Applying a marble countertop can completely overhaul the look of the kitchen as well as the washroom, giving one a magnificent look that is classic. Be it the marble countertops installation or slab countertops installation, one is required to be well informed about the process that comes into play on the same and the various factors that need to be put into consideration when planning for the whole affair.
Planning Your Marble Countertop Installation
Ideally, planning should be the course of action once the decision to have marble countertops installed is made. The type of countertops that are being purchased also deserves the attention of a professional designer during the purchasing process. You have to make sure you get enough stone for all the areas you may want to have it in the counter surface, the backsplash, and other embellishments.
Specifically, when selecting your marble slabs, it is important to involve a fabricator as they can assist you in making the right choices. It can assist you in selecting the most appropriate parts of the slab that would give a perfect blend of your design factors so that stunning veins are not dismissed in the sink cut-out or at the appliance shed.
For our kitchen, which is the focal point of the house, we had to buy two slabs. It also helped that we had enough material on the countertops to create a backsplash where the seams could perfectly blend. Seam matching can be problematic in instances where the stone is not long enough to wrap a stretch of cabinets or a wall; therefore, the advice of professionals can be useful in this situation.
Designing with Marble Slabs
When slab countertops installation occurs are a few important issues that should be taken into consideration, especially if you would like to make some elaborate elements such as a waterfall edge or a marble backsplash: how to end the edges. On these aspects, the advice of a professional designer or an expert in metal fabrication can go a long way, but I like to be more involved.
What would have been great in our kitchen is a full-tile backsplash, which was avoided. However, rather than having it directly merged with the wall, we designed the marble to run only several inches above the wall to add a smooth transition to the drywall.
Preparing the Wood Base
In as much as the marble countertops require the wood base to be already perfect, some preparatory steps need to be done before the installation process begins. The wood base must be solid, and evenly placed, for the support of the marble. Here are the key steps to prepare the wood base:
Reinforce the Base Cabinets: Make sure the base cabinets that you select have enough strength to whip the marble slab. Strengthen them if needed more, especially when it applies to older models or made of slightly less durable materials.
Level the Surface: Level the sharpeners to ensure that the top of the base cabinet is flat. Since the slab countertop installation consists of matching up the edges of these large slabs of stone, any uneven surface kind of poses a risk to the process.
Add Plywood Substrate: Place a sheet of ¾ inch plywood on the base cabinets that you want to add the organization unit. That is to ensure the marble has extra support and also ensure that the whole surface is well supported.
Seal the Plywood: It is also advisable to put a coat of sealant on the face of the plywood to avoid water absorption. Marble is generally a porous kind of material and if water finds its way through to the top, then it is likely to seep through the wood base.
Conclusion:
When it comes to marble countertops set up on a wooden substructure, several issues have to be taken into consideration. The work should be done accurately, and the material has to be maintained properly. If proper measures are taken in consultation with professional fabricators, proper preparation is done, and professional installation of the slabs is done, one can be guaranteed an excellent return on investment and a beautiful home. Regardless of the differences between a marble countertop installation and a slab countertop installation, these measures will help make the final result aesthetically pleasing and effective.