Planks for countertops are installed to protect the end cuts from damage and moisture, and to aesthetically connect elements at corners and lengths. You can purchase strips for kitchen worktops made of metal and PVC of various shapes and sizes in the MAERSS store on favorable terms.
When installing kitchen countertops, the end cuts are installed with special fittings - strips made of metal or, less commonly, plastic. A practical and aesthetic option is aluminum strips for countertops, which can be of different sizes and shapes.
Content
Pitfalls of self-installation
Installing countertops in the kitchen: important points
How to install a countertop in the kitchen with your own hands: step-by-step instructions
Step 1. Preparatory work
Step 2. Joining fragments
Step 3. Installation of the canvas
Self-assembly of kitchen furniture is becoming increasingly popular. This is beneficial and practical, since it becomes possible to adjust the parts as accurately as possible to the size of the room. You need to choose a ready-made project or create your own and order cutting of the necessary elements. The main difficulty lies in careful and correct assembly. Let's look at how to properly install a countertop in the kitchen with your own hands.
Splicing method
When planning a kitchen renovation, with the replacement and installation of furniture, it is important to foresee the choice of a moisture-resistant countertop in advance, as well as perform proper installation.
Do not forget that even high-quality surfaces can lead to swelling of the countertop, which will require it to be replaced or repaired. And this is not an easy task.
When a kitchen consists of 2 elements, it is important not only to hide the joints, but also to ensure their tightness. And along the entire length of the joint. If moisture seeps in there, it will have unpleasant consequences.
The essence of simple splicing is as follows. You will need to fit the parts to each other, align if necessary, then coat with sealant and install in place. Such a joint turns out to be almost invisible. But it is better to additionally use zip ties. This way the elements will hold on to each other more reliably.
The simple splicing method has several advantages:
- ease of implementation;
- connection speed;
- no tools required;
- attractive finished appearance.
But there are also obvious disadvantages. Especially if it is a corner connection.
- Fragility
. The sealant loses its protective properties over time. Moisture begins to be absorbed, the tabletop swells and also becomes unusable; - Does not withstand heavy loads
. You cannot place anything heavy at the joint. May not stand it; - Levelness requirements
. The parts to be joined must be perfectly straight. Any deviation will affect the result.
If you ask experts about how to connect the countertops together, not a single competent craftsman will recommend this method. Although for some reason it is still used.
Installing countertops in the kitchen: important points
To ensure that the product fits correctly and lasts a long time, it is placed only on the fully assembled lower part of the kitchen set. All cabinets are mounted and installed in place. Then they are placed so that they are equal in height. This is very easy to do if you adjust the screw legs of the furniture. The correctness of the work done is checked at the building level.
The upper part of the cabinets should form a common plane located strictly horizontally. Once this result has been achieved, all the cabinets are collected into a common block. To do this, they are tightened with special fasteners. Holes are drilled in the walls of the products through which the ties pass. There must be at least two such connections for every square meter. The base for the table top must be perfectly flat. To level out even the smallest differences, it is worth covering the ends of the cabinets with vinyl sealing tape.
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Before installing the countertop, it is necessary to level the lower cabinets and level them
Another important point is the choice of the type of apron for the kitchen. It may be different and this will have to be taken into account when working. The protective coating can be solid, that is, located from the ceiling to the floor. Most often, in this case, ceramic tiles are chosen. You need to be prepared for certain difficulties with the design of the joint. The base should fit as tightly as possible to the wall, so most likely it will need to be trimmed.
This is necessary if:
- the wall is “piled up” back;
- the tile has a pronounced relief surface;
- The cladding is glued unevenly.
In any case, you will need to process the end of the slab so that it follows the shape of the wall. It is best to do this using a belt sander. This way you can avoid chipping.
You will have to act somewhat differently if you choose an apron that covers only the space between the upper and lower tier of the headset. Most likely, no pruning will be required here. In any case, it is recommended to secure the base. The easiest way to do this is with corner-type brackets. If this is neglected, over time the unfixed product may sag and a crack will appear. Even if there is a plinth on top, it will not cover it. The defect will become clearly visible.
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Before installing the countertop, you need to decide on the type of kitchen apron.
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Pitfalls of self-installation
Those who want to try their hand at assembling furniture need to understand that only professionals can get a guaranteed good result. If this is your first experience, the result may not be the best. Those who already have the skill of working with MDF, chipboard or veneered wood have a greater chance of success. These are rather capricious materials.
Mistakes during operation can ruin them. It will be impossible to return the coating to its original appearance, which will lead to unnecessary expenses. If you intend to install a difficult-to-install panel, such as glass or stone, it is better to immediately contact professionals. Let us list the main difficulties in working with various materials:
- Natural wood. If handled carelessly, dents or chips may occur. True, in most cases they can be sanded and restored to an attractive appearance, but this is a job for a master.
- Wood boards. Inaccurate cutting will result in chips that cannot be disguised. There is also a high probability of mechanical damage.
- Stone, artificial or natural. The heavy weight of the coating makes installation much more difficult, this is especially true for the latter. In addition, without special skills it is impossible to make cutouts for the sink and hob, as well as cut the blade.
- Metal. It is quite simple to install and dock, but dents and scratches may appear during processing. However, they can be removed.
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You can only install countertops made from easy-to-install materials yourself. The rest is best left to professionals.
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How to attach the tabletop to drywall or window sill?
It happens that the basis for attaching the tabletop is not a hollow, but a cast structure. This could be a window sill or a specially created plasterboard ledge. It will not be possible to attach a tabletop or shelf from the inside to such a base. There is only one option left - glue it.
For this, the well-known liquid nails are used. Any leftover after renovation will do. Regardless of the composition, almost all options are suitable for gluing chipboard, MDF or solid wood to plasterboard or concrete (in the case of attaching a window sill).
For better adhesion, the base must be carefully leveled, dust-free and degreased. The glue itself is applied to the underside of the tabletop. After the recommended time, the tabletop is pressed to the base in the desired position. It is better to leave the press until it dries completely.
ADVICE! To avoid possible deformations, avoid circular motions when applying adhesive to the countertop. Longitudinal or transverse stripes, as well as spot application, work better.
How to install?
Connecting (joining) strips for countertops in black or white are the simplest option that does not require special skills for installation. The joint is treated with sealant and a strip of the appropriate size is inserted.
As a rule, the metal profile already has holes for self-tapping screws that secure the structure. It is also easy to install aluminum end (overlay) strips for the countertop. Corner structures will require more care. The main thing is to choose the right accessories.
We offer to buy planks for countertops in the MAERSS online store in Moscow on favorable terms. In the catalog, high-quality products from trusted manufacturers are presented in an assortment, which allows you to select fittings of the required configuration, color and size. You can make a purchase with prompt delivery across Russia right now on the website.
Types of tabletop connections at an angle of +/- 90* degrees
1) Connection via aluminum profile.
This connection is the most primitive of all existing ones, and is most often used when the walls are highly curvature; it will require the aluminum profile itself and a transparent sealant.
We level the tabletop according to the level, after which we treat the open end of the chipboard with silicone, install the bar, then join the two tabletops together and secure them to the kitchen boxes.
With this method of connecting tabletops, the problem of wall curvature is partially eliminated, which is why this method is very popular. Pros: No professional tools are needed for installation; you can install even without experience. The bar allows for slight play during installation.
The disadvantages of this method are of an aesthetic nature, which not everyone is willing to put up with (the aluminum strip is visible), and dirt often gets clogged under the strip.
2) The joint of tabletops with a straight profile.
This connection is only possible if the countertop has a straight front end. Tabletops with a straight profile are joined through metal ties, which are inserted into pre-made holes on the back of the tabletop. I would like to note that most often this connection is used for countertops in a straight line, and not at an angle.
For this we need a sealant (as in the first case of connection), only ties are added. We also treat the open ends with silicone, level the countertops so that the holes for the screed are level and begin to tighten the screeds themselves until the countertop is completely joined, fasten the parts to the kitchen boxes and everything is ready. Pros: no aluminum strip, easy to install.
The disadvantage of this method is that when connecting at an angle, a fairly large seam remains between the tabletops.
3) Washed down the countertops at 45 degrees.
The system is the same as with the second connection method, but the front profile can be of completely different shapes and there will not be a very noticeable seam.
Pros: Easy to install, no professional tools required, no big seams.
The disadvantage of this method is that when cutting at 45 degrees, there is an overconsumption of material.
4) Euro-sawing the countertops.
And so let's move on to the most important thing, the connection through the euro saw.
To make it, you will need a special template, without which it is simply impossible to implement this joint, a router with a sharpened cutter so that there are no chips on the plastic when cutting, zip ties and transparent silicone.
The installation system is the same as numbers 2 and 3 with one exception, the parts are cut out in such a way that they fit groove into groove (mother, father), so for installation you need to set the ideal level and angle so that everything looks beautiful and, most importantly, does not there were gaps and cracks. Clamps and a level will help you with this, after which you need to coat the ends of the chipboard with transparent silicone and secure with ties, remove excess silicone with a rag and solvent.
The advantages of this method are: aesthetic appearance. Of course, this type of method is much better than a plank or a simple connection of two tabletops in a straight line; also, unlike a plank, at the junction there will be no visible plank under which dirt will get clogged, and it, in turn, is very difficult to clean out from under the plank.
But the euro saw also has pitfalls. In order for it to come together exactly, you need walls of exactly 90 degrees; if the angle is smaller, the tabletop will need to be cut in depth, but if the angle is larger, then you will have a gap that will need to be covered with a plinth, or you will need to take a tabletop that is larger in depth. Also, using this method, you can fasten the tabletops through a trapezoidal module, which also removes the presence of planks, which, as you understand, do more harm than good.
Author's article - Kirill M. Return to list
Types of planks
Metal or plastic strips for kitchen countertops, depending on the purpose, can be:
- corner, which are used when you need to connect tabletops at right angles, often used when installing bar counters;
- end ones, designed to protect the tabletops from the sides;
- connecting, through which the tabletops are connected along the length.
Buying a metal strip for countertops of different sizes and shapes is not difficult. The catalog also includes PVC strips.
The assortment of end (overlay) strips is available in widths: 26 mm, 38 mm, 40 mm.
The length of the plank can be: 600 mm, 800 mm, 1200 mm, depending on the size of the tabletop.
You can place an order on the online store website.
