We all know that styles change just as much in home décor as it does with clothing, art, music or just about anything else. One of the parts of the home where this change happens faster than just about anywhere else is in a bathroom or kitchen. Styles of, countertops, motifs of color and of course the aesthetic appearance of appliances changes as easily as the winds it can seem.

However, one thing that seems to be a constant is the appeal of stone countertops, especially quartz, granite and Corian. These materials have an elegance about them, one often associated with well, sophistication and an almost paradoxical timeless modernity.

What is a waterfall edge?

What does change, however, is how these countertops are styled. In recent years, you’ve undoubtedly noticed the popularity of a unique implementation where the counter doesn’t simply stop at the edge, but on most or all sides, it continues all the way down to the floor. There’s a name for this, the waterfall edge.

This bold style isn’t just popular because it looks nice – in so many ways, it solves a lot of practical problems that you probably didn’t even realize you had.

Why you need waterfall edges:

This style, as said above, solves some practical problems you probably didn’t know you had. In the past, we’ve all just learn to live with the visibility of electrical lines, storage compartments, and other utilitarian aspects of our kitchen that were just impossible to effectively hide.

Previously, attempts to get around this has been accomplished by encasing things like kitchen islands in wood, but this material very easy to damage, and the aesthetic it produces has been in style for several decades now. However, waterfall edges your countertops, especially when it comes to your kitchen island, solve this problem while being durable, elegant and pleasing.
When using a particularly durable material, they also provide extra protection.

The best material for your waterfall edge:

You’re going to want a very durable, low maintenance material for this. While Corian is a suitable material, it is somewhat more fragile than natural stone, and is susceptible to scratching which means that while it is an option, and an affordable one at that, it’s probably not the most ideal.

Granite and marble are more durable than Corian, but are still porous, and susceptible to chipping and etching, meaning when they’re practically walls as they are with waterfall edges, they’re still not the most ideal solution.

Quartz is a completely different animal. This silica stone is incredibly hard, doesn’t easily scratch, and isn’t porous enough to be easily stained. As a result, while it’s the most expensive of the three most popular materials, it’s also the most ideal for this particular style.

Is this expensive?

Of course, any practical homeowner is going to immediately want to know how much more expensive this modern style is going to be. Sadly, it’s impossible to give a definitive answer to this question, as it depends on a great many factors. At the end of the day, additional materials result in additional costs, so you can of course expect to pay more for a waterfall edge than for standard styles of countertop. Other factors such as surface area needed, material being used etc. play heavily into this, which is why there’s no one answer to this question.

Also, possibly more importantly, the higher-quality installation services will cost more as well. However, you don’t want to cut corners on this. You want a skilled expert who understands not just the material, but how to preserve the integrity of the stone, install it in a way that it will remain firmly in place, and achieve the aesthetic you’re seeking.

To learn all about waterfall edges, a host of other material choices, and many other equally bold and beautiful styles of countertop, fill out our contact form. We’re all about helping you achieve that dream kitchen you’ve always wanted, without bankrupting you in the process.