Today, the countertop is an indispensable element of the kitchen space. Its design, of course, is important, but it is a functional element of the kitchen, so the countertop should be comfortable first of all. For ease of use, it should be located at the optimal height, suitable for the growth of the hostess, and have a practical depth.
The worktop is a kitchen surface in the form of a plate, which is mounted on the floor module and is the main working element. It is frontal and angular. Almost always angular and less often - frontal tabletops involve combining two or more parts.
And if the front tabletop has the same width of the canvas along its entire length, then the width of the corner parts can be different. For example, one part is 40 cm wide and the other is 60 cm. The length of the parts can be different, and the corners are both rounded and straight.
Main considerations when choosing countertops
There are several fundamental principles that allow you to choose the optimal size of the countertop. It is advisable to decide on them in advance in order to make it easier for yourself to either search in stores or order in a furniture store. So, the main aspects are as follows:
- installation method, - features of the material of the future countertop, - length, height and depth of closed space, - comfortable use, - aesthetic parameters (color shades, style decision, etc.).
Colour and visual space
The material from which countertops are made can affect the visual perception of their dimensions. The color scheme can expand the space, or it can make it visually narrow or short. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the style of the kitchen when choosing a material for the countertop.
Hi-tech style, for example, does not impose special requirements on the material of the countertop. Glass, metal and any other surface will easily fit into it. The dimensions of the wooden tabletop do not affect the perception of space in any way.
Kitchen countertop material features
The main parameters of a kitchen countertop are the depth (or width of the canvas), the length and thickness of the material. What are the standard countertop sizes? The thickness of the canvas, taken as a standard, is 38 mm. The width of the canvas, depending on the material, ranges from 70 to 80 cm.
Acrylic surface
The thickness of the acrylic board does not exceed 12mm. Therefore, to bring the thickness of the countertop to the norm (38 mm), a chipboard or plywood sheet is placed under the acrylic.
Acrylic kitchen worktop has virtually no size limits. A standard kitchen sheet has dimensions of 3 m by 80 cm, but you can connect them together as much as you like and in any way you like. The joints are treated with a special compound and become invisible. Acrylic surfaces are often confused with artificial stone countertops.
Artificial stone in the kitchen
The main advantage of such a surface is strength. The countertop made of artificial stone is not subjected to mechanical stress, is not afraid of moisture and high temperatures. It does not deform, the joints between the parts of the countertop are almost invisible. The standard dimensions of artificial stone countertops at a depth of 60 cm are as follows: length - 75 cm, 80 and 240. Artificial stone countertops can be made up to 4 meters long or more.
Chipboard kitchen top
The chipboard production technology is such that the length of the chipboard tabletop is limited to four meters. Imported chipboard tabletops have standard dimensions: with a width of 60 cm, the length is from 3.6 to 4.1 m. Moreover, surfaces up to 3.6 m have a thickness of 28 mm, the rest - 38 mm. This indicator depends on the manufacturer. In addition, the size of the chipboard table top depends on the shape. Manufacturers prefer round, square, oval and rectangular countertops. Each of them has its own standards. For example, round tops will have a diameter of 40 to 65 cm, while square ones will have edges from 0.65 to 0.78 m. Rectangular tops have the most options: from 0.60 to 0.78 m at width from 0.9 to 1.18 m. The number of combinations is practically unlimited. Chipboard lengthRussian-made - three meters.
The advantage of this countertop is its low cost.
On sale you can find a kitchen covering made of chipboard with a width of 80, 90 and 120 cm. Countertops made of this material are difficult to arrange. Therefore, increasing the depth or length of the countertop will cost quite a lot.
Natural stone countertops
Top-to-size countertops are usually made to order, especially if the kitchen has a custom layout. Natural stone coverings are 60 cm wide and 2400, 800 and 750 cm long. Natural stone countertops look good in a U-shaped or L-shaped form. Their polished cuts are pleasant to the touch and pleasing to the eye.
This material has one minus, but a very significant one: weight. Countertops made of natural stone weigh quite a lot, which greatly complicates their delivery and installation.
Glass kitchen tops
Tempered glass tops, especially those with a backing pattern, look very impressive. This coating has a wide variety of shapes, colors and patterns. It is usually possible to pick up for every taste and budget.
Tempered glass countertops fit well into small kitchens, visually expanding the space. And to give originality to the kitchen space, LED strips are passed under the glass surface (multi-colored or with a soft monochromatic glow).
Dimensions of tempered glass countertops depend on installation and purpose. If the base is a wooden surface,then glass can be taken with a thickness of 5-8 mm, if there is no base, then the glass should be 15-20 mm.
Glass surfaces are made of tempered glass or triplex. This is a multi-layer material in which each layer is separated by an EVA film (it melts and a single structure is obtained).
Individual convenience factors
The process of cooking almost always takes a sufficient amount of time. Therefore, the kitchen worktop, in addition to the main functional purpose, should be comfortable. To do this, it must be installed at a height comfortable for the hostess. You also need to consider the width of the canvas.
And be sure to take into account the needs of the family in kitchen helpers. Household appliances always need enough space for installation and cooking. In this case, the table top should be long.
Easy-to-use cutting boards
There are many options for placing cutting countertops. In a large kitchen, the cutting table is a separate module. In small kitchens, it is combined with a countertop. Cutting surfaces are made from:
- Postforming. It is resistant to mechanical damage, aggressive chemicals and is afraid of moisture.
- Acrylic stone. Not afraid of water, easy to restore, but sensitive to some household chemicals.
- Natural quartz. This coverage is not cheap. There are two main advantages: it is very durable and beautiful.
But the mostthe main indicator is the size of the table tops. Experts believe that the optimal height of such a table is 85-100 cm.
Here it should be noted that due to the difference in the height of the inhabitants of different countries in Europe, for example, the standard height for a cutting tabletop is 90 cm, in Russia this standard is 85 cm. The depth of the cutting surface can vary from 60 to 80 cm.
DIY kitchen worktop
Production of countertops in size, especially from expensive materials, begins with calculations. The surface size is easily determined by the formula:
A=B - 4, where A is the depth of the storage module, B is the depth of the countertop.
There are a few tricks you need to know to cut your own table top from wall to wall.
After you have decided on the height of the surface to be installed, you need to measure the distance from wall to wall in two places - in the corners near the wall apron and, having measured the width of the countertop, at the resulting points. These measurements will show the outer and inner length of the coating. For the accuracy of the measurements made, you need to check with a corner the presence of a right angle between the wall with an apron and the side walls.
If the corners are really straight (inner and outer lengths must match), the countertop can be safely cut.
Otherwise, you need to take the advice of experts.
- Draw a sketch on which to accurately indicate the size of the kitchen countertop (length, inside and outside, width and angles).
- On angles (or angle) that are not 90degrees, make a pattern. To do this, you can use any dense material (hardboard, cardboard, fiberboard, drywall, etc.). Cut out a square from it, the side of which is equal to the width of the countertop. Then attach it to the installation site of the countertop. It should fit snugly against the apron, and with the second wall a gap is obtained. It needs to be frozen. The corner of the template, which rests against the side wall, must be shortened by the width of the measured gap. Then check the resulting template: it must fit exactly on both walls of the corner.
Optimal countertop dimensions are easy to determine
The countertop is an important functional element of the kitchen space. It should be comfortable to stand or sit behind it (depending on the purpose). Therefore, the dimensions of the countertop are of particular importance.
The height of the kitchen surface is determined taking into account the height of the user. If the height is below 150 cm, the height of the countertop should be 76-78 cm. If the height is 160 cm, then the countertop should be narrower than 80-82 cm. And if the height is over 170 cm, the kitchen surface is installed at a height of 90 cm and above.
The width is selected relative to the height of the hanging cabinets and the length of the countertop. With a kitchen surface width of 65 cm, the bottom of the wall module must be no higher than 50 cm from the countertop. If the dimensions of the kitchen do not allow making a wide tabletop, then you need to reduce the width of the hinged module.
The thickness of the kitchen cover varies from two to six centimeters. The most popular chipboard countertops have a standard thickness of 28 mm. Moisture resistant surfaces are 38mm and more.
