Is your kitchen countertop very attractive and easy to clean? It is most likely made of granite; its unique lushness and shine are second to none.
You might be worried if you will need plywood under your granite countertop or not. Yeah, do you need the added support, or can you do without it?
In this article, we will be looking at the need for plywood and if you need it to sit beneath your granite countertop.
Here Is If Granite Countertops Sit On Plywood:
Yes, it’s safer to place your countertop on plywood in most cases. The weight and length of the granite countertop determine if it will need plywood support.
A 3cm granite countertop can do without the plywood support. In comparison, your kitchen’s 2cm granite countertop is at the risk of cracking without it.
The sturdier the granite is, the better it is without plywood.
Is Plywood Required Under Granite Countertop?
Plywood is a modified form of ordinary wood already compiled into sheets. It is also a cheap material that you can easily get for various household needs you might have.
One of the needs that plywood can fulfill would be support for a form of support for your granite countertop.
You might be wondering if it is necessary to have plywood under your granite countertop. This thought would most likely pop up in your mind if you are already planning to furnish or refurbish your kitchen cabinet.
The following questions might be running through your mind: Would plywood be necessary? Would it spoil the outlook?
Now, you need to understand that your countertop would need to support weights of different kinds. Your arm resting on the countertop, your children, pots, and pans are also likely to find their way there.
These weights must be evenly distributed through the granite serving as the countertop. The plywood helps to do this effectively so that the granite would not crack under pressure or even break away.
Distributing the weight of the countertop is one of the important functions of the plywood you want to lay beneath your countertop.
Plywood is required for granite countertops that are not sturdy enough. A 2cm granite countertop is not sturdy enough to be without plywood. You can, however, do without plywood for a 3cm granite countertop.
The thickness of your granite countertop dictates your need for plywood. However, it is much safer to have the plywood beneath the granite in any case.
Do You Need Underlayment For Granite Countertops?
Underlayment is an extra material that can be placed beneath other thicker materials usually used for flooring or slabs. It is usually water-resistant and helps absorb the imperfections and flaws of the underlying material. It gives it a smooth surface and a leveled bottom.
There are materials used in making surfaces that require you to use an underlayment. Granite is an example of such material.
As expensive as granite is as a stone, it is not sufficient to be used alone as the countertop. The hardness of the stone does not work to support its weight. It is shiny and brittle as well.
Working with granite requires that you take into notice all its important properties. When you use granite for your countertop, you should be aware that it is a rough, brittle material and can crack under pressure.
Mounting it on as the countertop without support exposes it to a chance of crumbling down, which is not good, especially for the purpose it is meant to serve.
A countertop supports different weights, so the material used to make the countertop should be capable of bearing such weights or equipped enough to resist the pressure applied to it.
Placing an underlayment beneath it is just a question of clearing doubts about its usefulness and establishing the needed support.
You need to underlay a granite countertop. Underlaying it will provide solid support for the granite framework that makes up the countertop.
Granite is a heavy stone that should be well supported when used to make a countertop or similar function. The support structure used to support a granite countertop must have properties that complement the granite stone.
A granite stone is rough and might be sharp at some ends. A countertop needs to be smooth to be useful in a kitchen. You can’t blend or place your ingredients on a countertop that can hurt you if you rest on it.
Aside from that, using 3cm of granite stone as a countertop is such a heavyweight that it needs to be well supported with the right technique and structures. Your granite countertop can get the necessary support from an underlayment.
The features of an underlayment that makes it suitable to be put beneath a granite countertop include:
- It is water-resistant. There is no way of preventing your countertop from making contact with water. The waterproof nature of the underlayment makes it suitable for a granite countertop.
- It gives support and smooth texture to the supporting material
- It can withstand pressure. This takes away the risk of your countertop suddenly crashing under pressure.
Owing to all these, you should take the underlayment of your countertop seriously and ensure it is properly done.
How Thick Should Plywood Be For A Granite Countertop?
The thickness of the plywood for your granite countertop can be a source of concern.
It makes sense that you use a thick plywood sheet to act as a support system to the sturdy, rough granite stone.
Averagely, the thickness of the sheets of plywood used to support countertops should be about three-quarter inches. This thickness is enough to provide the needed support across thick materials like granite used as materials for making the countertop.
The above suggestion is a general guideline and not specifically tailored for the personal preference and peculiarities of your kitchen. Still, this thickness should suffice for most countertops.
Summary
The granite countertop is an exquisite beauty and raises the bar of kitchen aesthetics. It is now a common sight in modern homes and carefully designed mansions.
However, using granite as your countertop requires you to watch its construction and supporting structure. Providing a strong and reliable plywood underlayment can help you protect and prolong its use.
The level of thickness of plywood you use depends on the level of protection you want to give your countertop.
Granite countertops can be very expensive. It would be saddening to watch it crash and break to pieces. To avoid such a disaster, pay close attention to the making of your countertop and enforce it with plywood
References:
https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/2690/underlayment
https://homerepairninja.com/can-you-install-granite-countertops-without-plywood/
