Quartz Countertop Overhang: The Guidelines | Pro Stone Countertops

Many people choose quartz countertops for their exquisite qualities. They’re beautiful, durable, and, most of all, versatile. With quartz, you can use it in many ways to fit your aesthetic. In some cases, your design may call for quartz overhang. But what are they really? Most people introduce quartz countertop overhang in their designs without giving it much thought. When that happens, they wouldn’t know the standard quartz countertop overhang and whether they require overhang quartz support.

In this blog, we’ll be talking in more detail about quartz countertop overhang and how much overhang you can have on a quartz countertop. Specifically, we’ll talk about:

• Standard quartz countertop overhang
• Maximum overhang for quartz countertop
• Quartz countertop overhang support

Read on to know more about the quartz countertop overhang below.

What is a Quartz Countertop Overhang?

Quartz countertop overhang introduces a lip to your countertop. This occurs when your countertop slab extends beyond the length of your cabinets. It is presented to serve a simple purpose: prevent liquid spills, crumbs, or any other possible contaminant from reaching your drawers and cupboards below. For instance, when a spill occurs on a kitchen island, the quartz overhang on the island diverts the water to the floor below, which is easier to clean up .

When installing overhang and the lip is not that far from the cabinet’s edge, you can introduce quartz overhang without support. But when a certain length past the maximum overhang for quartz countertop, you will need to install quartz countertop support brackets.

How to Choose the Right Quartz Countertop Overhang

Overhang quartz countertop isn’t as easy as you might think. There are plenty of considerations that needed to be made when, for example, introducing quartz overhang on an island because of the material’s immense weight. They are heavier than ceramic or other synthetic countertop materials, so you should be careful in selecting an overhang quartz countertop. Specific quartz countertop overhang guidelines exist, which depend highly on the right type of overhang you choose.

Standard Overhang

What is the standard overhang for quartz countertops? Standard overhang refers to the most common overhang style, which denotes the overhang’s original purpose, providing a slight edge off the cabinetry. The length or distance from the cabinets can vary, depending on the type of cabinet doors you have. Additionally, the type of edge detail you have can also dictate how far your overhang can extend.

Standard rules for quartz overhang without support is that you will only need up to 1” overhang for standard cabinets with little to no door overlay. If an extended overlay is present, i.e., the door is wholly outside the cabinet, then you go as much as 1.5” or even more, depending on how thick the cabinet doors are and the type of edge you choose.

Extended Overhang

On the other hand, extended overhang deals with how far can quartz countertop overhang. It is a type of overhang that exceeds the standard quartz countertop overhang rule. However, be forewarned: when selecting an extended overhang, you will need corbels for quartz countertops or other types of quartz countertop overhang support.

What to Choose

When selecting the best type of overhang, your main should be the purpose that it serves. While aesthetics should always be secondary to your real purpose, it can still serve as a purpose on its own.

For instance, many people would want to install an extended overhang on their new kitchen island because they wanted to introduce a bar-style aesthetic to their kitchen. For others, they may want to use it as a workstation. Meanwhile, some just like a traditional aesthetic to their home and will, instead, want to go for the standard.

Quartz Countertop Overhang Rules

Did you know that there are rules for how much overhang you can have on a quartz countertop? How far can a quartz countertop overhang without support? In a nutshell, they can handle as much as 14 inches of overhang without support (although some might require little support depending on purpose).

But it goes far deeper than that. If there could only be one quartz countertop overhang rule, it’s that you have to follow specific quartz countertop overhang guidelines to make sure your quartz countertop is sturdy. Follow these rules in supporting quartz countertop overhang for higher durability:

• The maximum amount of overhang is 30%. That means at least 70% of your countertop should be supported, such as corbels for quartz countertops, quartz countertop support brackets, and countertop bases.
• Install extra supports to counterbalance the weight of the stone when creating cutouts.
• You can’t extend overhang past the maximum without needing supports, even when you use thinner quartz.
• Treat your countertop as a fragile material and reinforce your quartz countertop (or other countertops for that matter) when going past 1.5”.
• The brand and manufacturer matters when selecting a material that can sustain overhang.

When to Install Support for Quartz Countertops

Another quartz countertop overhang rule calls for quartz countertop support brackets and other support materials when the overhang exceeds 6 inches or more. Even quartz that can support up to 14 inches of overhang runs the risk of damage on your countertop. That is why you should always add supports when the overhang exceeds one-third of its total width.

Quartz Countertop Support Options

Supporting quartz countertop overhang is imperative to ensure your investment is safe and secure. When it comes to safety, you should always be on the side of caution. Here are some countertop support options for support quartz countertop overhang:

• Corbels. Corbels are support fixtures that protrude from your primary support. They can support up to 24 inches of overhang provided that they are mounted on studs and that they’ve installed three feet apart from each other, no more, no less.
• Substrates and Posts. If you’re planning more than two feet of overhang, your only option should be to support the weight using posts installed three feet apart. However, this can also affect your legroom, so consider that as well.
• Brackets. Brackets function the same way as corbels, except that they also have a component on the countertop’s underside. They are a slightly less expensive option but offer minimal support, which means they should only be used on a shorter overhang.
• Separate Islands. If you’re planning an overhang that extends far beyond two feet, it’s time to consider extending your island simply. Adding a countertop will be much safer and more convenient than finding decent supports that can accommodate overhang that long.

Conclusion

Adding overhang to your next quartz countertop project can instantly elevate the design and functionality of your kitchen. But when you do that, there are specific rules and guidelines you have to follow to ensure your family – and countertop investment – remains safe and secure, such as using the right amount of overhang and the proper support.

Pro Stone Countertops is your trusted partner in all things countertops. We help you create your ideal kitchen and bring your vision to life the right way. Get started on the kitchen of your dreams by calling us at 662-212-5927 or filling up the form here.