Making a large kitchen/dining table out of Silestone...
Discussion
I am in the process of putting together a custom kitchen/dining table with a Silestone top. I thought I'd post here to see if anyone has experience or thoughts that might help.
The table will be built to seat 12 so will be approx 2200x1160mm. It needs to be Silestone as it is to complement a kitchen that has Silestone surfaces and central island. The plan is to build the table in a contrasting colour from the same range.
I have a Silestone fabricator who can CAD and cut the shape and edge profile I'm looking for from a slab of 30mm Silestone.
I'm planning to use legs like these: https://wickedhairpins.com/product/replacement-tab... If necessary I will get these custom made.
Attached by insert threads (Silestone fabricator says suitable holes can be drilled): http://www.theinsertcompany.com/self_anchoring_ins...
What is giving me pause for thought is the realisation that tabletop in 30mm Silestone might weigh around 200kg. I suspect that legs strong enough to support this (maybe 3 pairs not 2) can be fabricated, and heavy = solid which is good. But will a 250kg table be simply impossible? I don't think we'll ever need to move it - perhaps only to slide it a few cm for cleaning the ceramic tiled floor on which it will rest. I guess we could use 20mm Silestone, but that will still make a heavy piece of furniture.
Perhaps my table design is simply too large for Silestone to be the right material..?
Thoughts welcomed! Thank you in advance.
The table will be built to seat 12 so will be approx 2200x1160mm. It needs to be Silestone as it is to complement a kitchen that has Silestone surfaces and central island. The plan is to build the table in a contrasting colour from the same range.
I have a Silestone fabricator who can CAD and cut the shape and edge profile I'm looking for from a slab of 30mm Silestone.
I'm planning to use legs like these: https://wickedhairpins.com/product/replacement-tab... If necessary I will get these custom made.
Attached by insert threads (Silestone fabricator says suitable holes can be drilled): http://www.theinsertcompany.com/self_anchoring_ins...
What is giving me pause for thought is the realisation that tabletop in 30mm Silestone might weigh around 200kg. I suspect that legs strong enough to support this (maybe 3 pairs not 2) can be fabricated, and heavy = solid which is good. But will a 250kg table be simply impossible? I don't think we'll ever need to move it - perhaps only to slide it a few cm for cleaning the ceramic tiled floor on which it will rest. I guess we could use 20mm Silestone, but that will still make a heavy piece of furniture.
Perhaps my table design is simply too large for Silestone to be the right material..?
Thoughts welcomed! Thank you in advance.
Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. They have all helped me develop my thinking and I appreciate the time and care taken in responding. Picking out some of the recurring themes;
- Fabricating the tabletop from a 10mm slab with thicker edges is a great idea - perhaps especially if combined with the idea of an MDF (or similar) former/support underneath.
- Legs splaying looks like the major worry. Building a base unit out of the Silestone is a great idea; it could be sized so as to meet the overhang limitations. I will speak with the fabricator about this.
- Felt feet might well allow for enough movement once the table is in place, the floor it will sit on is large/smooth/even ceramic tiles.
- Sizing I am comfortable with - it won't overpower our room, and will seat our slim/beautiful friends and family in comfort ;>
- Weight remains a question, and I have noted the differing views on this. Tipping - as has been pointed out - is a function of geometry and weight distribution; I'm sure this can be managed.
Armed with all of this, I'm off to see the fabricator again early next week.
If it all starts to look too difficult / complicated, I may have found an off-the-shelf alternative:
This has the size and shape we're after, but would require a compromise on the surface which is made of "HD Ductal Concrete". Aesthetics aside, I don't know whether this material is good for a table-top. The great advantage of Silestone is that it doesn't pick up and hold stains from fluid spills (wine etc) unlike marble. I wonder whether this material has similar qualities. Thoughts/experience on this would be most welcome.
- Fabricating the tabletop from a 10mm slab with thicker edges is a great idea - perhaps especially if combined with the idea of an MDF (or similar) former/support underneath.
- Legs splaying looks like the major worry. Building a base unit out of the Silestone is a great idea; it could be sized so as to meet the overhang limitations. I will speak with the fabricator about this.
- Felt feet might well allow for enough movement once the table is in place, the floor it will sit on is large/smooth/even ceramic tiles.
- Sizing I am comfortable with - it won't overpower our room, and will seat our slim/beautiful friends and family in comfort ;>
- Weight remains a question, and I have noted the differing views on this. Tipping - as has been pointed out - is a function of geometry and weight distribution; I'm sure this can be managed.
Armed with all of this, I'm off to see the fabricator again early next week.
If it all starts to look too difficult / complicated, I may have found an off-the-shelf alternative:
This has the size and shape we're after, but would require a compromise on the surface which is made of "HD Ductal Concrete". Aesthetics aside, I don't know whether this material is good for a table-top. The great advantage of Silestone is that it doesn't pick up and hold stains from fluid spills (wine etc) unlike marble. I wonder whether this material has similar qualities. Thoughts/experience on this would be most welcome.
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