· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Countertops
Edge profile is chosen quickly from a display board and lived with daily. It affects cost, how comfortable the worktop is to lean against, and how easy the edge is to clean.
The common profiles
Eased or straight edge is a square edge with the sharpness taken off. It is the standard inclusion, suits contemporary kitchens, and shows the slab thickness honestly.
Bullnose is fully rounded, softer to lean on and traditional. Half bullnose rounds the top only. Ogee and other decorative profiles are more traditional again and cost more.
Practical differences
Square edges show chips more visibly and are slightly harder on forearms. Rounded edges hide small damage and are more comfortable.
Decorative profiles with grooves collect residue and take more cleaning, which matters more in daily use than showroom appearance suggests.
- Eased or straight: standard, contemporary, usually included
- Bullnose: softer, traditional, comfortable to lean on
- Mitered edge: makes stone look thicker, costs more
- Decorative profiles collect residue in the grooves
- Sample edges at full length, not on a small offcut
Mitered edges
A mitered edge glues a strip underneath to make the worktop appear thicker than the slab. It is popular for a chunky contemporary look.
It costs meaningfully more because of the fabrication involved, and the miter joint is visible on close inspection in patterned stone.
Judging it properly
Small display samples make every profile look similar. Ask to see a full-length edge, and run your hand along it.
Also consider small children, since a square edge at head height is less forgiving than a rounded one.