Standard and individual countertop dimensions

Today, the countertop is an indispensable element of the kitchen space. Its design, of course, is important, but it is a functional element of the kitchen, so the table top in the first place should be comfortable. For ease of use, it should be located at the optimal height, suitable for the growth of the hostess, and have practical depth.

The worktop is a kitchen surface in the form of a plate, which is mounted on the floor module and is the main working element. It can be frontal and angular. Practically always angular and less often - the front table tops assume the combination of two or several parts.

And if the front worktop has its same width along its entire length, the width of the corner pieces can be different. For example, one part has a width of 40 cm, and the second - 60. The length of the pieces can be different, and the angles can be both rounded and straight.

The main aspects when choosing countertops

There are several basic principles that allow you to choose the optimal tabletop dimensions. With them, it is desirable to determine in advance, to make it easier for yourself to either search the shops, or order in the furniture salon. So, the main aspects are as follows:

- method of installation,

- features of the material of the future countertop,

- length, height and depth of the enclosed space ,

- Comfortable use,

- aesthetic parameters (color shades, style solution, etc.).

Color solution and visual space

The material from which the countertops are made can influence the visual perception of their dimensions. The color scheme can expand the space, but can also make it visually narrow or short. Therefore, when choosing the material for the countertop, you need to take into account the style of the kitchen.

Style hi-tech, for example, does not impose special requirements on the material of the countertop. It is easy to fit glass, metal and any other surface. The dimensions of the table top made of wood in no way affect the perception of space.

Features of the material for kitchen countertops

The main parameters of the kitchen countertop are the depth (or width of the fabric), the length and thickness of the material. What dimensions of the counter are considered standard? The thickness of the canvas, adopted for the standard, is 38 mm. The width of the blade, depending on the material, varies between 70 - 80 cm.

Acrylic surface

The thickness of the acrylic plate does not exceed 12 mm. Therefore, to bring the thickness of the tabletop to the norm (38 mm) for acrylic, chipboard or a sheet of plywood is put under the acrylic.

The kitchen top made of acrylic has practically no size limitations. The standard kitchen sheet measures 3 m by 80 cm, but you can connect them as much as you want and as you like. The joints are treated with a special compound and become invisible. Acrylic surfaces are often confused with artificial stone countertops.

Artificial stone in the kitchen

The main advantage of such a surface is strength. The table top made of artificial stone is not exposed to mechanical influence, it is not afraid of moisture and high temperatures. It does not deform, joints between the parts of the table top are almost invisible. The standard dimensions of countertops made of artificial stone at a depth of 60 cm are as follows: length - 75 cm, 80 and 240. The worktop made of artificial stone can be made up to 4 meters or more in length.

Kitchen surface from chipboard

The technology for the production of chipboard is such that the length of the table top made of chipboard is limited to four meters. Imported worktops of chipboard dimensions are standard: for a width of 60 cm the length is from 3,6 to 4,1 m. And the surfaces up to 3,6 m have a thickness of 28 mm, the rest - 38 mm. This indicator depends on the manufacturer. In addition, the size of the table top from the chipboard is depending on the shape. Manufacturers prefer round, square, oval and rectangular table tops. Each of them has its own standards. For example, round tabletops will have a diameter of 40 to 65 cm, while square ones will have edges from 0.65 to 0.78 m. Most of the options are possible for rectangular worktops: from 0.60 to 0.78 m when Width from 0.9 to 1.18 m. The number of combinations is almost unlimited. The length of the coating from the Russian-made particle board is three meters.

The advantage of this table top is low cost.

On sale it is possible to meet a kitchen covering from ДСП in the width 80, 90 and 120 see. Work-tops from this material are difficult for arranging. Therefore, increasing the depth or length of the table top will be quite expensive.

Table tops made of natural stone

Worktops under the size are usually made to order, especially if the kitchen has a non-standard layout. Coverings made of natural stone are available in widths of 60 cm and lengths of 2400, 800 and 750 cm. Table tops made from natural stone look good in a n-shaped or g-shaped form. Their polished sections are pleasant to the touch and pleasing to the eye.

The minus of this material is one, but very significant: the weight. Worktops made of natural stone weigh a lot, which greatly complicates their delivery and installation.

Glass kitchen surfaces

The worktops, made of tempered glass, especially with a pattern-substrate, look very impressive. This coating has many different shapes, colors and patterns. To pick up usually it is possible to any taste and a purse.

Well-fitting countertops of tempered glass in small kitchens, visually expanding the space. And to give originality to the kitchen space under the glass surface, light-emitting strips (multi-colored or with soft monophonic glow) are passed.

The dimensions of the tabletop made of tempered glass depend on the installation and the purpose. If the basis is a wooden surface, then the glass can be taken 5-8 mm thick, if there is no base, then the glass should be 15-20 mm.

Glass surfaces are made of tempered glass or triplex. This is a multi-layer material in which each layer is separated by EVA film (it melts and a single structure is obtained).

Individual convenience factors

The process of cooking almost always takes a sufficient amount of time. Therefore, the kitchen top, except for the main functional purpose, should be comfortable. To do this, it must be installed at a height comfortable for the hostess. It is also necessary to consider the width of the canvas.

And it is necessary to take into account the needs of the family in kitchen assistants. Household appliances always need enough space for installation and cooking. In this case, the table top should be long.

Easy-to-use cutting table tops

There are many options for placing cutting tables. In the large kitchen, the cutting table is a separate module. In small kitchens it is combined with a table top. Chopping surfaces are made of:

- Postforming . It is resistant to mechanical damage, aggressive chemicals and is afraid of moisture.

- Acrylic stone. Not afraid of water, easy to recover, but sensitive to some household chemicals.

- Natural quartz. This coating is not cheap. The main advantages are two: it is very durable and beautiful.

But the most important indicator is the size of table-tops. Experts believe that the optimal height of such a table is 85-100 cm.

It should be noted that because of the difference in the growth of residents of different countries in Europe, for example, the standard height for the cutting table is 90 cm, in Russia this standard is 85 cm. The depth of the surface for dressing can vary from 60 to 80 cm.

Kitchen top with your own hands

The manufacture of countertops in size, especially from expensive materials, begins with calculations. The surface size is easily determined by the formula:

A = B - 4, where A is the depth of the storage module, and B is the depth of the countertop.

To independently cut the countertop from wall to wall, you need to know a few subtleties.

Once you have decided on the height of the surface to be installed, you need to measure the distance from the wall to the wall in two places - in the corners near the wall apron and, measuring the width of the tabletop, in the resulting points. These measurements show the outer and inner length of the coating. For the accuracy of the measurements you have to check the presence of a right angle between the wall with the apron and the side walls.

If the corners are really straight (the inner and outer lengths must coincide), the table top can be cut out safely.

Otherwise, it is necessary to use the advice of specialists.

1. Draw a sketch, which accurately indicate the size of the kitchen countertop (Length, inner and outer, width and angles).
2. At the angles (or angle), making up not 90 degrees, make a template. To do this, you can use any dense material (hardboard, cardboard, fiberboard, drywall, etc.). From it cut a square, whose side is equal to the width of the countertop. Then attach it to the place of installation of the countertop. To the apron, it should fit snugly, and with the second wall you get a gap. It must be measured. The angle of the template, which rests against the side wall, must be shortened to the width of the measured gap. Then check the resulting pattern: it should fit exactly to both walls of the corner.

Optimal dimensions of the tabletop are easy to determine

The worktop is an important functional element of the kitchen space. It should be easy to stand behind or sit (depending on the destination). Therefore, the size of the table top has a special significance.

The height of the kitchen surface is determined taking into account the growth of the user. With growth below 150 cm, the height of the countertop should be 76-78 cm. If the height is 160 cm, then the countertop should be already 80-82 cm. And with an increase of more than 170 cm, the kitchen surface is installed at a height of 90 cm and above.

The width is selected relative to the height of the cabinets and the length of the table top. When the width of the kitchen surface is 65 cm, the bottom of the wall module should not be more than 50 cm from the countertop. If you make a wide table-top do not allow the dimensions of the kitchen, then reduce the width of the hinged module.

The thickness of the kitchen coating varies from two to six centimeters. The most popular tabletops from chipboard have a standard thickness of 28 mm. Moisture-resistant surfaces are 38 mm or more.