Q&A for How to Measure Countertops

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Are porous or non-porous countertops better?

Mitchell Newman
Construction Professional
Mitchell Newman is a Construction Professional based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the Principal at Habitar Design, an interior design firm that specializes in floor plans, kitchen and bath design, furniture layout, custom built-ins, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, staging, models, and facades. Habitar features a strong design-build capability, utilizing Mitchell’s sister company, Stratagem Construction. Mitchell is the General Contractor at Strategem, and has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. Mitchell’s two companies seamlessly combine interior design with construction, allowing him to design with synchony for the client. He received an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Mitchell Newman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Non-porous is always better if you're worried about stains. Porous stone absorbs whatever spills into it, so it can be a lot harder to get stains out. So, things like limestone and marble are going to show something like a red wine stain because they're super porous.

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Question

Do you need to seal countertops?

Mitchell Newman
Construction Professional
Mitchell Newman is a Construction Professional based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the Principal at Habitar Design, an interior design firm that specializes in floor plans, kitchen and bath design, furniture layout, custom built-ins, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, staging, models, and facades. Habitar features a strong design-build capability, utilizing Mitchell’s sister company, Stratagem Construction. Mitchell is the General Contractor at Strategem, and has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. Mitchell’s two companies seamlessly combine interior design with construction, allowing him to design with synchony for the client. He received an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Mitchell Newman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

It depends on the material, but usually, yes. Something like marble absolutely needs to be sealed. Occasionally, manufacturers will ship counters out pre-sealed, but you do need to reseal them periodically.

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Is quartz good for countertops?

Mitchell Newman
Construction Professional
Mitchell Newman is a Construction Professional based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the Principal at Habitar Design, an interior design firm that specializes in floor plans, kitchen and bath design, furniture layout, custom built-ins, custom and semi-custom cabinetry, staging, models, and facades. Habitar features a strong design-build capability, utilizing Mitchell’s sister company, Stratagem Construction. Mitchell is the General Contractor at Strategem, and has 20 years of experience in construction, interior design and real estate development. Mitchell’s two companies seamlessly combine interior design with construction, allowing him to design with synchony for the client. He received an M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Mitchell Newman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

Quartz is really one of the best options out there. It's not porous, it's very difficult to stain it, and it comes in a variety of styles and looks. Quartz is also super durable, which is something you really want in a countertop.

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Question

How many inches do you add for a new countertop in length?

Community Answer

You want to add 3/4 to 1 inch to the length for overhang on the edge. 1 1/2 inches if it overhangs on two side edges. Then round it to the nearest 1/8 inch.

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We have a galley kitchen in church 37 ft long on each side with 24 "pre-made (both sides) What is sq ft needed?

Community Answer

That's 148 sq feet. If you buy pre made countertops, they will come in the right width for the 24-inch cabinets, you will just have to measure the length as described in this article.

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Question

Do cabinets need to be perfectly level to template or measure?

Community Answer

Ideally, yes. Wall deformations or exact placement can make or break a counter top, literally. Depending on the walls or confines around the counter top, the counter top may either have to be slid flat into place or tilted down into place.

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