“What is the best way to fix kitchen worktops vertically?” Question of the Week 11.04.15

‘What is the best way to fix kitchen worktops vertically?’

Our latest ‘Question of the Week’ this April comes from Jenny in Warwick. She is considering using our kitchen worktops as an end panel to complete her base cabinets, but wants to know how we would recommend attaching them.

QUESTION:
“Rather than using a standard tongue and groove end panel, I thought it would look more effective to use a piece of your oak worktops to complete the end of my run of kitchen cabinets. Can you recommend what would be the best method of attaching them vertically to the cabinets?”

ANSWER:

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for taking the time to send your question in, our solid wood worktops are ideal as a chunky end panel, particularly if you have matching worktops.

To fit worktops as an end panel, it is relatively straightforward, provided you have the right tools. Follow these easy steps to installation:

• Ensure your section of worktop is sanded to a smooth finish and cut to the correct size to fit onto the side of your cabinet as an end panel.
• Once the end panel is prepared, we recommend oiling it with at least three coats on the outward-facing edge, and up to 6 coats on the exposed end grain. You might have to leave it up to 8 hours between coats for it to fully dry. Read our Oiling Information Guide for further details.
• You can now attach the end panel directly to the cabinet. We recommend using 4 – 6 round-headed screws to do so.
• Drill holes slightly larger than the screw into the cabinet side at regular intervals, and use a washer to allow the screw to move slightly as the timber expands and contracts with changes in environmental temperature.
• If you are using 27mm worktops, we recommend screws that penetrate no further than 15mm into the wood. For 40mm worktops, you can use screws that penetrate up to 20mm. The thickness of your cabinet’s sides will dictate the overall length of the screws.
• Ensure that your horizontal worktop over-hang matches the thickness of the worktop you are using as the end panel for a neat finish. Alternatively, you could consider cutting the two ends at a 45° angle to form a square mitre joint.

I hope these instructions help, but if you have any further queries, don’t hesitate to get in touch again.

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express

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