Size Limitations & Seam Sizes in Stainless Steel Countertops

Stainless steel countertops do not have size limitations. They are usually custom made, so you can have every countertop surface of your kitchen covered in stainless steel if you want. Stainless steel countertops do not have seems which make them look flawless and very attractive.

Seams in stainless steel countertops

Unlike traditionally tiled countertops such as stone and marble, stainless steel countertops do not have seams and are installed as a single piece structure. Most times, stainless steel countertops come with built-in sinks or dish-drying surfaces, and this increases their functionality. However, seams always appear in between a stainless steel countertop and the wall behind or beside it.

The seams in stainless steel countertops are dark-colored. If the wall behind the countertop is made of a porous material, then the seams can be a site for mildew proliferation. Cleaning the seams can be difficult especially if the stainless steel countertop is set onto a fixed surface. To remedy this problem, most people who have stainless steel countertops have rubberized seals set along the small space between the wall and the countertop. This creates a curve from the countertop into and partly up the wall. Rubberized seals prevent moisture from seeping into the seam and keep away troublesome mold and mildew.

Sizing

Stainless steel countertops are custom made for a particular surface. They are commonly used for kitchen counters, and more recently, for bathroom and sink counters as well. Much like other countertop materials, stainless steel is sold by the square foot. It usually costs around $60 to $100 per square foot. For a seven square-foot countertop surface, a homeowner is likely to pay $420 to $700, depending on the actual fabrication it requires.

Stainless steel countertop contractors and fabricators make regular trips to homes to look at and measure the area that needs surfacing. Once the measurements have been made and a contract between the homeowner and the contractor has been agreed upon, manufacturers can go back to their shop to put the piece together.

Stainless steel typically comes in blocks of raw material. Steel-working companies produce the raw materials which the fabricators then turn into usable pieces. The stainless steel that is used for countertops is usually much thinner than the one used in buildings and foundations, so the fabricators have to run solid steel blocks through pressing devices to create the basic sheet. The sheets are cut into the size needed for the countertop with a little space left over to allow sinks and other countertop features to be molded into the metal.

Stainless steel may be a hard surface, but it is remarkably pliable. Molding a stainless steel sink right into the countertop is done by simply pressing the sheet into a mold and refining its the edges. Other countertop details such as dish-drying surfaces and racks for sink and dish caddies are also worked into the basic sheet.