{"id":5454,"date":"2022-09-24T12:11:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=5454"},"modified":"2024-03-15T12:23:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T16:23:56","slug":"waterfall-countertop-vs-regular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/waterfall-countertop-vs-regular\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterfall Countertop Vs Regular: Which Is Better? (Pros & Cons Explained)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wondering whether a waterfall countertop or a regular one is better? Well, look no further because I have your answer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waterfall Countertop<\/th>Regular Countertop<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
High-end \/ designer looking<\/td>More budget-friendly<\/td><\/tr>
Covers unfinished ends of cabinets<\/td>Less work to install<\/td><\/tr>
Protects the sides of cabinets from normal wear and tear<\/td>Timeless<\/td><\/tr>
Easier to keep the sides of cabinets clean<\/td>Variety of materials can be used (wood, marble, laminate, etc)<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>Can add seating to the sides of the island<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>Can have different edges on the countertop if desired (such as bullnose)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
This table shows the difference between waterfall and regular kitchen island countertops.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s break into the details further so you can choose the best countertop for your kitchen island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Navigation: Waterfall Countertop Vs Regular<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. What Is The Difference Between A Waterfall Countertop & A Regular One?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Benefit One: Waterfall Countertops Increase The Perceived Value Of The Kitchen More Than A Regular Countertop<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Benefit Two: Waterfall Countertops Are A Great Way To Cover Unfinished Ends Of Cabinets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Benefit Three: Waterfall Countertops Protect The Sides Of Cabinets From Normal Wear & Tear<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Benefit Four: Waterfall Countertops Make It Easier To Clean The Sides Of Cabinets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Drawback One: Waterfall Countertops Are Significantly More Expensive Than Regular Countertops<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Drawback Two: Waterfall Countertops Are More Work To Install Than Regular Countertops<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Drawback Three: Waterfall Countertops Are \u201cTrendy\u201d \/ Don\u2019t Fit Into Every Kitchen Design Style<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Drawback Four: Waterfall Countertops Can Only Be Made Using A Limited Number Of Materials<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Drawback Five: Waterfall Countertops Limit Seating Only To The Back Of The Kitchen Island<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. Drawback Six: Waterfall Countertops Typically Only Use One Edge Style<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Other FAQs About Waterfall Countertops<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Is The Difference Between A Waterfall Countertop & A Regular One?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    First, let’s discuss the difference between a waterfall countertop and a regular kitchen island countertop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A regular island countertop is made up of one solid piece of countertop material (laminate, quartz, granite, marble, wood, concrete, etc) that sits on top of base cabinets and extends past the cabinets to an overhang for seating.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A waterfall countertop is made up of three different pieces of countertop material (typically quartz, granite, or marble) where one piece sits on top of the base cabinets like a regular countertop would and the other two pieces are connected by a mitered joint, and epoxy to make the countertop appear to seamlessly flow to the ground. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The extension of the countertop (and its pattern) down the sides of the cabinets creates a seamless “waterfall effect”.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Regular countertop (left) vs waterfall countertop (right)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    There are several pros and cons associated with each type of island countertop that I’ll explain further below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Benefit One: Waterfall Countertops Increase The Perceived Value Of The Kitchen More Than A Regular Countertop<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The biggest benefit of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is that they increase the perceived value of a kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Regular countertops are standard\/expected on a kitchen island. Waterfall countertops, on the other hand, are only typically seen in more upscale, modern homes. So if you want your kitchen island to reflect the latest and greatest kitchen island trend, then a waterfall countertop is a must.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, waterfall countertops are significantly more expensive than regular countertops, so they do add more value to a kitchen. But they don’t necessarily add enough value to justify the extra cost if the market is not requiring this type of countertop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Looking at the comps of other homes in the neighborhood and what type of island countertops they have is the best way to determine if a waterfall kitchen island is worth it or not.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Benefit Two: Waterfall Countertops Are A Great Way To Cover Unfinished Ends Of Cabinets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next benefit of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is that they cover unfinished cabinet ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some cabinets come unfinished and need the sides covered up. One way to easily cover the sides is to add a waterfall countertop.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The side pieces of the waterfall will cover the unfinished edges and provide a more high-end finished look than other types of cabinet coverings will do.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    The corners and backside of cabinets don’t come finished. A waterfall countertop would cover the end, but you will still have to put a panel on the backside to cover it.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Benefit Three: Waterfall Countertops Protect The Sides Of Cabinets From Normal Wear & Tear<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next benefit of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is that they protect the sides of the cabinets from normal wear and tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Somehow, the sides of cabinets get kicked or scuffed up over time. If you have a waterfall countertop, though, the quartz or granite is durable enough to protect the cabinets from any of this normal wear and tear.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Thus, this is a great way to extend the life of cabinets beyond their normal expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Benefit Four: Waterfall Countertops Make It Easier To Clean The Sides Of Cabinets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The final benefit of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is it is easier to clean the sides of cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since the sides of your cabinets will now be covered with a countertop, you can wipe down the sides of your island cabinets as easily as you can wipe down a regular countertop.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This, again, will help make the cabinets last longer than other types of side coverings might.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The benefits of waterfall countertops are pretty good, but there are some significant drawbacks to using them that you’ll want to note before making your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Drawback One: Waterfall Countertops Are Significantly More Expensive Than Regular Countertops<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The biggest drawback of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is its cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The material for a waterfall countertop costs the same as a regular countertop, but you need much more square footage of it to extend it down the sides of the cabinets. So, the overall cost of the extra material is automatically going to increase the cost to add this type of countertop to your island.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, it requires more labor to install a waterfall countertop because the mitered corners of the edge pieces need to be glued together with silicone and epoxy to make it look like it’s a single piece of countertop. Then the installer has to wait at least 30 minutes before he can come back to buff the excess epoxy off the countertop to finish it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So the cost will go up because of the amount of time it takes to do these extra steps compared to a regular countertop that is glued with silicone or screwed into place within a few minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And finally, the biggest additional expense to a waterfall countertop is the CNC fabrication required to make the pattern match perfectly across the top and sides. This feature is important if you want a true “waterfall” look because the fabrication will make the pattern match so perfectly, it will look like the countertop was always one single piece of material.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The fabrication cost alone can add another $2,500 to an already more expensive countertop. This is why I highly recommend looking at the other homes in the area to see if they have waterfall countertops that can justify this extra cost.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    A regular countertop requires significantly less material than a waterfall countertop does.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Drawback Two: Waterfall Countertops Are More Work To Install Than Regular Countertops<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The next drawback of a waterfall countertop over a regular countertop is that they are more work to install than regular countertops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I touched on this point above. Regular countertops are installed either by:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n