Count of kitcheners is the main part of the entire kitchen set, which decorates it and creates a strong plane for the direct purpose of the cutting table. The countertop takes on the main blow during the use of kitchen furniture, therefore there is often a need to replace this element. During the replacement, the supporting walls and partitions remain untouched, only the upper part of the table changes.
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Types of countertops for the kitchen table
There are several varieties of countertops, which are offered by furniture manufacturers, but not all of them are suitable for independent installation. For example, stone counters require a professional approach and the availability of various specialized tools that are rarely in the arsenal of the ordinary owner. While thick and durable countertops from a laminated chipboard are easily installed with their own hands. In general, the following types are distinguished from the whole variety of countertops:
- Plastic kitchen countertops. This type of countertop is made not from a whole piece of plastic, but from a sheet of chipboard or fiberboard, on which a layer of high -strength laminate is applied. This material has a low price and is very easy to install. The popularity of laminated chipboard is also due to a wide range of colors in which the surface is stained. The disadvantage of the material is low strength, the plastic coating is not heat -resistant and from the effects of hot objects is spoiled and covered with bubbles. Scratches and cuts are easily left on it, in which dirt is then stuffed.
- The woodcs made of wood belong to traditional materials for all types of furniture. The tree has its significant drawbacks - fear of moisture, hot objects and mechanical damage. In order for a wooden countertop to serve for a long time, it is treated with special protective coatings and polished. The plus of a wooden countertop is that even if it completely lost its appearance, it is easy to fix it by cleaning and polishing the surface.
- Metal countertops become very popular, along with laminated surfaces. They are very practical, they put hot dishes on the metal without prejudice to the surface. In addition, such a countertop has a low cost. Most often use metal for countertops around the sink.
- Kitchen countertops made of stone. They have a high price and complexity in the installation, but the stone surface is set for centuries. A stone for countertops is used artificial or natural, this does not affect the appearance, since the materials are indistinguishable by the naked eye. It is preferable to use artificial stone for the kitchen surface, since it has no pores, it is easier and does not form bacteriological foci.
Stages of installing a countertop
The installation of a kitchen countertop at each stage has many nuances and details. The installation process directly depends on the selected material, configuration and table size. For example, if an angular countertop or a structure of irregular shape is installed, then the process is somewhat complicated. In general, the installation is divided into such stages:
- All floor cabinets are aligned horizontally using the construction level. If the furniture is equipped with adjustable legs, then it is easy to put it in level, if there are no such legs, then plastic gaskets and wedges are used for alignment.
- If there are protruding elements on the wall, then under each of them, holes are cut along the edge of the countertop. From the walls to the countertop, a gap is left about 5 mm, which is then decorated with a baseboard. To verify the correct calculations of holes for communications and gaps, the countertop is placed on the basis.
- The length and width of the kitchen countertop is measured, the part of it is noted that must be removed. If the sawing cut is made with a hacksaw, then it is better to make marks on the front side, the wrong side is marked for an electrician or saber saw. To protect the surface from chips, masking tape is glued to it.
- The outer edge of the countertop is treated with an ingenious ribbon. Mounted with a ribbon with an iron or on glue. The cut is polished with fine -grained sandpaper.
- Next, places of holes for the sink and the necessary equipment are marked. The sink is applied to the inner side of the countertop and the places of cuts are marked. Lines are drawn through each point.
- At each point, holes with a diameter of 10 mm are drilled; for a round shell, holes are made around the perimeter. An electrolobian is inserted into one of the holes and a cut of material is carried out along the line. In more detail about the process of manufacturing holes under the sink tells the video at the end of the section.
- The next stage is the installation of a kitchen countertop. The surface is placed on the base and fixed in any selected way. Installation is carried out using specialized mounts or tires. The tires are fixed on the bottom of the countertop and in the holes located in the upper ends of the cabinets.
- When installing, it is important to trace all gaps and holes. The gap is left between the wall and the table, and between the side sections of the countertop.
- Next, the end lining is attached and fixed with self -tapping screws.
- After installing the countertop, the sink is mounted. All seams are carefully treated with sealant. Also, a sealant is applied with a large layer to the cutlets of the countertops, which will contact the walls of the sink. This will protect them from moisture and extend the life of the material. After installing the sink, all communications are brought to it.
Additionally, the countertop over the entire area is protected from moisture with special corners, jumpers and plugs.
Installation of a tile count
As mentioned above, the fastening of a kitchen countertop made of natural or artificial stone is a complex process that professionals must perform. For installation without involving specialists, tiles are much better suited. In terms of practicality, this type of material is not much inferior to stone countertops. And the appearance is compensated by a wide selection of porcelain border products, which are painted under natural stone or marble. A variety of tiled kitchen countertops are demonstrated, which are posted on the Internet in large numbers. Studying a media material, it is easy to select the necessary color scheme and a designer solution for the kitchen.
When installing a tile counterattack, it should be borne in mind that the height of the kitchen countertop will also change with a new layer of coating, which will differ against the background of old tables. To avoid this, the tiled countertop is slightly drowned into the housing, making a frame with a deepening along the thickness of the tile. All stages of installation of a tiled countertop look like this:
- In the depths of the kitchen countertop, a load -bearing frame is installed, it will become the basis for a countertop from a tile or porcelain tile.
- The gap between the vertical details of the table is thoroughly measured, then the support of chipboard is made.
- The finished support is fixed with mounting glue to the walls of the table. The depth is selected based on the thickness of the plate. After the glue dries, the bars are screwed with screws. All elements are impregnated with moisture protection substances.
- The next stage of the installation is to cut the table cover from the wood-boiled slab. Measurements are made taking into account built -in equipment and shells if these elements are included in the installed design.
- The cut panel is mounted on a load -bearing frame. The points of the joints of the countertop with supports are treated with mounting glue and fastened with screws. All saws are smeared with silicone sealant to protect against moisture.
- Next, a pattern of laying tiles is created. It is planned in such a way that whole tiles are joined with all surfaces. The tile is sawn with a file with tungsten spraying, a tile -cutting tank or special forceps. When purchasing the material, you should take into account possible marriages during the saw. To facilitate the work, small mosaic tiles are used, which fits easier into the surface of any area.
- If the manufacture of a kitchen countertop is made of porcelain stoneware, then it is necessary to lay the contact surface. For this, two types of materials are used - a hyposcarton or cement layer.
- When gluing the countertop with tiles, you should also pay attention to the ends, even those areas where the edge is not visible. For facing the end surfaces, the tile is cut into strips and fastened with glue. For ends, all sharp edges of the tiles are thoroughly polished. Aluminum profile, the edges of which are also thoroughly polished for the decor of the ends.
- Facing is planned in advance, even before laying the tiles. If the decor is installed on the end of the right angle, then when laying the tiles between the wall and the first row, the gap is left. The easiest option is that the first row fits simultaneously with the installation of end elements.
On the question of how to fix the kitchen countertop from tiles, the main stage of work is the laying of tiles on a prepared frame. The tile is laid on a special glue for chipboard, when all the material is laid, it is left for a while. From the glue, it is necessary to evaporate all moisture so that it cleans the tile well with the surface of the frame.
The most crucial stage is an extension. Since the tile on the countertop is subjected to great loads than the tile on the walls, it needs a special grouting process. The best option for the table is epoxy resin, as it has a high level of moisture resistance, mechanical and thermal influences. Working with this material is some difficulties, since epoxy resin has a thick consistency and is difficult to apply to the surface. In addition, it is important to remove all the remains of the resin from the surface in time, in the dried out form it practically does not lend itself to modernization.
To fill the seams, use masking tape or syringe. These tools will help to protect the tile from the ingestion of the material and facilitate the entire process of work. An alternative to epoxy-an epoxy-cement mortar or a cement-based mixture that contains not a limestone aggregate, but a thin-dispersed quartz. When processing seams with this material, they are left for three days, and then treated with a hydrophobizing solution for strengthening. When laying the solution, the tile is sealed with masking tape. The tiled kitchen tabletop is simply mounted, the price of such furniture is much lower than for natural stone countertops.
Installation of the baseboard on the countertop
The choice and installation of the baseboard directly depends on the type of tabletop material. The material of the skirting board is selected by analogy with the material of the countertop, that is, for furniture from chipboard, wood finishes, for stone tables - stone skirting boards. There are permissible combinations, for example - a metal skirting board for a table of chipboard. The shape of the skirting board is selected depending on which the countertop has a kitchen dimensions and shape.
The skirting board to the countertop is carried out in two main methods - on screws and on glue. It is not recommended to fix plastic skirting boards on screws, since cracks often appear in it in the manufacture of holes. The algorithm for fastening the skirting board on the screws looks like this:
- They make all the necessary measurements, the skirting board is cut under the area of \u200b\u200bthe table. At this stage, the required number of additional elements that will be located in the center is calculated, connect different parts of the skirting board, and complete the structure on both sides.
- Next, the baseboard base is installed on the countertop and mounted with self -tapping screws. They are screwed into the material at right angles, without slopes.
- The decorative part of the skirting board is attached. All additional elements are installed - plugs, connecting parts, corners.
- All seats are carefully treated with sealant.
The mounting of the plinth on glue is a simpler process. After the work of all measurements and preparation of the material, the surface is prepared. It is washed, aligned and degreased. Next, the baseboard is glued, the time necessary for adhesion is withstanding the time, additional elements are installed. For installing a skirting board, ordinary sealant or silicone -based glue is optimally suitable.
