Specialty
Select Granite Tops carries both 2cm and 3cm stone.
Comparison of 2 cm (3/4”) and 3 cm (11/4”) Granite
Select Granite Tops carries primarily 3 cm stone. There are several advantages for our customers purchasing 3cm stone.
Thicker stone is much stronger than 2 cm stone (approximately 2.25 times stronger). When 2cm stone is installed, the granite, quartz or marble slab needs to be supported on the cabinets with a sheet of plywood or particle board. 3cm stone is strong enough to support itself without any additional support. It can be placed directly onto the cabinets for a clean, flush look.
There is also a misconception that the extra thickness and additional weight of the stone material may create problems for the cabinets. However, the opposite occurs; thinner stone (2cm) is actually more of a concern. Considering thinner granite is not as strong, if there is any movement in/with the cabinets, there is a greater risk that the granite or marble will crack. Most, if not all cabinets are built strong enough to support the heavier weight.
Using 3 cm stone allows Select Granite Tops to provide the edge of your choice with no glue or seam line. When 2cm stone is used, 2 pieces of stone are glued together in order to create the desired edge. This is called a build up. Some build up edges are deeper, and will extend to the cabinets, so there is not a ledge that can be seen and felt with your hand. Regardless of how the build up is completed, there will always be a seam and a glue line where the two pieces of stone are attached.
In addition to a cleaner and higher quality profile edge, using 3 cm stone will also provide a thick lip of stone around the undermount sink. This thicker lip balances the depth of the sink and is aesthetically a much more appealing look.