One piece or a join
Slabs only come so big, and the maximum size varies by material and brand. A long island may be too big for a single piece, and even when one slab is big enough, the piece still has to come through the front door, along the hall and round any corners. If you want no join, tell us at the start so we can choose the material and check the route in before you fall in love with a design that cannot work.
Seating and overhangs
A breakfast bar overhang gives knee room for stools. Every stone has its own limit for an unsupported overhang, and thickness changes it too. Short overhangs can often stand alone; longer ones get concealed steel, brackets or a leg. We confirm what your chosen stone needs before we template.
Waterfall ends
With a waterfall end, the island top turns down at one or both ends and runs to the floor. The corner is normally mitred, which lets the veining look as if it folds over the edge. It looks striking with veined quartz, quartzite or porcelain, but it adds weight and cutting, and the floor needs to be finished and level where the stone lands.
Sinks and hobs in the island
An island with a sink or hob needs its cut-outs planned with the supports, so there is enough stone around each opening and nothing sits over a weak point. A hob in an island also needs ventilation agreed with the extractor or downdraft maker. Have the models chosen before we template.
Thickness and edges
Thicker tops, or thin tops with a mitred edge, give an island presence from across the room. If the perimeter worktops are 20 mm, a 30 mm island can look deliberate rather than mismatched. Our edges and thickness guide shows the options.
Questions we are asked
How deep should a seating overhang be?
It depends on the stools and how you sit, and the support it needs depends on the stone. Tell us how you want to use the island and we will confirm what works for your material.
Is a jointless island top possible?
Often, yes, provided the island fits on one slab and the piece can be manoeuvred inside. Give us the island dimensions and describe how we would carry it in from the street.
Do waterfall ends need anything special?
A level, finished floor where the stone meets it and a little more planning. The mitred corner is cut in the workshop from the template.