Solid wood counter tops are herbal merchandise fabricated from wooden from trees about a hundred and twenty years vintage. Wood is a residing fabric and the greater moisture receives, the more the timber countertop will amplify. The wooden we used in solid wooden worktops has been previously kiln dried to a humidity level of 6%, and it is consequently essential that the worktop isn’t always exposed to a constantly excessive stage of humidity. Normally the humidity level in kitchens is approximately 50-70%.
The strong wooden top ought to be attached to the cabinet field the usage of most effective wooden screws and washers. It isn’t always encouraged at all to connect the top at the cabinet box; the top and the field extend and settlement at unique fees, consequently cracks would possibly subsequently appear, most in all likelihood at the cabinets’ floor.
The proper way of installing a strong wooden top is the usage of metallic fixings along the cupboard field (see our net page).
The metallic fixings should be uniformly disbursed for the duration of the length of the top, spaced at a 1′ – 1.5′ distance from each different. Across the width, the top is usually constant to every metallic aid with 3 screws, one within the middle, one closer to the front edge and one towards the rear side. The helps need to be perfectly leveled; in any other case tensions can broaden within the timber, leading to warping, cupping, or cracks.
We suggest pre-drilling the screw holes into the wood countertop, that allows you to avoid cracks and splits. For the identical purpose, it is a superb concept no longer to over tighten the screws. The finishing will substantially decrease the quantity of such actions, but will no longer take away them altogether. Due to the panel’s laminated shape, the lengthwise actions are insignificant, so the installer need to take note of the moves going on throughout the panel’s width. In order to prevent the improvement of internal tensions, the holes in the metal fixings ought to be elongated within the course of the movements (see our internet page ).
When uncovered to normal humidity stages – i.E. 50-60% – the worktop’s width will extend by using 1/12”-1/24”, but when uncovered to a stage of 80-ninety%, this dimension can also expand by using as much as half" or even extra for some species. Therefore, when the rear edge of the counter pinnacle is set up in opposition to a wall, the wall would possibly restriction the top’s natural actions, main to undesired tensions in the wood. To keep away from this, you can permit a 1/four”-1/2” joint between the wall and the countertop part and caulk it with a thin bid of acid-free silicone.
Additionally, you can firmly restore the rear part to the steel helps under and for this reason, permit the natural movements to occur on the expense of the opposite facet.
In this situation, the holes within the steel fixings similar to the rear area can be no large than the screws diameter, whilst the holes similar to the center phase and the the front aspect could be elongated.
For extra facts concerning the set up of timber counter tops, bar tops and kitchen islands, please go to our net web page.