Waterfall Benchtops: Everything You Need To Know

Choosing the perfect benchtop style for your new kitchen is a crucial decision. With various styles, materials, and thicknesses to consider, waterfall benchtops stand out as a modern and luxurious option. This article delves into what waterfall benchtops are, their materials, advantages, and disadvantages, helping you decide if they suit your home.

What is a Waterfall Countertop? 

A waterfall benchtop, also known as a waterfall countertop or waterfall edge benchtop, features a vertical extension of the countertop material down the sides of the cabinetry to the floor, creating a continuous flow akin to a “waterfall.” Often used on kitchen islands, or cabinets’ end panels by love that love the clean lines they create, these benchtops significantly enhance a home’s luxury, especially when made from high-quality materials. At Carlisle, our homes currently include Caesarstone benches as part of our Live Like a Star promotion, with the option to upgrade to a waterfall benchtop at our Spectra Showroom - without a huge expense.

What Materials can be Used for Waterfall Countertops?

A waterfall countertop can be crafted from various popular materials, each offering unique qualities. Common countertop materials include:

• Quartz: Known for its durability and variety, quartz is a popular choice. Caesarstone, made from 90% natural quartz, offers flexibility in design. 
• Granite: This natural stone with its speckled appearance, requires regular sealing due to its porous nature, but is a resilient material that offers unique pattern and colour variations.
• Concrete: Custom-poured concrete can be cast in any shape and coloured with pigments, offering a durable and unique finish.
• Marble: Characterised by rich veining, a marble waterfall countertop requires frequent sealing and careful cleaning due to its softer, more porous nature.
• Laminate: Constructed from layers of paper or fabric with resin, laminate is durable and available in various designs, including those mimicking natural stone or wood. 

Interested in laminate? Explore the latest trends.

Carlisle’s Quartz Waterfall Countertop

At Carlisle Homes, our stone benchtops are made from Caesarstone - a resilient and versatile material and one of the most widely recognised engineered stone brands in Australia. Caesarstone’s engineered stone is easy to maintain, competitively priced and ideal for creating luxurious waterfall countertops.

Caesarstone is dedicated to the continuous development of market-leading surfaces. Explore how Caesarstone is safe for home use.

How thick can a waterfall countertop be?

The thickness of a waterfall countertop ranges from 20mm to 80mm, depending on the material and desired impact. Thicker countertops, often favoured for their dramatic effect, can vary in thickness throughout the home. From kitchen islands to bathroom benchtops, you can use stone of the same thickness, or a combination to create a cohesive and seamless look.

Need some interior inspiration for your new home? Explore our interior inspiration.

Advantages & Disadvantages of a Waterfall Edge

When considering whether a waterfall countertop is right for your kitchen, it’s important to weigh up both the pros and cons to determine if it is right for your lifestyle. These stylish benchtops bring a modern aesthetic that can transform any kitchen design theme, however, they also come with specific considerations that might impact their practicality in different settings. Below are the key benefits and potential drawbacks of choosing a waterfall countertop for your new Carlisle home, providing a balanced view to help you make an informed decision.

Advantages 

Visually Stunning

Waterfall countertops become the standout feature of any kitchen, enhancing visual flow and delivering a sophisticated aesthetic. The choice of material influences the overall impact, whether it’s an 80mm thick marble waterfall edge within a modern kitchen or a 20mm Caesarstone benchtop in a luxe ensuite.

Durability 

As well as adding a beautiful finishing touch to your kitchen, a waterfall edge benchtop also adds a layer of strength and durability. As the benchtop material extends from the countertop to the floor, it helps protect the sides of your cabinets from wear and tear, scratches and possible knocks or dents. This is especially beneficial in high-traffic kitchen areas or busy households with young children, where the risk of damage is higher. This ensures your kitchen not only looks luxurious, but also maintains its quality over time.

Versatility

Suitable for various kitchen designs, from contemporary luxury to industrial chic, waterfall countertops offer an affordable way to upscale any space, serving as a practical stunning centrepiece. 

Premium Aesthetic

Without the need for high-end base cabinets, costly appliances, or extravagant pendant lighting, a waterfall countertop alone can impart a premium feel to your kitchen. Adding a waterfall countertop is a strategic design choice that instantly elevates your kitchen island and adds a beautiful design element to your home.

Easy to maintain

Waterfall countertops are exceptionally easy to maintain thanks to their seamless design without crevices, gaps or joins. A simple wipe down is often all that is needed to keep your waterfall counter looking pristine. However, the maintenance needs can vary significantly depending on the material chosen for your kitchen island with a waterfall edge. For example, materials like textured concrete or granite are more porous than a quartz waterfall countertop or other composite stone, and thus require more diligent care. These surfaces need regular sealing and must be cleaned with pH-neutral cleaners to prevent etching and stains. Therefore, when selecting waterfall countertops, it’s important to consider not just the aesthetic appeal, but also the maintenance requirements of the material to ensure it suits your lifestyle and usage.

Discover our range of waterfall countertops used in our homes via our convenient virtual home tours

Disadvantages 

Higher Cost of Waterfall Edge Benchtops

Waterfall edge benchtops generally cost more than a standard countertop due to their unique design and the extra material required for construction. This can increase the budget for kitchen renovations, however, the long-term value that waterfall benchtops bring to a home can often outweigh the higher costs. Kitchens with waterfall benchtops can often attract potential buyers to their luxurious appearance and contemporary style, improving the future resale value of your home. 

Limited Seating with a Waterfall Benchtop

One of the limitations of a waterfall counter is that once they are installed, there is no way to add more seating in the future. The number of bench seating that you can have on the kitchen island is set by the length of the countertop - and sitting around the sides of the waterfall benchtop is also restrictive as there is no room to put your legs. 

Waterfall Edges in Modern Kitchens

A waterfall countertop is quite a bold statement, perfect for a contemporary kitchen, but may not be as suitable for a traditional or classic home. For example, a country-style home with ornate cabinets may mean that a waterfall kitchen island looks out of place. 

The Weight of a Waterfall Kitchen Bench Surface

The additional material used in a waterfall kitchen island bench to create a seamless flow, especially when crafted from heavy materials like granite or concrete, adds significant weight to the structure. This can pose challenges during installation and may require additional support or reinforcement of the cabinetry and flooring to handle the load. Such requirements not only complicate the installation process but can also lead to higher labour and material costs.

Waterfall Design Maintenance Challenges

Although generally easy to clean due to their seamless nature, a marble waterfall countertop or one made from concrete requires more meticulous maintenance. These materials are porous and susceptible to staining and water damage if not properly sealed and cared for. Regular sealing and the use of specific cleaning agents are necessary to maintain their appearance and integrity, which can add to the long-term upkeep costs and effort of your waterfall island.

Explore The Many Waterfall Kitchen Design Choices

A waterfall countertop offers various design and material choices, impacting your home’s style and functionality. Whether you’re considering a waterfall benchtop or exploring other options, our many useful tools at Carlisle can help you decide on what is right for you and your family. 

Virtual Tours

Explore our many virtual home tours to get a feel for how material and benchtop style can impact your waterfall kitchen.