bbarry9999 Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 It looks like my next project will be buffet table with a granite top for my wife. I'm still in the design phase - getting concepts from my wife. The big question I see right from the start is what is the best way to attach the top? I originally thought an adhesive to the frame work, I now wonder if a solid or plywood top beneath the granite would be better? Any ideas or tips as I start on the project? Any concerns about need extra supports for the weight of the top? thanks Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 hey Bill, how big is the table top going to be and how thick? it could be very heavy and as such would require substantial framework under the top. if you ever want to remove the top plywood underneath it with adhesive and secure the ply to the framework would be my guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheperd80 Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Yeah it depends on the size of the piece, but typically youd put some kind of sub top on top of your frame, assuming the granite is getting a dropped edge to hide the sub top. If not, then you can build the sub top inside your frame with cleats or brackets supporting it. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Meggison Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Think about using threaded inserts into the underside of the granite. There are specialty epoxies made for granite to hold the insert in place. Standard epoxy may work also. Check with your granite supplier or local monument company for info. I worked designing laboratory furniture for a number of years and our rule of thumb for granite was no unsupported span greater than 30" Have fun and post pix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisG-Canada Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 I'm pretty sure my kitchen island countertop (engineered quartz) is attached to the cabinets below using silicone caulking. My cabinets do NOT have a full top panel but instead two small (4"?) partial top panel at front and rear of the cabinet - looks like more of a brace/support for the side panels than anything else. I don't know your design but PERHAPS use silicone to 'attach' plywood strips to the bottom of your granite and then use screws to attach your table base to the plywood (on the bottom of your granite). You might not need plywood on the entire surface - just to the spots where you want to attach screws from the base. The screws/playwood would allow easier removal of the granite top if needed. Show some pictures of your design and your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Best solution is to order your granite top with threaded inserts already installed. If that's not possible, you could epoxy metal brackets to the granite then screw those brackets to the inside of your aprons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbarry9999 Posted January 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 I'm not sure of the final design yet but expect it will be in the 18" x 48" range. Perhaps a little deeper. Thanks for the responses. Keep them coming, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted January 31, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Threaded inserts are overkill on a top that size. I would make the aprons out of 5/4 stock and maybe put a 3" wide horizontal strip inside the frame at each end and in the middle. 6 blobs (the size of a 50 cent piece) of silicone or construction adhesive or even regular caulk is sufficient. All you need to do is keep the top from shifting on the base, gravity does the rest of the work. If you think the table may ever need to support a person dancing put 4 horizontal strips & 8 blobs of caulk ! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Meggison Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 I agree, we installed granite tops with dabs of adhesive calk in labs all the time. My thinking for home use would be to make the top easily removable. Tables in homes commonly need to be moved and many times the only way to get through a doorway is to tip it on its side. Due to the weight, it would be easier to remove the top. A wood frame glued to the under side of the top, then attached to the apron would work well also. The more ideas put out there, during the design phase, the more likely to find what works best for your situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 Ya'll are not thinking this through completely. You want to be sure that the fastener chosen will allow the base to travel with the top. Cabinets are typically fastened in place. One of the more awkward things I can imagine is an inexperienced owner down the road walking the top off the base of a table and then being stuck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 2 hours ago, C Shaffer said: Ya'll are not thinking this through completely. You want to be sure that the fastener chosen will allow the base to travel with the top. Cabinets are typically fastened in place. One of the more awkward things I can imagine is an inexperienced owner down the road walking the top off the base of a table and then being stuck. Yeah, it's frustrating. And since granite tops typically overhang. it's also pretty common, because people will lift'em from the top instead of the aprons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 2 hours ago, wdwerker said: If you think the table may ever need to support a person dancing put 4 horizontal strips & 8 blobs of caulk ! Leave it to Steve to come up with the design numbers for this activity. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 One option is just to leave the granite floating on top of the apron. You can attach wooden blocks to the underside of the granite with epoxy or construction adhesive to lock it in place and keep if from shifting side to side. Once you put the granite on the buffet gravity will keep it firmly in place. We have a piece of antique furniture with a marble top that uses this method. Aside from simplicity this also has the added benefit of making the piece of furniture lighter to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialbyfire Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 I work for a GC and on the job i just finished the cabinet guys refused to make a cabinet wider than 36" without being specifically told to. This was for shelf sag (nice clear maple 3/4 ply) and for the counter top span. I don't know if you have gotten this far in your design but they would make two 24" cabinets and screw them together. These cabinets would have 3"-4" pieces 'framing' the outline of each cabinet with corner supports and then they used ply under the entire top. To attach the top they liquid nailed and used slotted screws to the 'picture framing'. That is a commercial construction example but I have learned the things they do they do to limit their warranty calls. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted January 31, 2017 Report Share Posted January 31, 2017 +1 on construction adhesive. My kitchen granite tops are secured with a few blobs and haven't moved for 15 years. Gravity helps too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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