A heavy granite tabletop needs a strong base.
The heavy weight of granite tabletops require adequate support underneath to prevent the table from toppling over. Not only requiring a sturdy base, its appearance must match the beauty of its top in a stately way. Beyond securing the granite to a base that endures, selecting the right table base then becomes a matter of preference, and you have several choices to choose from.
Cast-Iron Column
A table base with one to a few cast iron columns makes a stable table base for a granite top. The cast iron columns will not bend or warp under the pressure of weight and with several of them, the weight of the granite can be evenly distributed across them. This lessens the burden on the columns and the stress on the inflexible granite top. A cast-iron-column base adds a touch of vintage flair to a granite top. Its heavy weight stabilizes the table, so one column might be enough of a support, depending on how wide the diameter of the table is.
Wrought Iron
Bringing back the decorative, sometimes ornate, styles of wrought iron tables, one outfitted with a granite top would complete its look of elegance. Wrought iron can be custom-fabricated to the design taste. And this can span practically all design styles. The engineering if this table is integral to its support capabilities. Its top must be level, and the entire unit must be perfectly balanced, with and without the weight of the granite, because that would be a sure sign of its durability as a supportive table base.
Steel
A steel-, or stainless steel-, columned stable base makes for a contemporary version of the cast-iron-column model. While steel is slightly lighter than cast iron, when designed for a granite table, it does bear its own weight and provides adequate support for a table top. A steel model, though, would be more suited for a multiple-columned base. The extra columns simply reinforce the design and weight of the table, distributing the granite's weight and supporting all of the weight, even when leaned on or moved.
Wood
The play of wood against a granite tabletop should mimic the play of a granite countertop against cabinetry. The best wooden base for a granite tabletop uses 4-by-4 inch wood posts built into a strong frame whose leg are supported with horizontal reinforcement bars. Wood also offers some options in its design, such as working with commercial lumber pieces or using a large tree log, or logs to form the base of the table.
The Sub-Top
With all of the table models, the addition of a sub-top -- a supportive base for the table top, usually made of wood -- plays an important function in the longevity of the granite table. Stress can be applied to any section of the table's area and the contact points of the table base below can add even more stress to the solid granite top. The sub-top then acts as a bridge that evenly distributes the stress of the contact points from the base, creating a durable, less expensive connection point for the bolts and a shock-absorbing surface to support the granite from underneath.
Tags: table, granite, table base, cast iron, granite tabletop, weight granite, adequate support, base granite, base table, cast iron columns, contact points
