2023 Author: Philip Bishop | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-24 22:24
- What material to choose a kitchen countertop - chipboard or MDF?
- Important points when choosing a laminated chipboard and MDF countertop
- How to install a kitchen worktop yourself?
- Stages of installing a kitchen countertop
Artificial stone kitchen countertops are the most popular option if you prefer an expensive option. Among the models available at the price, the chipboard countertops, which are finished with plastic, are especially in demand. Such options have the following advantages - affordable cost and excellent performance.
Chipboard models are durable, even if they fall from a height, they will remain unharmed. Only its finish will be damaged. Of course, chipboard is not a moisture-resistant material, but thanks to modern production, special impregnations are used, thanks to which much more durable and moisture-resistant models are obtained. And the duration of operation depends on the quality of the coating. In production, laminate or HPL plastic is used for their coating by postforming. The coating is heat-resistant, resistant to various scratches.
Finishing of any end areas and edges is indispensable, and this finish is also very reliable. Otherwise, moisture will enter the interior and the material will begin to swell. The installation of the countertop in the kitchen and the hob is carried out using sealants that protect the chipboard from water.
What material to choose a kitchen countertop - chipboard or MDF?
Kitchen countertops from MDF are produced much less often than from chipboard.
Particleboard and MDF - what is the difference between these two materials? MDF is a fibreboard and chipboard is a particle board. In the manufacture of chipboard, formaldehyde resin is used to hold wood particles together. Particleboard products can release a certain amount of formaldehyde into the air, which can negatively affect your health. Therefore, chipboard is not the most environmentally friendly material.
The difference, of course, is also in the cost - furniture from MDF will cost more than the same goods from chipboard. Well, in using the difference in materials you will not feel, for this reason, it is worth considering when choosing a particular model and its cost.
Important points when choosing a laminated chipboard and MDF countertop
If you are still wondering which countertop is better for the kitchen, then we offer laminated models made of wood-like materials. They come in any color.
In the design of such models, wood, stone, metal elements, leather, as well as exotic elements are usually quite realistic. In addition, they are decorated with a variety of prints. But laminate countertops are not as similar to natural stone as acrylic countertops.
Laminate flooring allows our imagination to play, however, it is necessary to take into account the fact that light-colored countertops become permanently stained over time. More precisely, stains over time will appear on any countertops, but on a light one they will be very noticeable, in particular if it is monochromatic.
For this reason, if you do not know which countertop to choose for a kitchen set for many years, then the best solution is models of dark color, better not monochromatic.
Laminate countertops are stained over time from obsolete items. Moving dishes on the surface is not scary to him. Hot items won't affect her design either. But scratches will certainly appear if the kitchen is constantly cooking.
It should be added that scratches are less visible on a matte model, and various damages are noticeable on a glossy one.
When choosing a laminated chipboard or MDF worktop, you need to pay attention to its thickness. Today manufacturers offer the following standards for kitchen worktops with a thickness of 28-38 mm. It is under these standards that imported countertops for a built-in kitchen are well suited.
For long-term operation of laminated worktops made of such common materials as chipboard and MDF, it is necessary to take into account the following important points - well -processed ends and edges. Purchase countertops from companies that provide waterproof material.
Most manufacturers suggest changing the kitchen countertop along with the wall panel. The apron may be different, it is not necessary that it be the same and it must match it in shade and decoration: in fact, you can combine the apron with the floor covering, for example, or with the facades of the kitchen. But if you don't know what to combine with it, then buy a countertop and an apron together. This is a win-win and at the same time quite convenient solution.
An important point: models made of laminated chipboard and MDF boards do not need to be constantly wet cleaned, they do not like cleaning with abrasives and can become cloudy from the influence of various chemical components. Even vinegar stains remain for a long time.
Therefore, when making the purchase or repair of kitchen furniture, you need to choose the right manufacturer and material.
How to install a kitchen worktop yourself?
If you want to change the kitchen countertop, then the method of fixing it is easy to find out, since the dimensions of the countertop for the kitchen are always standard and all you need is to screw the screws; for the latter option, which holds the sidewalls of the cabinets, there are already the necessary holes. This is the simplest one, where there is no unnecessary manipulation to strengthen and protect the countertop from the side areas, the installation of decorative skirting boards or elementary applications of silicone to seal the gaps and improve the design.
Completely different works are carried out when necessary thing when necessary h Replacing countertops who served his or broken, for example, due to the fall of heavy objects. This will require painstaking work.
The old countertop is dismantled quite neatly if it is planted on silicone, trying not to break the rest of the technique, which will be useful in its entirety and intact. If necessary, you can use a chisel hammer. After we have removed it, we carefully select its successor. Next, we will talk about how to competently and as accurately as possible integrate a new countertop into our kitchen.
Stages of installing a kitchen countertop
First, determine whether it is necessary to make holes under the sink or hob. If yes, then these works are performed at the very initial stage. We take a cardboard stencil from the packaging or a hob, which we put on the countertop and outline it with a pencil. Then we take a drill and a jigsaw in our hands. The necessary holes are drilled, and a jigsaw is useful in order to cut them around the perimeter. Also note that the edges need careful treatment with special silicone.
After the holes have been processed, you need to try on the oven. If at this stage they are properly adjusted, taking into account all the necessary parameters, then upon completion of the installation they will be very simply and without difficulties in their own place.
The next step in replacing the countertop in the kitchen is adjusting the countertop by cutting off excess areas and processing fresh cuts. If the dimensions of the product do not need to be adjusted, you can skip this step and start setting the edges.
A metal corner, threshold and much more are used. In some cases, protection can be supplied with the table top. And this is a great choice, otherwise it will need to be looked for separately.
The method of fastening it is light and consists of screwing it with screws to the sidewalls of the structure. The cover protects the MDF from preventing the material from swelling under the influence of moisture and charring, which can often be observed if the hob is operated at high power for a long period of time.
And now we proceed to fitting the countertop to the place of its subsequent stay and proceed to fixing it. First, however, let's run the plinth over the wall area. There are a huge number of ways of execution, like skirting boards. They are made of plastic, stone, or the same material as the countertop itself. The skirting board must be glued or screwed to the surface. It can also be treated with silicone sealant for effectiveness.
The last stage is the installation of kitchen appliances, and then the necessary communications are installed. If you doubt your abilities, seek help from professionals
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