soapstone counter — where to cut seam?
I’m about to cut soapstone counters for the first time. I’ve read on this forum the threads about working with soapstone, but I have a specific question for my project: where to cut the seam?
I will be cutting the soapstone to go over an undermount apron front sink. See attached drawing.
Should I make the seam at the sink’s left and right edges, and therefore cut three pieces of soapstone for: 1) left of sink, 2) back of sink, and 3) right of sink?
Or should I cut two pieces and join them at a seam behind the sink in the middle?
I am inclined to cut three pieces, because that seems easiest and uses less material, but am concerned about the ability to round the corners of the middle piece for behind the sink because the rounded corners (to match the rounded back corners of the undermount sink) I would like to cut might be too fragile and difficult. I can imagine the soapstone breaking at the rounded edge. See attached drawing to see what I mean.
Is this possible? What do you recommend?
Replies
Okay,
Example "A" is sort of how you are going to want to do it, but instead, cut the seam after the radius on the backside of the sink instead of before the radius like you have it currently illustrated.
The reason being, if you cut it 'as is', the back strip will come to a point at either side. Those points will constantly crack and/or blow out on you.
Agree with woodnutter. Move the cuts closer together so there is a short fillet piece on each side.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Thanks. Those points of the middle piece are what I was worried about -- whether they would hold, like hardwoods, or whether they would be structurally fragile and want to break.
Why not use one slab and cut the sink out in place? I would be concerned either way you have it.
86 & 1/2" chunk of soapstone woo hoo better eat yer wheaties.
I had some 84" slabs I think I lost some friends over that one.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
Well, you could do it that way too, but then I would recommend having those two ears rodded. Otherwise, assuming you are installing the plumbing in the deck, they may crack when the plumbing gets installed or during use. Most types of soapstone have a tendency to crack easily....
I also forgot to mention that I'll be using a wall mount faucet, so there will be no holes in the soapstone behind the sink.
That would look really nice when its done...
I forgot to mention that the slabs I have are 30" x 48", so I've got to have at least one seam.
The one seam in the middle would be the preffered cut.
Reason one----- less seams is always better
Two----- seams in the radius have more of a chance of showing.
three---- seam in the middle then you have the plumbing to interfere with the sight of the seam.
I have about 56' of soapstone counters in my kitchen & about 9 seams, some look better than others.
Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
FWIW, we just had soapstone countertops installed around an undermount apron front sink by a company that specializes in soapstone installations -- in fact, that's all they do. They use 30 x 48 slabs, too.
Two slabs were used to surround the sink and the one seam is in the back and off set from center. Neither the deck mount faucet nor the dishsoap pump will straddle the seam.
Best of luck to you,
doo
Edited 3/29/2006 1:01 pm ET by doohickey
Mock up the slabs by butting them together so that they are 1/2" longer than needed. Use a router with a 1/2" bit to cut the seam location - center of sink. Now they are exactly the right length and will fit together perfectly.
Hope this helps.
Frankie
There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.
—Hunter S. Thompson
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas