We are currently having several fabrication shops bid on our new solid surface countertops. I have noticed two distinctly different methods for building up the outside edges. One method laminates two additional 4″ strips to the underside of the solid surface edge, thereby giving an edge that is 1 1/2″ thick and 4 ” wide. The other method simply takes a 1″ wide piece of solid surface material and glues it to the underside of the counter edge to give this same edge appearance of 1 1/2″. Wood or fiberboard filler material is then glued in to back up the strip and give it more strength. Is there a preferred method for installation? The quote with the last option is quit a bit cheaper.
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Replies
Adding a nosing strip to the front edge is fine. It doesn't make the job that much cheaper over the 4" strip, so there are other differences in your quotes.
Note that fiberboard filler/substrate near a sink or dishwasher is prone to getting wet and going punk. At the very least, if exposed at all on the underside it should be covered with a good coat of shelac/varnish.
True enough. At an undermounted SS or porcelain sink there will be caulk to maintain to prevent water from traveling off the rim of the sink and under the counter. The dishwasher seems less problematic to me. Some steam will come out, I suppose. You need something to screw the dishwasher into under the edge of the counter. You could ask the shop to put in exterior ply backer instead of particle board.
I'm talking about the bottom of the exposed edge. Water will drip around the nosing and "sit" on the bottom, and steam from a just-opened dishwasher will likewise dampen that area. After awhile, if the substrate is a "flaky" material, the area will swell up and start "shedding" little flakes.
Basically it's 2 ways of skinning the cat. Only dif is that the second method is more prone to being out of square with the top surface. Usually the edge is trimmed with a flush trim bit which rides the 1" face so it does not true-square the front.
Also the first method uses more material. Yes, the build-up is made from offcuts that are going tobe thrown away anyway, but it also requires more than double the amount of filler adhesive mix and the labor/ tlc to prevent bubbles/ voids.
F