What Is a Waterfall Countertop and Is It Proper for Your Kitchen?

For up to date kitchens, there’s nothing fairly just like the drama and ease of a waterfall countertop. “Contemplate a waterfall countertop because the kitchen’s final model hero, serving each as a practical countertop floor and visually hanging focus,” says Tyler Thompson, Caesarstone’s director of name advertising for the Americas. 

Though this clean-lined countertop has been standard for years, there are a number of key issues to contemplate earlier than selecting the model to your personal area. Right here’s what the consultants must say concerning the set up, pricing, advantages, and potential disadvantages of a waterfall countertop.

What Is a Waterfall Countertop?

A standard countertop is a horizontal floor that sits on prime of a base cupboard, whereas a waterfall countertop retains going. “A waterfall countertop is a design function the place the countertop extends vertically down the edges of a cupboard or island all the best way to the ground, the continual design move resembling a waterfall,” says Thompson. 

“Of their present iteration, waterfall counter tops got here into reputation about 10-15 years in the past, although they’ve been round for much longer,” says Crystal Hackl, proprietor and principal designer behind Impressed Haven Design. “They’re a nod to the waterfall edges seen on Artwork Deco furnishings within the ’30s and ’40s in addition to mid-century trendy furnishings, which advanced from curved waterfalls to sq. edges.”

It’s these edges that give immediately’s waterfall counter tops their signature dramatic look. A waterfall countertop is supposed to seem as one slab that’s been bent or folded from the countertop to the ground; it’s the results of meticulous consideration to element within the planning and execution. Reaching the look requires exactly mitered edges: two separate items of fabric are reduce at 45-degree angles and put in to seem as a seamless 90-degree angle on a single piece of fabric. It additionally requires the countertop materials to be aligned to offer off a steady look—for instance, marble veining patterns that run uninterrupted between horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Varieties of Waterfall Counter tops

There are a number of variations with regards to the look and elegance of a waterfall countertop. An enormous issue is the quantity and placement of the vertical sides. For instance, it’s standard to have the waterfall aspect go down each ends of an island, however a single waterfall edge can be utilized so as to add asymmetrical drama. Equally, a waterfall countertop might be restricted to the top of a peninsula, or it could possibly cowl a number of uncovered sides of a row of decrease cabinetry, as a substitute of a completed cupboard panel. 

You may also get inventive with waterfall size. “Most sometimes, that edge extends all the best way to the ground, however there are some nice examples of clever makes use of that stretch down partially, as a cutaway to disclose one other floor that extends to the ground,” says Crystal. 

Waterfall counter tops might be created from practically any floor materials, however some work higher than others. “Mostly, we see quartz and pure stone used, however practically each countertop floor can be utilized to create a waterfall edge,” says Hackl. “Wooden makes a very commanding assertion.”

Key Concerns for Waterfall Counter tops 

“Waterfall counter tops create drama, definition, and curiosity, whereas additionally signaling luxurious and a contemporary really feel,” says Hackl. These eye-catching installations elevate kitchens, however their modern look is healthier fitted to trendy, up to date, and transitional areas. “In case you desire a extra conventional model with an in depth counter edge, or softened corners, chances are you’ll not really feel at dwelling with a waterfall countertop,” says Hackl. Deciding if the up to date, cascading look is an effective match to your kitchen is simply one of many elements to contemplate when assessing if a waterfall countertop is correct to your dwelling.

1. Useful Wants Like Shops and Seating 

“You’ll wish to plan the perform of the island or peninsula firstly and determine whether or not a waterfall edge will help your wants or not earlier than committing to utilizing them in your design,” advises Hackl. “They require extra planning and probably compromises.”

For instance, electrical placement might be tougher with a waterfall countertop. Sometimes, the non-storage sides of decrease cupboards are the place retailers would go. Nevertheless, with a waterfall countertop, there could also be fewer accessible sides or places for placement. “The very last thing you’ll need is to place an outlet in your stunning floor!” says Hackl. Planning forward is vital. “You’ll want to incorporate sufficient retailers for comfort and to fulfill electrical codes necessities, and discover a method to preserve them off of your waterfall sides,” says Hackl. 

Seating will also be a priority. Whereas a waterfall countertop design can simply embody an overhang that accommodates seating, you’ll want to contemplate if it permits for the position and quantity of seating that you simply’re hoping for. 

2. Materials Compatibility

Though quite a lot of countertop supplies can be utilized to create the waterfall design, the fabric’s sample could be a essential issue. A constant sample could make it simpler to attain an uninterrupted flowing look. “Particularly in order for you daring veining, choosing quartz or porcelain presents constant patterns that may be book-matched to make sure your design flows cohesively down all sides of the waterfall,” says Thompson. “Pure stone choices could current challenges on account of variations in veining, probably disrupting the seamless move of the design.”

You’ll additionally wish to contemplate the fabric’s compatibility along with your life-style. For instance, a waterfall countertop created from a cloth that requires sealing, like pure stone, will add one other floor that requires routine care and upkeep.

The cascading portion of the waterfall additionally opens the countertop materials to bumps, scratches, kicks, and different impacts that occur alongside floor stage—however that is really a bonus. “Waterfall edges can present the power and sturdiness of countertop materials onto the floor beneath, which provides a measure of safety from the exercise of day-to-day life,” says Thompson.

3. Fabrication and Set up

A waterfall countertop is usually extra advanced and nuanced than a conference countertop. The precision required means you want to discover professionals who’re comfy and aware of designing and implementing a waterfall countertop. “You’ll want an amazing fabricator and set up workforce to verify the miter cuts and edges are aligned effectively,” says Hackl, who notes that this work is particularly essential “to get good vein placement and alignment” with regards to stone patterns. 

Structurally, the vertical portion of the waterfall countertop can merely be a floor alongside the cupboard, or it may be used as an integral a part of the construction by offering help for the horizontal countertop floor as effectively. “If the waterfall edge can also be appearing as a counter help, you’ll must work that into the development plan to create satisfactory power and help,” advises Hackl.

How A lot Does a Waterfall Countertop Value?

Usually, waterfall counter tops include a better price ticket than conventional counter tops. Like several countertop, the kind of materials, dimension, and elegance options like edge thickness influence price; the place waterfall counter tops differ is within the quantity of fabric, fabrication, and set up. “Waterfall counter tops do require extra materials and exact fabrication and set up, so individuals must be ready to speculate a bit extra for the design,” says Thompson. “It is all concerning the additional materials and craftsmanship wanted to attain that seamless move.”

The craftsmanship Thompson refers to consists of fabrication and set up, which is extra advanced than a easy, conventional countertop as a result of it requires exact reducing and alignment to attain the modern mitered edge. Estimates sometimes recommend extra charges of $1,000 to $2,000 for fabrication work.

Waterfall counter tops additionally require extra materials, including to the expense. ​​“You’ll want extra countertop materials to cowl the extra floor space, plus additional materials to align the veining on patterned surfaces,” says Hackl. “Relying in your countertop materials thickness and completed edge thickness, you’ll want extra materials for the mitered edges and fabrication prices to shine and/or miter the sides,” she provides.

Is a Waterfall Countertop Proper for You?

As soon as the important thing issues, you may weigh the professionals and cons to your area and life-style. 

Professionals

• Conveys luxurious and class
• Makes an area appear and feel extra up to date
• Gives drama and visible curiosity
• Could be a focus for the kitchen’s design
• Floor is usually much less vulnerable to scuffs and marks than uncovered cupboard sides

Cons

• Larger prices than a standard countertop 
• Fabrication and set up is more durable than a standard countertop 
• Trendy model will not be match for each kitchen model
• Sharper angles and edges than the softer, rounded countertop edges accessible to conventional counter tops
• Could also be more durable to include electrical retailers