“How do I attach worktops to solid oak kitchen cabinets?” Question of the Week 31.05.15
“How do I attach worktops to solid oak kitchen cabinets?”
The last ‘Question of the Week’ this May was sent in to us by Gregg in Northampton. He asked if we could provide him with further details on attaching wooden worktops to our solid oak kitchen cabinets.
QUESTION:
“I am in the process of deciding which cabinets to order from yourselves and would like to also order wooden worktops. I wondered if you could tell me the easiest way to install the worktops so that they sit on top of the cabinets?”
ANSWER:
Hi Gregg,
Thank you for sending your query in. We are glad to hear you are considering ordering kitchen components from us, but you are right to prepare in advance for installing wooden kitchen worktops; timber worktops are not difficult to install but if the correct procedures are not followed it can cause problems in future.
In order to attach worktops to your kitchen base cabinets, we recommend using right-angled brackets that are available as part of our Worktop Installation Kit. These brackets are designed to allow the worktop to move with the changes in environmental climate and humidity, whilst keeping them securely mounted to the cabinets.
The brackets should be installed with the slot perpendicular to the width of the worktop with round headed screws measuring 25mm in length (for a 40mm thick worktop).
Whilst the majority of our base cabinets have an open top, some units have a solid top panel, which can be screwed directly to the worktop if the correct process is followed. We recommend drilling an oversized 8-10mm hole in the top of a cabinet, with a washer on both sides of the hole to allow the worktop to move as the wood expands and contracts.
We do not recommend attaching worktops directly to walls, and advise that an expansion gap should always be left between the edge of the worktop and the adjacent wall to give it room for the wood to move. We recommend reading our ’Why Does Wood Move’ information guide for a detailed explanation on this natural occurrence.
To cover the expansion gap, we recommend installing a matching wooden upstand, which will also help the worktop blend seamlessly into the overall look of the kitchen.
Further information regarding installation of other kitchen components can be found in the ’Kitchen Advice’ segment of our website, which features a new guide every week.
Kind Regards,
The Team @ Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets
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