I would like to install 2 sinks in a remodel bath. I have a 74″ long counter. I want a 6-8″ skirt but no cabinets below. I would like to build a small towel shelf between sinks. Is that enough strength to handle a solid granite counter? I am using single 3/4″ plyfor the base with 2×2 blocking along the inside periphery of the counter screwed to studs and blocking.
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no legs or support brackets!???
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My idea would be you could avoid legs or support brackets if you made a metal ladder frame out of 2x2 steel tube and had solid blocking on the two side and back wall where you could lag through holes in the frame intto the wood blocking/framing. Dress the front up with a valance like I think he's suggesting.
Providing this is a 3-wall alcove.
Thoughts?
Not sure I understand the towel shelf thing. Does it go all the way to the floor? Details?
Here's an "in progress" pic of a 7-footer I recently did. No support to the floor at all -- just sits on the sides and back. The front apron is just face frame. The intermediate supports are 3/4" ply glued into dados in the back and bottom. This worked well, but I sure wouldn't wanna jump up & down in the front edge, tho'.
Also, if you're worried about it, you could always run a piece of angle iron behind the apron.
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Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Just wanted to chime in and say that's a nice looking floating vanity, Mike. Very clean work. Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Thanks! I've been meaning to get a pic of the finished product. Maybe later today.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Justin:
Here's the finished product.
View Image
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
pretty slick!Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Nice job, Mike.
Do you know what the stone top is? Interesting color.
"Do you know what the stone top is? Interesting color."
It's granite. I liked the unusual orange tint too. And it's pretty highly figured. Neat piece of stone.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I don't get it. What's the purpose of having it "float" above the floor?
"What's the purpose of having it "float" above the floor?"
Primarily because it's a radiant heated floor and the undercab floor area is a significant percentage of the floor area for the whole room. (I had already lost about 30% to the toilet area and closets.) Blocking off that area with a cab would put a big dent in my heat loss calcs. Also, I didn't want to always have the cab (and stuff in it) warmed instead of the room.
I thought about building a piece of "cabineture" with legs, but that becomes an issue when mopping the floor -- always end up with mucked up legs and places for dirt to hide. This one lets the heat into the room without imposing those issues. (And, I just think it looks cool in the room.)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I agree that it looks cool, and I like the idea of the floor area being clear for cleaning, but I doubt that it will impact the heat in the room, unless you are planning some major heat in the floor, which would probably be too hot to walk on.In general, in floor heat warms the floor, it doesn't heat the room. So you could just heat the exposed portion of the floor, allowing the heat to go back maybe an inch past the toe kick of a normal cabinet. Nuheat mats can be custom ordered to fit your space.I have a vanity on legs, and I wish I had the mat designed to go back another 2". Standing at the vanity, my big feet go a bit past the heated portion.
The heat is hydronic and was calculated and installed based on the floor area available in the room. Not heating under the cab loses about 16 sq.ft. -- which was a relatively big percentage in this room. So, I was stuck with either putting a cab on heated floor (which does tend to heat up the contents a bit) and mess up the load calcs, or "improvise".
I chose the latter. ;-) And, as I said, I kinda like the result. I had originally planned on a pedestal sink, but I ran across this stone and liked it so much that I decided to go with the vanity.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Mike
Pretty cool vanity, nice job.
Doug
Will your towel shelf go all the way to the floor? If so the granite should span ok if it's 3cm, and if it's a strong granite.
If the towel shelf hangs from the counter, no way. If it's 2cm stone, I don't think so. If it's a highly figured (=weak) stone, probably not.