Concrete Frame For Kitchen Cabinet

[Punggol Lek 0]

Hi All,

I have 2 questions which need your humble advise.

1) Does anyone know the diference between Quartz surface top, Solid surface top and Granite surface top.

Which one has joint line more invisible? Any other pros and cons.

2) I understand that most people constructed their granite table top with wooden frame below. Does anyone has experience with construction of the frame with concrete. What I hear is that it is for better stability and water resistance? Any pics to share?

Regards,

Lek

[acevin 0]

I have no idea on the difference bet quartz & granite top. But mine is using granite top...

As for the frame, mine is using concrete frame.. instead of the commonly seen here as carpentry with lamination.

Not sure carpenty good or concrete gd.. but for my own pratical reason, since granite top is so heavy (cause my kitchen is very long), using concrete frame to support the granite seems more stable.

I jz get to know from other contractor (not the one who do up my plc), that it may cost more to do concrete frame then carpentry... not sure if this is true as I always think that carpenty will cost more... tats y in the 1st place I choose tat to save cost...

[Punggol Lek 0]

HI acevin,

Do you got any pic to share? Just wondering the apperance of both concrete and carpentary? Is it able to hide the concrete frame?

REgards,

Lek

[waikwok 0]

HI acevin,

Do you got any pic to share? Just wondering the apperance of both concrete and carpentary? Is it able to hide the concrete frame?

REgards,

Lek

yeah, feels that it looks kind of weird from outside if we build the concrete frame beside the wooden frame unless the formica can hide the concrete frame.

Anyone expert can give some advises here ?? =)

[sng28 2]

Hi All,

I have 2 questions which need your humble advise.

1) Does anyone know the diference between Quartz surface top, Solid surface top and Granite surface top.

Which one has joint line more invisible? Any other pros and cons.

2) I understand that most people constructed their granite table top with wooden frame below. Does anyone has experience with construction of the frame with concrete. What I hear is that it is for better stability and water resistance? Any pics to share?

Regards,

Lek

Hope this helps. I was searching for some info for my kitchen top too.

The following guide should help you with your choice...

Granite Surfaces

Granite is both a very fashionable and practical solution for the kitchen and offering the prestige of a real natural stone product, it is in my opinion; today's number one popular choice!

Granite is available in about 100 types and colours and can be purchased in polished, honed or textured surface finishes. Usually supplied 3cm thick for kitchens surfaces, granite is very durable, extremely hard wearing and is difficult to scratch and stain.

Granite comes in continuous lengths of up to or just over 3 metres and widths large enough for any kitchen units - for spans over 3 metres you must have a joint, but most good granite suppliers make this blend-in well with the overall surface.

Sinks can be installed over or under the granite work surface, with grooves cut into the surface for draining. Granite lends itself to curves and other shaping very well, so almost all situations and all kitchen designs can be catered for.

Up-Stands set at the back of the granite on the wall look great at about 100mm high and you can also clad far higher behind the cooker for instance.

Granite truly is a popular choice for a kitchen work surface and it is also one of the two natural products. Falling prices have also aided the current popularity for this type of stone and is probably one of the main reasons why it has become the current number one choice for better kitchens.

Pros

Granite is very tough

Granite is durable

Granite is fashionable

Can cost less than the other choices

Long lasting

Cons

Not many light or plain colours available.

Cost

Some granite is surprisingly low in cost, whilst others can be expensive

Overall, granite is in my opinion the best choice for value

Solid Wood Surfaces

Solid wood is the other natural choice of worktop surface I will be discussing here and it certainly has its own unique charm.

Solid wood worktops, are made from real wood strips and are glued together to form a board. This form of construction helps the wood from warping or splitting and provides stability and ease-of-cutting when the worktop is being shaped.

Many common hardwoods are available including; oak and beech and the wooden worktop board is often coated or treated to enhance the colour and help resist the rigours of a busy kitchen.

A wood worktop surface can look fabulous within some country kitchens and even some contemporary styles, but beware; the surface can wear and go a little patchy in busily used areas of the work surface - with this in mind; this appearance can still be attractive in the right circumstances and to be fair, has to be accepted with a solid wood surface.

Pros

A beautiful natural product

Cons

Can become patchy in appearance after a while

Water can stain it

Cost

Varies according to the type of wood but probably the cheapest option

Acrylic Polymer Surfaces

Acrylic Polymer surfaces were very popular a year or two ago but have stalled a little in favour of granite.

Acrylic Polymer with mineral surfaces are a coating/sheet that are formed onto a wooden board attached to your kitchen units, the joints are then blended-in, to give a seamless worktop surface.

Available in a host of colours, Polymer work surfaces can look very smart, especially if in a contemporary setting.

The surface however is not as hard as granite or quartz and does require care as it may wear, scratch or mark in a busy kitchen. Manufacturers do offer reasonable guarantees, for this type of surface, but if you do need it to be extremely durable, then in my opinion, it is not the best choice...

With this said; it is extremely versatile and can be fitted to form a surface almost anywhere in the kitchen!

Matching sinks are also available... Visit your local supplier for more information!

Pros

Very smart when new

Extremely versatile and it allows for seamless surfaces

Cons

Not as long a life-span as granite or quartz

Scratches and marks too easily

Cost

May well be the most expensive option

Is not great value for money

Quartz

Quartz is in many ways a man made version of granite.

It is made from around 97% quartz (one of the hardest materials on earth) and then mixed with a resin bonding compound - this is then processed to form a very hard stone like product that is very difficult to stain or scratch...

Note: In Italy, Quartz is often advertised as scratch and stain proof, but this is not the case in Britain.

Quartz surfaces are made in an array of colours that normally can not be obtained with natural stone. This includes many plain colours, such as; beige, sand, cream, off-white and even a true white.

Quartz also offers some exceptionally bright colours such as red, orange and yellow. Black, with a reflective fleck is however the most popular quartz work top colour and is in my opinion, is certainly very attractive.

Quartz is usually supplied as an alternative for granite, where colour is the issue and is available from most good granite factories - do a local search on Google for your nearest supplier.

Pros

Exceptionally tough and difficult to scratch or stain

Long lasting

Cons

Not a natural stone

Cost

One of the most expensive choices

[Kewlboi 0]

Hope this helps. I was searching for some info for my kitchen top too.

The following guide should help you with your choice...

Granite Surfaces

Granite is both a very fashionable and practical solution for the kitchen and offering the prestige of a real natural stone product, it is in my opinion; today's number one popular choice!

Granite is available in about 100 types and colours and can be purchased in polished, honed or textured surface finishes. Usually supplied 3cm thick for kitchens surfaces, granite is very durable, extremely hard wearing and is difficult to scratch and stain.

Granite comes in continuous lengths of up to or just over 3 metres and widths large enough for any kitchen units - for spans over 3 metres you must have a joint, but most good granite suppliers make this blend-in well with the overall surface.

Sinks can be installed over or under the granite work surface, with grooves cut into the surface for draining. Granite lends itself to curves and other shaping very well, so almost all situations and all kitchen designs can be catered for.

Thanks for the useful info Sng.At first it was quite a headache to choose between Granite or solid surface top.After reading your resources and after my colleague highly recommend Granite top, now I had decided to use granite top for my kitchen surface.At first I was reluctant cos I heard some forummers mention the stain like curry powder cannot be wash easily and the wear of the granite after sine time it will not be that shiny but I believe black galaxy granite won't show so much stains as compare to lighter colour granite which the previous owner use green granite and it really looks wear off and visible stain.Now only need to decide on concrete or wooden frame for my kitchen sink support.As through my colleague experience after 5 years the wooden door would rot and the hinge would drop off due to the wet area from the sink.I saw some forummers use a roller metal shutter door for their cabinet door compare to those old fashion sliding door.It do looks

attractive though..

Up-Stands set at the back of the granite on the wall look great at about 100mm high and you can also clad far higher behind the cooker for instance.

Granite truly is a popular choice for a kitchen work surface and it is also one of the two natural products. Falling prices have also aided the current popularity for this type of stone and is probably one of the main reasons why it has become the current number one choice for better kitchens.

Pros

Granite is very tough

Granite is durable

Granite is fashionable

Can cost less than the other choices

Long lasting

Cons

Not many light or plain colours available.

Cost

Some granite is surprisingly low in cost, whilst others can be expensive

Overall, granite is in my opinion the best choice for value

Solid Wood Surfaces

Solid wood is the other natural choice of worktop surface I will be discussing here and it certainly has its own unique charm.

Solid wood worktops, are made from real wood strips and are glued together to form a board. This form of construction helps the wood from warping or splitting and provides stability and ease-of-cutting when the worktop is being shaped.

Many common hardwoods are available including; oak and beech and the wooden worktop board is often coated or treated to enhance the colour and help resist the rigours of a busy kitchen.

A wood worktop surface can look fabulous within some country kitchens and even some contemporary styles, but beware; the surface can wear and go a little patchy in busily used areas of the work surface - with this in mind; this appearance can still be attractive in the right circumstances and to be fair, has to be accepted with a solid wood surface.

Pros

A beautiful natural product

Cons

Can become patchy in appearance after a while

Water can stain it

Cost

Varies according to the type of wood but probably the cheapest option

Acrylic Polymer Surfaces

Acrylic Polymer surfaces were very popular a year or two ago but have stalled a little in favour of granite.

Acrylic Polymer with mineral surfaces are a coating/sheet that are formed onto a wooden board attached to your kitchen units, the joints are then blended-in, to give a seamless worktop surface.

Available in a host of colours, Polymer work surfaces can look very smart, especially if in a contemporary setting.

The surface however is not as hard as granite or quartz and does require care as it may wear, scratch or mark in a busy kitchen. Manufacturers do offer reasonable guarantees, for this type of surface, but if you do need it to be extremely durable, then in my opinion, it is not the best choice...

With this said; it is extremely versatile and can be fitted to form a surface almost anywhere in the kitchen!

Matching sinks are also available... Visit your local supplier for more information!

Pros

Very smart when new

Extremely versatile and it allows for seamless surfaces

Cons

Not as long a life-span as granite or quartz

Scratches and marks too easily

Cost

May well be the most expensive option

Is not great value for money

Quartz

Quartz is in many ways a man made version of granite.

It is made from around 97% quartz (one of the hardest materials on earth) and then mixed with a resin bonding compound - this is then processed to form a very hard stone like product that is very difficult to stain or scratch...

Note: In Italy, Quartz is often advertised as scratch and stain proof, but this is not the case in Britain.

Quartz surfaces are made in an array of colours that normally can not be obtained with natural stone. This includes many plain colours, such as; beige, sand, cream, off-white and even a true white.

Quartz also offers some exceptionally bright colours such as red, orange and yellow. Black, with a reflective fleck is however the most popular quartz work top colour and is in my opinion, is certainly very attractive.

Quartz is usually supplied as an alternative for granite, where colour is the issue and is available from most good granite factories - do a local search on Google for your nearest supplier.

Pros

Exceptionally tough and difficult to scratch or stain

Long lasting

Cons

Not a natural stone

Cost

One of the most expensive choices

[Kewlboi 0]

Thanks for the useful info Sng.At first it was quite a headache to choose between Granite or solid surface top.After reading your resources and after my colleague highly recommend Granite top, now I had decided to use granite top for my kitchen top.At first I was reluctant cos I heard some forummers mention the stain like curry powder cannot be wash easily and the wear of the granite after some time it will not be that shiny but I believe black galaxy granite won't show so much stains as compare to lighter colour granite which the previous owner use green granite and it really looks wear off and visible stain.Now only need to decide on concrete or wooden frame for my kitchen sink support.As through my colleague experience after 5 years the wooden door would rot and the hinge would drop off due to the wet activity from the sink.I saw some forummers use a roller metal shutter door for their cabinet door compare to those old fashion sliding door.It do looks

attractive though..

Edited February 2, 2011 by Kewlboi