How Far Can Quartz Overhangs Extend?

One question that many may wonder about when discussing countertop overhang support brackets is whether these are needed for quartz countertops. This is an appropriate thing to consider since there are many people choosing to go with quartz for their countertop surfaces.

Whether you need to use countertop brackets for quartz is dependent upon what project you are constructing. Another factor is how much weight there will be hanging over the edge. In some cases you will need support brackets.

Quartz countertop brackets come in various sizes, lengths, and shapes; each for specific purposes and overhang lengths. The installation guide provided by your quartz provider or manufacturer will have information regarding the overhang support guidelines for your specific brand of quartz. In the guide you will find many aspects of installing quartz countertops.

Maximum Overhang Requirements

As mentioned in the last paragraph, when it comes to the quartz countertop overhang limit the brand of quartz will play a role in how far your quartz can hang over the edge of the cabinets.

The brand is not the only factor though. There are other things to keep in mind. Does your surface need to meet certain criteria for accommodating people with disabilities? If it does, you will most likely need to use ADA countertop support brackets. It all depends on what the quartz countertop support requirements are for the project and the environment in which you are installing the surface.

One of the first things to do before beginning your quartz countertop install is to read the installation guidelines for your quartz material. In those guidelines there will be clear directives for supporting the overhang on various types of projects for example, Q from MSI makes the following recommendations for installing their quartz surfaces:

As a general guideline, support is required for overhangs. The following guidelines are for standard cabinets 24" in depth:

Material Support Required	2CM (3/4")	2CM (3/4") With 5/8" Sub-top	3CM (1 1/4")
No additional support required.	Under 8"	Under 12"	Under 16"
Brackets required at 24" (600mm)	Between 8-16"	Between 12-20"	Between 16-24"
Legs, Columns or Panels required at 24" (600mm) intervals.	Over 16"	Over 24"	Over 24"

Sinks and Basins

• For under mount installations, follow the minimum edge profile recommendations around the cutout to reduce risk of chipping.
• It is recommended that all sink installations be fully supported, independent of the Q top. Be sure to use a professional sink setter or support rail system. All sinks must be sealed to the countertop using 100% silicone.

As you can see from the above quote, there are a number of factors that will affect if you need to use a support method for your overhang. But it is not exactly the same across all brands of quartz. Just take a look at this quote from the install guide for ONE Quartz from Daltile:

Overhang Support

Depending on the application, you might be required to provide overhang support for the countertop.

Following are some guidelines to follow when working with overhangs.

Requirements	2CM ONE Quartz	3CM ONE Quartz
Support not required	Overhangs under 12". Use full sub tops greater than 6".	Overhangs under 16".
Full sub top with corbels	12" – 18" use full sub top along with corbels evenly spaced at 3' on center or less.	16" – 24" use full sub top along with corbels evenly spaced at 3" on center or less.
Full sub top with legs or columns	Overhangs over 18" use full sub top along with legs or columns connected at the top with rails of adequate size to provide perimeter support.	Over over 24" use full sub tio along with legs or columns connected at the top by rails of adequate size to provide perimeter support.
Raised bar mounted on top of pony wall	Full sub top and bracket or corbel support at 3' on center or less is always required.

As you can see from this outtake from the Daltile installation guide, their overhang requirements are a bit different from the other ones we considered. The main idea here is that you will need to go precisely by the guide for your specific material provider.

Supporting Quartz Overhangs

Once you have determined your particular quartz countertop support requirements and whether you are going to need to use ADA countertop support brackets you can begin getting on with your project.

One of the basic things you will learn when you begin to purchase support brackets is that they come in a range of lengths. This is so that you will have the appropriate size of bracket for the project that you are working on. Because of this array of choices, you will need to consider your bracket length needs.

How Long of Support Bracket Is Needed?

Now that you have determined the requirements for your material and decided whether you need to use brackets designed for supporting countertops used by those with disabilities, you can begin figuring out which length of support bracket is right for your use. Here are some situations that might require certain bracket lengths:

Installing brackets for island countertop support might be something you find yourself looking into. If that is the case, will this island have an overhang for seating? Or will it just be an island that is used for food prep or serving? Questions like these are important to ask because there are varying overhang styles depending on which functionality your kitchen island is going to provide.

How Much Support Does Quartz Need?

Knowing the proper length of support brackets you need is not the only thing you need to keep in when you begin installing the quartz. You also need to know how many to use. This will most likely be in the guide as well. However, a general rule of thumb is to use a support bracket every 18-24" inches apart. This equates to about 3 braces per project.

What Style of Support Bracket to Use?

Quartz countertop brackets come in a range of styles. One style that is a popular style is the L-Bracket. This type of bracket is a great option for "knee walls" or "pony walls" and if you get strong steel countertop brackets they are even more supportive.

The other popular style of countertop brackets for quartz are the "flat brackets". These support brackets are also great for use in adding a floating surface in your kitchen or countertop.

In conclusion, the answer to the question "How far can quartz overhang without support?" is: that depends on many factors regarding the project, material and the thickness of the surface. However, once you gather your information and find out from the installation guide for your material, you will then be better prepared for selecting countertop support brackets that are designed for your purpose.