few installers
These composites are scratch-, heat-, and stain-
offer a warranty once an installation is complete.
resistant; completely nonporous so they’re easy
In the trade, it’s called “a taillight warranty”; in
to clean; and most offer integral backsplashes so
other words, once the installer’s truck leaves your
there’s no seam to collect crud or allow water-
driveway, the warranty expires.
penetration problems. Composites are also
unlikely to fracture during transit because miner-
Concrete has become très chic as a countertop
al particles are uniformly dispersed and free
material because it’s tough, can look uptown or
from the imperfections of natural stone. (This
rugged, and can be cast into custom shapes. It
uniformity also tells connoisseurs that a counter-
can be stained and polished to look like exotic
top is not natural stone.) The group has a decent
stone, factory-cast with colorful glass shards in
green profile because its stone components are,
the bottom of its mold. Or it can be cast directly
essentially, debris. Caesarstone, for example, was atop a base cabinet. Concrete weighs roughly the
the first quartz surfacing company to receive ISO same as stone. However, because a concrete slab
14001 certification—a global standard for envi-
needs to be fully 11⁄2 in. thick, you need to over-
ronmental protection.
build base cabinets to support the additional
weight. (Stone tops need to be 11⁄2 in. thick only
Ceramic tile is beautiful and durable. Its great
along their front edge.) Because the bottom of
variety of colors, shapes, and sizes allows almost
in-place form molds can sag between supports
unlimited freedom to create your own patterns.
until the concrete sets, it’s smart to add cross-
Glazed tiles themselves are largely resistant to
counter webs to support the forms. Concrete is
heat, water, stains, and scratches. Tile can be
notorious for cracking and staining, but you can
applied successively over a plywood substrate or
minimize that by reinforcing the slab adequately
a mortar bed, and a diligent novice can install it
with steel or poly fibers and finishing the surface
successfully. Tile prices vary widely and thus can
meticulously.
fit almost any budget. But its grout joints are rel-
atively fragile, easily stained if they’re not sealed
kitchens and baths
373
Visit suppliers in your area. Look at counter-
tops in several different showrooms, and discuss
A natural reSIStAnCe?
your options with the salespeople. Share any
are wood countertops safe for prepping food? a
information—samples of wall paint or cabinet
1993 study by the university of Wisconsin food
finishes, magazine ads showing counter surfaces,
photos of sinks or sink fixtures—that will clarify
research institute suggests that solid-wood cut-
the style and look you’re after. A salesperson’s
ting boards are safer than plastic ones. in one
willingness to spend time and answer questions
experiment, both types of boards were contami-
says a lot about a supplier.
nated with salmonella bacteria and left to stand
unwashed overnight. in the morning, the bacte-
Get bids. Provide a floor plan, drawing, or sketch
ria on the wood boards had died, but they had
to the countertop suppliers, and ask each to gen-
erate a written bid. The bid should also specify
multiplied on the plastic boards. scientists
a completion date, terms of payment, and the
haven’t determined what agents in the wood
P R O T I P
scope of the installation. In most cases, quoted
killed the bacteria, so be sure to scrub all cut-
prices will not include plumbing, electrical work,
ting boards and countertops to be safe.
once the laminated countertop
or adjustments to the cabinets such as sink cut-
is scribed and secured to the
outs and leveling plywood substrates. Tearing out
base cabinet(s), do the cutout
old countertops is usually extra, too. Based on
for the kitchen sink. kitchen-sink
bids and supplier reputations, choose a supplier.
cutouts are best done on site
Concrete gurus praise Berylex, an admixture
Schedule the job. Most installations require two
because the remaining substrate
that strengthens and internally waterproofs slabs visits from the supplier: the “measure date” and
front and back would likely break
and, to a degree, stainproofs them, too. Miracle
the “install date.” It’s difficult to pinpoint a mea-
in transit if you did the cutout at
Sealants 511 Porous Plus, a penetrating sealer, is
sure date until the cabinets are installed, but in
the shop.
effective at stainproofing cementitious materials
general, two weeks’ to four weeks’ notice should
from grout to concrete. One of the best books on
be enough. Typically, solid-surface (such as
casting your own countertop is Fu-Tung Cheng’s
Corian) and plastic-laminate countertops require
Concrete Countertops (The Taunton Press, 2001).
about one week between the measure date and
Wood is a sentimental favorite because it’s warm the install date. Quartz-composite countertops
and beautiful, but it must be correctly finished
(such as Zodiaq) require about two weeks. Most
and carefully sealed to prevent damage around
countertop suppliers will allow you to change the
sinks or along seams where water could collect.
installation time without penalty, provided you
There are so many types of wood that it’s tough
give them enough notice.
to generalize about traits, but most types scorch,
Be prepared for meetings. The measure date is
scratch, and stain easily, and water will swell and your last chance to give input on details such as
rot wood unless you keep it sealed. A growing
underlayment issues, color, edge treatment, and
number of fabricators such as Spekva of
splash detail. Whatever you finally decide on, get
Denmark are producing oil-finished butcher-
it in writing. During this meeting, the supplier
block and laminated-wood countertops that will
will review job-site conditions, so the general
remain durable if you periodically apply a food-
contractor should be there, too.
safe oil recommended by the manufacturer.
Important prerequisites
These countertops are pricey but, in Spekva’s
Cabinets must be set before the job can
case, the wood is harvested from sustainable,
be measured. In other words, the cabinets
managed forests.
must be screwed together and screwed to the
walls, not just pushed into place. The cabinets
ordering countertops
cannot be moved even 1⁄8 in. after the counter-
Once you’ve identified several reputable counter-
top supplier has measured because counter-
top shops in your area, get bids. For your protec-
tops are fabricated to close tolerances.
tion, develop detailed floor plans and, as you
Cabinets must be set level. As a general
proceed, put everything in writing. That way,
rule, cabinets must be set on a level plane
you’ll be sure that quotes from different shops
within 1⁄8 in. over a 10-ft. length. Such
reflect similar details, deadlines, and so on. The
stringent requirements are a concern not only
following guidelines are adapted, with permis-
to installers but also, in some cases, to
sion, from Sullivan Counter Tops, Inc. (visit
manufacturers as a condition of warranty.
www.sullivancountertops.com).
374 chapter 13
installing a granite countertop
once you’ve looked at granite sam-
ples and narrowed your choices to a few
1. An experienced installer takes nothing for granted and will
varieties, consult the fabricator—the
scrutinize substrates for high and low spots before anything else.
However, it’s a general contractor’s responsibility to make the
company that will be cutting and install-
substrates flat—not the counter installer’s.
ing the stone. For example, if you choose
a granite with large crystals, joints
between sections may be more obvious
than those between finely grained stone.
besides, some richly figured stones are
more likely to crack or spall when sub-
jected to everyday use. a fabricator’s
practical concerns can be a good coun-
terpoint to a kitchen designer’s artier
point of view. in any event, cabinets and
the plywood substrate must be installed
before measurements for a stone coun-
tertop can be made.
3. If the dry-fit is acceptable, installers set the slabs aside and
apply a grid of epoxy blobs, which adhere the stone to the
substrate and act as a support. Epoxy typically takes 48 hours
to set fully. To keep the stone from moving while the epoxy
grid cures, installers use a smaller amount of a different fast-
acting epoxy.
2. After ensuring that the substrate is
flat, installers typically lift the slabs,
stand them on edge, and carefully lower
them into position to test clearances,
cutouts, overhangs, and so on.
6. To avoid transporting a slab
weakened by cutouts or holes, installers
usually bore faucet holes on site, using
a diamond-tipped hole saw.
4. After caulking the undermount sink with silicone,
5. After leveling the slabs, pros ensure that the joints
installers set the slab on the epoxy grid. To avoid
are flush by sliding a razor blade back and forth across
spreading the epoxy too thin, installers don’t slide the
them. If one side is higher, the razor blade clicks as it
stone in place—they lift and lower it as close to the
hits a high point or falls from a high point to a low one.
final position as possible. Suction-cup handles help.
More sensitive than a fingertip!
kitchens and baths
375
choosing a range hood
cooktops and stoves should be vented by a range hood. in addition to sucking
up the smoke of a charred steak, range hoods exhaust airborne grease that might
otherwise migrate to a cool corner and feed mold or adhere to woodwork and
degrade its finish, as shown in the photos on p. 527.
range hoods are most often wall-mounted directly over a range. alternatively,
there are downdraft and side-draft vents that pop up from a counter area to suck
away fumes. over island and peninsula ranges, you can install chimney-type vents.
in general, install the type of vent that will carry exhaust gases outdoors with the
shortest and straightest duct run possible. because heated air rises, wall-mounted
and chimney types are inherently efficient, whereas downdraft and side-draft vents
pull heated gases in directions they wouldn’t go naturally and can even pull burner
flames sideways.
range hoods vary from low-powered and inexpensive (less than $50) to custom-
This enameled cast-iron farmhouse sink is big enough to
designed units that cost thousands. a 100-cfm (cubic feet per minute) wall-mounted
rinse as large a turkey as you can lift. The faucet’s spout
swings out of the way for complete access to the sink.
hood should be adequate to vent the average four-burner, 30-in.-wide range. but if
that same range is located on a kitchen island, its range vent should draw 125 cfm
All appliances and sinks should be on the
to 150 cfm. More is not better when sizing range hoods. For one thing, larger hoods
job site at the time of the measure. The fitting
are noisier. Midsize range hoods average 3 sones (a measure of noise) to 3.5 sones,
of sinks and appliances is often critically close.
which is too noisy to have a conversation near; monster hoods can reach 8 sones.
Design or construction issues that could cause
(as a comparison, refrigerators register 1 sone.) oversize hoods can also expel so
problems or delay the installation should be
much air that they create backdrafting, in which negative in-house air pressure
resolved on the measure date. If the sinks and
draws furnace or fireplace exhaust gases back down the chimney (see chapter 14 for
appliances are on site, the supplier can inspect
more on
backdrafting).
them. If there’s a defect, damage, or, say, a sink
ideally, a range hood should be slightly wider than the range, say, 3 in. wider on
rim that won’t fit the countertop, you’ll need
each end, and mounted 30 in. above the range. but follow the hood maker’s sug-
time to replace the item before installation.
gested mounting height; more powerful hoods can be installed higher. Finally, buy a
unit with a good-quality filter that can withstand regular washing with soap and
Kitchen Sinks
water. Most filters are aluminum mesh, but better ones are stainless steel; many can
Because a kitchen is one of the most-used rooms
be popped into the dishwasher, which spares homeowners a very greasy and
in the house, do a little research before choosing
unpleasant task. in general, be skeptical of range hoods that recirculate air through
its most-used fixture.
a series of filters rather than venting it outside.
choosing a kitchen sink
Keep four criteria in mind when considering
sinks: size and number of bowls; sink-hole com-
patibility with faucets and accessories; materials;
and mounting styles.
Size and number of bowls. Sinks are available
in dozens of sizes and shapes. For the record, a
22-in. by 33-in. two-bowl unit is the most popu-
lar, perhaps because it fits neatly into “standard”
sink cabinets 24 in. deep by 36 in. long. Two
bowls allow you to prep food in one and put used
bowls and pots in the other during the mad dash
to dinner. Typically, there’s a garbage disposer on
one side. If you’ve got a dishwasher and don’t
need to wash dishes in the sink, a large single-
This elegant hood effectively
bowl sink is best suited to washing pots and
vents a six-burner gas range.
pans; 10 in. deep is optimal. If you’ve got plenty
of counter space and two family members who
like to cook, install two separate sinks. By the
way, three-bowl sinks (45 in. wide) are overkill
for most home kitchens.
376 chapter 13
Most sinks have one to four holes. Typically
or scorched. Cost: $200 to $750 for a solid-
the spout and faucet handles take up three of
surface sink.
those holes, but some single-lever faucets require
Acrylic sinks have a lot going for them.
only one hole. Filling an extra hole is generally
They’re lightweight, nonporous, and easy to
Renovation 4th Edition Page 87