Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Nov 05, 2009 10:33pm | #1

   Don't think you really need one, if water gets between the plywood and the marble you already have a problem, since liquid water trapped there will eventually cause rot no matter what you treat the plywood with. I would think that the marble countertop supplier would know what, if anything, needs to be done to prep the top of the cabinets.

   John White
   Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998 to 2007
2. 
   Dave45 | Nov 06, 2009 01:47am | #2

   The answer is none!! In fact, the marble will probably be held down by some adhesive. A moisture barrier would defeat the adhesive.

   Since you're a countertop "virgin", I'll pass along some tips from the countertop guys who install over my cabinets.

   - Make sure that the marble (granite, or whatever) will be well supported. Most countertop outfits want at least 1/2" ply for their "base".

   - Make sure that the ply "base" is flat AND level in all directions. They can (will?) only deal with very small deviations.

3. 
   ring | Nov 06, 2009 08:31am | #3

   Justin,

   I've done literally hundreds of kitchens and never installed a barrier under the countertop.

   We DO build the cabinets with the face frames extended upwards, so that the countertop rests only on the face frame and spacer strips set every 12" or so. There are many advantages to doing it this way, and if you still can I'd suggest you adopt the practice. Don't worry about the moisture barrier.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

1. 
   JsHerbel | Nov 06, 2009 04:24pm | #4

   Thank you guys very much. No wonder my Google searches gave me no results. I guess I've been overthinking it, which is typical for me. JH

   http://www.ithacawoodworker.com

    

2. 
   JsHerbel | Nov 06, 2009 04:28pm | #5

   David,

   You do beautiful work. I see that many of your cabs stand on legs, which I really like. Do you get any feedback from customers about their having difficulty in keeping it clean underneath? JH

   http://www.ithacawoodworker.com

    

    

   Edited 11/6/2009 8:33 am by JsHerbel

1. 
   ring | Nov 06, 2009 04:45pm | #6

   It's one of the choices that the customer needs to understand at the planning stage with our designer. We offer 3 options:-standard toekicks
   -cabinets on legs (always with metal footings)
   -cabinets on legs, but also with a toekick recessed 12". The last is a compromise solution for people who like the look of legs but don't want to reach too far underneath to clean.
   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

1. 
   Dave45 | Nov 06, 2009 05:05pm | #7

   I've only had one customer ask about legs and they dropped that idea when she realized that cleaning would be a hassle.I've made several vanities, however, that have the toekick "look", but use the space for drawers. This is most popular among the packrats. - lol The only problem with these is leaving enough clearance for a bathmat at the vainty. SWMBO wasn't pleased with my first one (in our guest bathroom) when she realized that she couldn't use a thick bathmat. I didn't make that same mistake when I did the master bath. - lol

   
1. 
   Eef | Nov 06, 2009 10:33pm | #8

   hey dave,
   kind of like the "drawer in the toe kick" thing. from your posted photo it looks as though your bottom rail is about 3/4". is that so? would a 1 1/2" b-rail be sufficient for a thick floor mat?
   eef

   Edited 11/6/2009 2:34 pm ET by Eef

2. 
   Dave45 | Nov 07, 2009 02:12am | #9

   I dunno. How thick is your bathmat? - lolYeah, that one was 3/4" and the master vanity was ~1.25" IIRC.