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Fitting a countertop???

MisterT | Posted in Construction Techniques on November 12, 2009 02:52am

Template guy for the C-top co. came today to template two pieces for the bathroom we are finishing up.

actually finished today except for tops.

The vanity top is a basic one open side, one to a cab.

the second fits between two tall cabinets.

so mister template guy gets out his state-of-the-art machine and does his thing and comes into the room where we are and says:

“How are you gonna get that top in between those two cabinets?”

So I half joking (imagine that!!) say: “Usually the countertop installer does that”

Him: “Well both those cabinets have a 1/4″ lip on the front” (scribe strip)

Me: ” Just tilt it up and tilt it back down after you get it in all the way”

Him: ” the bottom edge will bind up and you won’t be able to get it in”

after that I shut up and let my buddy deal with him (his job)

after cab guy leaves we look at each other and he says” He’s never came across that situation before???”

any suggestions???

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“After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion”

-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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.
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
.
.
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according to statistical analysis, “for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods.”

Reply
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Replies

  1. User avater
    observer | Nov 12, 2009 03:42am | #1

    You have scribe strips on exposed cabinet gables?

  2. villagehandyman | Nov 12, 2009 03:57am | #2

    scribe strips on the front of the cabinets

    1. MisterT | Nov 12, 2009 05:37am | #3

      the 1/4" the face frame extends past the carcass..
      .
      "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
      .
      .
      .
      If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
      .
      .
      .
      according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Nov 12, 2009 05:42am | #4

        Two options.

        A   Skin the sides with 1/4" finish ply.

        2   Multimaster the scribe away where the top SLIDES in.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

         

        1. migraine | Nov 12, 2009 11:24am | #9

          I agree

          But, without getting into a pissing match with others, why would someone want a face frame cab with a 1/4" or 3/16" overlay.  Plus, most of these types of cabinets have vinyl sides

          ..sheez

          1. User avater
            Sphere | Nov 12, 2009 02:58pm | #10

             I used to hang a lot of boxes, mostly condos, 2 kitchens and 4 baths a day.

            On some homes, and customs, we'd skin the show side with 1/4 ply if the order got messed up and they they didn't have finished ends sent.

            Now a days, the only cabs I touch are one and 2 offfs made by myself, and issues like this one, don't happen. LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

            Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

             

          2. MisterT | Nov 12, 2009 03:36pm | #11

            Wow I was sure someone would know the right answer....I guess all the pros are over at JLC.No milkbones yet....
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          3. villagehandyman | Nov 12, 2009 06:51pm | #12

            that 1/4 inch is not for scribe it is for putting a panel to make a finished end then you would have a flat side  and your countertop will fit flush. did these cabs come from the home depot?

          4. MisterT | Nov 13, 2009 01:32am | #19

            Aristocraft cabs supplied by a K&B showroom.sides are "finished" 1/2" particle board.scribe strips are what I call them because we rarely get scribe strips on the back edge..
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          5. MisterT | Nov 13, 2009 01:36am | #20

            well so far if you combine what I told the template guy and what Migraine and observer said you have how I would do it..
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          6. User avater
            Joe | Nov 13, 2009 09:00pm | #23

            The answer is get a new c-top guy. Just about every towered bathroom cabinet set with a face frame has a scribe on it. Most c-top makers will notch the tops out for the scribes, or if the cabinets were installed good they should be parallel and just cutting the scribe the thickness of the top should let it slide in.

            View Image

            http://www.josephfusco.org

            http://www.josephfusco.com

            http://www.constructionforumsonline.com

            Edited 11/13/2009 1:01 pm ET by Joe

          7. MisterT | Nov 14, 2009 01:34am | #24

            yeh I hear ya!I was just boggled that a CT guy from a big city firm would not know how to get it in.he was probably one of those 20 years of experience guys who's done the same year 20 times....
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          8. User avater
            Joe | Nov 15, 2009 04:22pm | #26

            I was going to say the same thing. . . being in the city CT-guys have figured out tops 6 ways from Sunday to get them in. This guy just sounded like he wanted it easy. . . When they drop tops in they bring some thin (3"x 24")strips of mica usually the thin type to place against the cabinet so when they drop them in they don't scratch the finished end.This whole thing really was a very common install, nothing new or unusual about it, maybe except for the counter-top guy ;-)

            View Image

            http://www.josephfusco.org

            http://www.josephfusco.com

            http://www.constructionforumsonline.com

          9. MisterT | Nov 15, 2009 05:41pm | #28

            EXACTLY!I use aluminum flashing or coil-stock and masking tape.you back bevel the edge on one side so it will drop in and you can get it to fit so it won't need caulk!!!I've seen a Granite guy do this with a 10 foot section of top and you could hear a "wooosh" as the piece dropped in.this guy needs to go back to the minors and work on some formica commercial "we don't care just get it done jobs" before he does any more higher end remodeling..
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          10. User avater
            basswood | Nov 15, 2009 06:35pm | #29

            Just cut the top short of the scribe and then trim it back in. ;o)

          11. MisterT | Nov 15, 2009 06:41pm | #30

            Nice work!You going to submit that to This old House??.
            .
            "After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
            .
            .
            .
            If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
            .
            .
            .
            according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."

          12. User avater
            basswood | Nov 15, 2009 07:57pm | #31

            Thanks T,I would submit that to "How to Make Mistakes Look Like Features" magazine. That top was ordered too short for scribing to the wacky wall to the right of the pic... so I "fixed it."Have a groovy day,B

          13. User avater
            observer | Nov 12, 2009 07:45pm | #13

            Assuming the counter is captured behind the scribes (hard to tell from your description), I'd undercut the back edge with a bevel, put the front in place and lower the back.

          14. migraine | Nov 12, 2009 08:14pm | #15

            but... your taking into account that the cabs are perfect square on the opening, bith right and left.  Sometimes you bust scribe right and left an drop it down sideways first and push the rest back home to the wall

            After installing solid surface, granite, wood, every job is a different way to skin the cat.

          15. User avater
            observer | Nov 12, 2009 09:17pm | #16

            Tick sticks to fit the counter to the opening first.

          16. migraine | Nov 12, 2009 11:48pm | #18

            yep, but some times you just don't have everything you need. 

            helps when you have experience fitting interiors of boats, too.

          17. User avater
            observer | Nov 13, 2009 04:32am | #21

            No substitute for an "eye".

          18. migraine | Nov 13, 2009 08:38pm | #22

            huh???

            I ment, "i" instead of "you" , or the third person.   

            My opologies, it was not ment to disrespect you

          19. User avater
            observer | Nov 15, 2009 09:43am | #25

            No offense taken. Having done a bit of work on boats where levels and squares have very little use, I understand that anyone who does that sort of work learns to rely on their eye and their ingenuity to solve problems and was attempting to convey that. Apparently, I didn't do a very good job; hopefully this is clearer.

          20. Karl | Nov 12, 2009 08:01pm | #14

            Sphere has pretty well covered it. There isn't any more to add to his comments.Karl

          21. User avater
            BarryE | Nov 12, 2009 09:31pm | #17

            yep..let's close this board down now

            Barry E-Remodeler

             

  3. User avater
    PeterJ | Nov 12, 2009 05:49am | #5

    Sphere's got it. Hope those tall cabinets are parrallel for the slide-in method.

    I guess another option would be to have it fit between face frames and run backsplash on both sides.

     

    Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end. 

  4. Shep | Nov 12, 2009 06:32am | #6

    I'm assuming there will some kind of backsplash. Will there be sidesplashes?

    If so, the counter could be slightly tapered front to back so it'll slide in once the scribes are notched for the counter.

  5. DAC747 | Nov 12, 2009 07:04am | #7

    If you can seperate the cabinets then you can scribe the 1/4" lip to the counter. If not you will have problems as you can't tilt the counter to get it in the hole. The only way to get the counter in is to make it smaller than the dimension of the cabinets at the face frame.

  6. Jed42 | Nov 12, 2009 07:35am | #8

    Have had this same issue in the past.

    We ended up scribing the face frame out and slid the top in.

    This goes without saying (though it's already been said) - tall cabinets must be parallel for a good fit, though if they're not, scribe stock matching the cabinets on top of the counter material is not the worst looking thing.

    I think the scribing of the face was a better look than having the top guys try to make 2 1/4" notches in the top, especially stone.

     

    Hope it works out for ya.

    No Coffee No Workee!
  7. jimAKAblue | Nov 15, 2009 05:15pm | #27

    He probably wanted you to tell him that it was all right to cut a notch in the scribe strip.

    Your other choice is to make the top smaller and have a wider caulk gap.

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