If we talk about how to install the countertop, then it is very important to pay attention to the fact that the decision strongly depends on what material is chosen for installation. Today, for independent work, chipboard, MDF and stone materials are often used.
Self installation features
When it comes time to decide whether to entrust the installation of kitchen furniture to specialists or you can do it yourself, you need to remember that installing a countertop, as masters do, is not so easy. In addition, there are a few other factors to consider.
- Firstly, you can carry out this procedure yourself only if the owner knows the technology exactly. Otherwise, there is a high chance that the countertop will be damaged and it will no longer be desirable to use it or even impossible.
- If the installation technology is still known and the question of how to install the countertop does not cause problems, then you need to know that most often you can mount a fixture from chipboard, MDF, veneered wood with your own hands. Some do it fromstone.
- You can independently install furniture made of concrete, and then tile it, for example, but this option is also possible only if you have the necessary skills. It is worth saying that such countertop options last a very long time.
First steps
If a decision is made on independent work to decide how to install the countertop, then you should start by drawing up a plan. It usually looks like this.
First you need to dismantle the old version of the furniture. After that, measurements and cutting of a new version are carried out. Edge processing will be a separate step. Next, you can proceed to the direct fastening of the tabletop, as well as to the connection of two sheets, if necessary. After that, you can begin work on sealing and installing the baseboard. The next step is to cut a hole for fixtures such as a sink and faucet.
It is worth noting that the finished product with holes should be moved very carefully and only if absolutely necessary, since at this moment it will be very fragile, and cracks may appear at the cut points.
Materials for work
How to install a tabletop with your own hands? The question is actually quite simple, but here a lot depends on what material was chosen for work.
- The first option is laminated chipboard. In fact, this is an ordinary chipboard, only pasted over with a very durable laminate. Difficulty of installationworking with this type of raw material consists only in cutting. It must be done very carefully, as in case of mechanical damage, clearly visible traces will remain on the coating.
- The most traditional and long used material is wood. Of course, such material needs periodic processing, but it will look quite attractive. In addition, it can be sanded to restore its original appearance, if necessary.
- Recently, metal materials for countertops are becoming more and more popular. Their advantage is that they are very easy to connect to each other. However, they are also very easy to leave scratches and other marks that need to be sanded down.
- The last variety is the stone countertop. Here you can use both natural stone and artificial. The advantages of this product are resistance to moisture, scratches and temperature changes. However, there is another side to consider here. The weight of such a product is quite large, which makes it difficult to install, in addition, cutting holes and sawing the stone is much more difficult and requires skill. A stone countertop is a good choice for those who know how to work with stone.
First installation steps
It is important to say here that the principle of mounting a countertop made of stone, chipboard, MDF is the same. In addition, the installation of the product implies the mandatory installation of such additional things as moisture-proof materials, aluminum and plastic corners, etc. These additionalstructural details will be required for both chipboard and stone countertops.
Getting Started
When all preparations are completed and the material is selected, you can get to work.
The first step is to measure and cut the sheet from the selected material. It is important to consider here that the length is measured taking into account the bar, which is superimposed on the ends. As a cutting tool, you can use both a hacksaw for wood and an electric jigsaw. It is also important to add that if there are protrusions, then all of them need to be cut out at this stage.
In order to install the countertop in the kitchen, as the experts do, you need to remember that the ends must be lubricated with silicone sealant. After that, a bar made of aluminum or plastic is superimposed on top. Additionally, you need to fix the plan with small screws. If excess silicone comes out, then they are removed with acetone.
Mid-mounting work
When installing the countertop yourself, you need to remember that there is an edge of the surface that remains closed, it also needs to be processed. For this, a decorative edging tape is usually used. To successfully attach this device, you need to warm up the tape, stick it, then cut off the excess and sand the edges.
The next step is to adjust the legs of the floor cabinets. For this, a building level is usually used. If the legs are not adjustable, then adjusting legs can be placed under them.wedges or plastic spacers.
When installing countertops made of chipboard or other material, it is important not to forget to apply sealant to all necessary places. The rear edge of the countertop is liberally lubricated with the substance. Also, after that, you need to immediately fix the plastic or metal corners in the cabinet, which is located under the sink.
After all this, you can start laying the countertops on the cabinets. There are two options here. Either it fits close to the wall, or you can leave an indent of about 5 mm. You can choose any option. Usually the deciding factor here is how far the countertop should protrude above the cabinets.
Completion of works
How to install an artificial stone countertop? There is no difference between the installation of a chipboard product, or a stone of a natural or artificial type, and therefore you can be completely guided by the proposed plan.
After the tabletop is placed and installed on the cabinets, you need to move on to fixing. In order to connect the stacked fixture to the cabinets, it is necessary to screw in the selected places with self-tapping screws under the table top. Typically, fasteners with a length of 30 and 16 mm are selected for this. The next step is to install the skirting board between the backsplash and the worktop on the sides. Here it is worth paying attention to the fact that if the surface is installed in a corner, then the corner connection must be additionally closed with an aluminum profile.
The final step will be cutting a hole for the sink.
Surface replacement
Separately, it is worth paying attention to such work as replacing the countertop. This operation is carried out somewhat differently, since the coating on the already finished headset is being changed, and everything is not being assembled from scratch. How to properly install the kitchen countertop in this case?
- First you need to remove the old countertop in such a way as not to damage the kitchen set. You will also need to remove the sink, baseboard and all connections.
- The new product must be fitted to the wall in the same way as the previous one, and it must also be adjusted to the existing dimensions of the kitchen furniture.
- It is very important to choose and control the height correctly. This is crucial as the tabletop must rest evenly on all structural elements.
- All resulting edges must be sealed. This must be done regardless of what material is used to make the new coating. This is especially true if there is a laminated surface, as the ingress of moisture under it will lead to the destruction of the layer.
Concrete countertop
Separately, it is worth mentioning the concrete product. Another execution algorithm is observed here.
- It is necessary to align all the lockers on the same level, after which the base is laid on top of them. It can be plywood or chipboard.
- Next, you need to fix the base well. After that, formwork is installed on its sides.
- For sealing the formwork is usedpolyethylene film, and fittings are laid inside. It is necessary to protect the place where the sink will be mounted. Usually a metal fence is used for this.
- Cement mortar is prepared from the following components. Cement grade M400, sand and gravel. The proportions of these bulk materials are 1:2:2, respectively. Be sure to add a plasticizer to the solution.
- If you need to make an imitation of a stone, then you need to add dyes to the solution.
- Then everything is simple. The finished solution must be poured into the formwork, covered with polyethylene and left to dry. Usually about a week is allocated for this.
The benefits of doing it yourself
By doing all the installation work with your own hands, you can get a number of specific advantages. The first thing most people pay attention to is the cost. To make this device with your own hands is quite realistic and does not pose a big problem, but it saves a good amount of material resources. In addition, a do-it-yourself appliance is usually more reliable and lasts much longer.
It is worth mentioning separately that there is a choice of any design that the owner wants to make. In addition, all purchased options are mainly made of chipboard, and this material without very high-quality processing is highly susceptible to moisture.
