I've just spent a lot of money remodeling my cold condo that's built on a slab. The winters here are so bad that I was on the verge of moving. Instead, I decided the best route was to install a subfloor to make it more comfortable. I knew this would involve cutting the doors and affecting ceiling height, but I didn't think about the kitchen counter height. I measured my kitchen counters, and with the new subfloor, they're now at 34.5 inches, down from 35.5 inches with the previous tile. I was hoping to avoid extra costs, but now I'm wondering if I need to raise the counters too? I'm already over budget! Should I just accept the shorter counters?
3 Answers
Honestly, if it were me, I’d lean towards a heated floor system. I looked into radiant heating, but I decided it’s just a temporary fix. Installing a solid subfloor tackles the root of the insulation problem, which is what you really need for comfort.
Don’t worry too much about it! Most people won’t notice a height difference in your counters. It’s more important to have that warm floor than to stress over the counters being an inch lower.
I doubt the thickness of your subfloor will actually be an inch. You might not need to replace the kitchen counters at all! If you’re handy, you can detach your cabinets and mount them on 2x4 spacers to bring them back up to 36 inches. Just be aware of any plumbing changes with the sink.
I’m using Dricore InsulArmor for my subfloor as well, but I’m also worried about the granite counters. Is that going to be an issue?