Replacing an old kitchen worktop with a new one is a noticeable renewal of a kitchen. After all, the worktop in the kitchen, as the name says it, is the surface on which you work and which you always have in view. Our guide shows how to install a kitchen worktop step-by-step.
You can get kitchen worktops in a variety of colors, patterns and materials from the hardware store and wood trade. The selection is huge, so it is worth visiting several providers to find the “right one”.
We used an Ikea kitchen worktop with a black stone pattern (product name “Prägel”). It was no accident that the choice was made of a plastic-coated panel, because after all it is the most robust solution alongside the much more expensive real stone panel.
Real wood panels need more attention, especially if you seal the surface yourself.
The crux of the matter: Lacquer or wood oil gradually dissolve due to water, detergent and mechanical stress (cleaning), so that water can get into the wood through fine hairline cracks. The solution: The surface has to be re-treated from time to time. Worktop. Kitchen. A project that many DIY enthusiasts shy away from – unnecessary because the installation is not that difficult . We show how it’s done.
Install a kitchen worktop:
Roughly determine the position of the new sink on the countertop, and then tape or masking tape on the plate so that the sink’s outline can be marked on it. The tape has another advantage: it protects the panel from scratches during sawing, which could cause the jigsaw and chips.
Since the sink requires a support , the saw line is now drawn 1 cm inwards from the outer line.
The corner points are pre-drilled with a 10 mm drill to make it easier to change the direction of the jigsaw. Note: Before making the fourth and final cut, you must support the cutout so that it does not break out of the kitchen worktop due to its own weight.
All cut edges are sealed with silicone so that no moisture can penetrate the worktop. The best way to spread the silicone is with your fingers. Always wear rubber or plastic gloves during this work.
The hole for the sink mixer is made as follows: Stick painter’s tape on the sink to mark the center of the hole. Use a hammer and grains of metal or a nail to hit a starting point in the sheet.
First drill a hole with the 3 mm, then the 6 mm and finally the 12 mm metal drill .
Now the hole punch is set with a diameter of 35 mm and a suitable hole is made.
The sealing rubber is glued in the edge area instead of silicone.
The sink is turned over and the worktop for the kitchen is placed.
Screw the kitchen worktop and sink together using the screw clips provided.
The squeezed out excess of the sealing tape is carefully removed with a cutter knife.
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Gerhardt Richter is a writer and a trainer at trade technical colleges, specializing in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and construction.
