What to make a countertop for the kitchen: compare laminate and solid wood Stone countertops for the kitchen

For the manufacture of furniture today, a wide variety of materials are used from traditional wood to glass and plastic. One popular option is laminate flooring. The material in this case is a laminated fibreboard. As you can see in the photo, such furniture looks quite decent. If desired, it can be made by hand.

When planning the manufacture of furniture with their own hands, many choose HDF (laminate) as the main material. This material is perfect for making a variety of items, it can be used to make kitchen set, and furnishing for a children's room or living room. Looking at the photos of finished sets made of laminate, you can see that they look attractive and adequately complement the interior.

Material properties

The widespread use of HDF for the manufacture of furniture is due to the properties of this material. Laminate is capable of:

• withstand exposure to low and high temperatures. Due to this property, the material can be used for the manufacture of kitchen sets, as well as for furnishing unheated summer cottages.
• if you purchase a moisture-resistant version of the material, then it can be used to make bathroom or sauna sets. This material is suitable for making kitchen worktops, despite the fact that this surface is constantly exposed to moisture and high (low) temperatures. For example, products from freezer or put a hot pan, just removed from the stove.

Advice! To give the material moisture resistance, the base (fibreboard) is impregnated with a special compound that prevents the board from absorbing moisture.

• as you can see in the photo, laminated boards are available in a wide range of colors and textures. Therefore, furnishings made of this material will perfectly fit into any interior.

Advice! Most often, for the manufacture of furniture, laminated boards are used, the colors of which imitate the surface. different breeds tree. But if you wish, you can choose a material of a non-standard bright color.

Cons of using material

However, HDPE also has some disadvantages, these are:

• the impossibility of manufacturing figured parts and elements with a carved surface from a laminated plate;
• when using non-moisture resistant types of laminate, when moisture enters, the products are deformed.

Choice

Before you start making furniture with your own hands, you need to choose the right material. It is recommended to purchase plates from trusted sellers who have the opportunity to confirm the quality of the products they sell by presenting certificates. When choosing a material, you need to pay attention to the grade, a laminated board can be:

• First grade. This is a high quality material with no visible defects.
• Second grade. Plates must have a smooth flat surface on which you can see small scratches and chips.
• Third grade. This material has visible flaws - chips, bumps.

Shade selection

In the photo you can see that the laminated board can have different colors. Which color option would you prefer? Designers give the following recommendations:

• If the house has a laminate floor, then you should not choose a plate for making furniture in exactly the same color. It is better to give preference to a lighter or darker version of the material. Moreover, the difference in shades of color should be clearly visible, that is, differ by at least three tones.

Advice! In the photo you can see that the interior, in which the colors of the furniture and floor covering significantly different, looks more attractive. If the colors of the headset and the coating are completely the same, then the interior will look faceless and old-fashioned.

• if the set and flooring match in tone, then it is worth decorating the interior with bright accents: choose a sofa and armchairs in catchy colors, choose curtains and a rug in a contrasting color. In the photo you can see that the introduction of bright accents enlivens the interior, making it more attractive.

Sawing capability

When planning the manufacture of furniture with your own hands, you should choose a seller of laminated boards, who offers to cut the boards according to the sizes specified by the buyers. The fact is that it is almost impossible to perform a neat cut with your own hands.

When applied hand saw or an electric jigsaw, it is very difficult to avoid the formation of chips on the surface of the sawn boards. The seller, as a rule, has special equipment for cutting.

Manufacturing

We will figure out how you can make furniture from a laminated board with your own hands. Before starting work, it is worth flipping through interior magazines that feature photos of furniture to choose the option that will be brought to life.

Planning

It’s worth starting with taking measurements and making drawings. Regardless of whether it is planned to make a complete set (for example, for the kitchen) or just one item (chest of drawers, cabinet), a drawing indicating all dimensions must be drawn up.

Advice! A huge plus of furniture made to order or with your own hands is that the dimensions of the elements (lockers, drawers, shelves) can be changed depending on the place where you plan to install it.

After the drawing is ready, it is necessary to order the sawing of parts according to the specified dimensions, as well as purchase the necessary accessories: corners, fastening strips, rollers for drawers, brackets for mounting shelves, handles, etc.

Tool

In addition to the material, for the manufacture of furniture you will need a set of tools:

• Drill. Of course, it is better to purchase a tool with an electric drive. Additionally, you will need wood drills, as well as a set of cutters for making round holes.
• Screwdriver. The presence of this device will allow you to quickly assemble furniture. If there is no screwdriver, then you will have to work with a screwdriver.
• Measuring and drawing tool. You will need a tape measure, a long ruler, a corner, a pencil, building level(laser).

Main stage of work

It is necessary to assemble furniture in accordance with previously made drawings. Here are some helpful tips:

• first you need to prepare everything: put the parts in order, prepare fasteners, tools and accessories;
• using a measuring tool, make markings on the parts, marking the installation locations of hinges, fittings, fasteners;
• before installing the screws, holes are made in the parts with a drill;
• it is necessary to connect the parts in accordance with the drawings;
• the back wall is usually made of thin sheet plywood;
• facade elements (doors of cabinets, as well as shelves and drawers) are best installed after installing a piece of furniture in place, especially if these are hanging cabinets.

As you can see in the photo modern interiors, laminate furniture can look quite attractive. In addition, such headsets are practical - they last a long time, do not require complex maintenance, and are inexpensive. If you want to reduce costs even more, you can make furniture with your own hands.

The choice of material for the main working surface is a responsible matter. You need to take into account both durability, and resistance to moisture, and beauty, and, of course, cost. Eyes run up from the options? Today we will focus on the pros and cons of two of them: the classic solid wood and the popular laminate.

Wood mass - beautiful and whimsical

Unique in its natural beauty material with a unique pattern. Hardwoods are suitable: alder, oak, birch, larch. In case of damage, accurate restoration is possible - the material, unfortunately, is still quite capricious. Hot pots may leave marks on it, and the surface may darken over time. The key to a long service life is impregnation with special oil-based compounds during production and proper care. Kitchens in Germany, for example, are known for the quality of such processing: solid oak or ash is polished and coated with a protective solution and wax with a pleasant smell linseed oil. During operation, you will only have to use neutral cleaning agents and occasionally renew the coating.

One of the types wooden tabletop, known in the West as butcher`s block - "butcher's table" - is assembled from planks. Perhaps even a combination of different types of wood. Such a surface looks very beautiful, blends perfectly with steel and glass, fits into any interior and ennobles the space with its old-fashioned warm texture. Unfortunately, another drawback of the material is the price, which starts from 4,000-5,000 per running meter. You can save money by decorating with wood only a part of the work surface, for example, an island or a bar counter, which are extremely popular in elements.

A wooden tabletop is not a budget option. But the aesthetic advantages are obvious: it is beauty, a surface that is pleasant to the touch, environmental friendliness, elasticity - the table will not crack when a heavy object falls on it.

Now for such countertops they offer a fairly wide range of wood species. If you choose a strong one, you may experience early cracking and warping, since such wood does not have ductility. And too soft and fibrous, alas, will not withstand constant pressure in the process of cooking. Here are the optimal ones: oak, walnut, ash, cherry, teak, wenge.

An alternative to a solid array is glued worktops made from layers of wood of one or more species. Thanks to the use of glue, the strength of such a finished surface is much higher. A special item is care. Any natural material requires attention and regular thorough care to serve for many years. During the manufacturing process, countertops should be coated with special antiseptics and impregnations to reduce their susceptibility to moisture and high temperatures. The lacquer layer should be renewed regularly to maintain the beauty. Oil impregnation can be updated less often, but the wood will darken faster.

I personally like the look of "older countertops", they are very cozy, but even these should be cleaned, protected from moisture and protected. At least because hygiene is never superfluous.

Laminate - popular, but not eternal

This is probably the most popular material in finishing kitchen countertops. It is loved for its low cost and an endless number of color and pattern options. Pressed chips are top coated decorative paper with the desired pattern and "sealed" with melamine or resins. Such a countertop is quite resistant to damage and easy to clean, and there are a lot of texture options - matte, glossy, mirror, imitating wood, stone, marble.

Problems begin if the joints of the laminate plates are not properly protected during production and installation. Moisture leads to swelling and deformation of the countertop, and it is almost impossible to repair it. But subject to the rules of care - keep dry, wash with non-aggressive means - the surface will serve you faithfully for at least 10 years. Given the low cost of the material, this can be a very profitable investment.

Inga Azhgirey, interior designer:

The main advantage of laminate flooring is its low price and a variety of patterns and colors for every taste. There are even prints of paintings, and the imitation of wood looks good. Light-colored countertops may lose their appearance a little over time, after a couple of years, barely noticeable spots may appear on them. Damage is less noticeable on dark surfaces. Choose neutral or natural patterns: marble, wood, stone.

Sharp objects can leave marks, so don't forget cutting boards. But the hot laminate is not too afraid.
Matte or glossy texture? If you cook often and a lot, then it is better to opt for a matte one, on which the dirt is not so noticeable. It is also less susceptible to damage. Laminated countertops are afraid of vinegar - stains from this liquid can remain on the surface forever, so be careful about cleaning, do not use aggressive "chemistry".

If you recently made repairs in your home, then you may have leftovers building materials, be it wallpaper or laminate. It is a pity to throw them away, but there may be nowhere to store them. But they can be used for useful purposes. Nowadays, crafts made at home are very common and you can use leftover materials to make them. If after laying the laminate you have a few lamellas left, do not rush to throw them away. It is better to find out what can be done from the remnants of the laminate, and carry out such work. The things you make will be useful in the household. Let's find out in detail what exactly can be done.

• stand for hot dishes;
• a shelf for storing spices and other small items;
• cutting board;
• cup holder;
• a vase for sweets.

To protect polished surfaces kitchen furniture from hot pots, teapots and cups you can make coasters various shapes. It is especially necessary to take into account in the work the fact that it is not necessary to glue, mount and assemble a certain structure. Simply cut the laminate sheet to the shape you choose. The stand can be made round, square, triangular or figured using a template. There are a lot of options, here your imagination can run wild. The same principle is used cutting boards. They can be made several - for fish, meat and vegetables. This board will serve you for a long time.

When do you have in stock a large number of remnants of the laminate, they can decorate the wall between the kitchen table and the shelves on top ( kitchen apron). It will be a good alternative to the usual tile or mosaic finish, especially since you will save your money on it.

If you want to make a shelf, keep in mind that the design may not withstand heavy loads, so placing heavy objects there is not recommended. Below will be instructions on how to make such a shelf.

You, husbands or sons, can please your housewives by making one of these items for them. Even if it costs a penny, a gift made with my own hands, is always more appreciated. All it takes is a little of your time and imagination.

From whole sheets or leftovers of medium length, it is easy to make a shelf for a room. They can be angled or straight, depending on your choice. As in the case of the kitchen shelf, this design is not able to withstand heavy loads, but you can place on it:

• small toys;
• photo frames;
• bijouterie;
• office;
• fragrances and candles;
• clock and more.

Another way to use leftovers is a shoe rack. Its size will depend on how many pairs of shoes you want to fit on it.

If desired, you can use all the remnants of the flooring. Moreover, as you noticed, there are a lot of options. But everything that was listed above is far from the limit. Laminate is often used to protect radiators, old doors and furniture facades. To do this, the laminate must be connected into a solid shield.

It is also used to make simple pieces of furniture, such as Coffee table, stools, window sills, etc. In this case, one laminate is not enough. You will have to use other materials for the reliability of the design and additional tools.

From the laminate you can make a birdhouse for birds, a mailbox, Wall Clock, housekeeper and many other useful things for the home.

For work you will need:

• pencil and ruler;
• universal glue;
• brush for applying glue;
• jigsaw.

To make a shelf, you need to cut the laminate into the following elements:

• back wall 32 cm high, 40 cm wide - 1 pc.;
• side walls 32 cm high, 10 cm wide - 2 pcs.;
• horizontal walls for shelves 40 cm high, 15 cm wide - 2 pcs.;
• slats 40 cm in size - 2 pcs.

Consider the stages of work on the assembly of the shelf:

1. Make a markup and cut out all the details. To make the back main wall, connect several sheets of laminate, after lubricating the junction with glue for a secure fit.
2. The structure will be reinforced with wooden slats. They need to be glued to back wall. First, mark the place of gluing to fix them in parallel. From the top of the wall, measure 15 cm and draw a horizontal line. From it again measure 15 cm and again draw a line. In these places you need to glue the rails. The space of the remaining 2 cm is formed from below.
3. Apply glue to the rails and stick them in place.
4. Take the horizontal walls and glue them to the top rail. Lubricate the ends of the horizontal walls that will be connected to the side walls with glue.
5. Immediately attach the side walls so that they are securely fixed.

The side walls can be rectangular, but for beauty they can be cut with a bend upwards.

Such a shelf can be hung with a bracket or simply put on the kitchen table.

Laminate strip hanger

You can make such a hanger in a few minutes. Of course, it is not suitable for clothes, but it is very convenient to hang keys, umbrellas or kitchen towels on it.

1. Take a laminate board and cut it to the length you need.
2. Finish the edges with sandpaper.
3. If desired, it can be painted with acrylic paint.
4. After the paint has dried, mark the place where the hooks will be.
5. If you want the hanger to look really nice, you can apply a pattern to it using a stencil.
6. Then glue the hooks in place.
7. The hanger is almost ready. It remains to make the mount. You don't need to drill anything, because it will be attached with double-sided tape. To keep it firmly, adhesive tape must be glued along the entire length from above and below.

It remains only to fix it in the place you need. As you can see, you can make it by force in 10 minutes without much effort, but now you will have a handy hanger that you made yourself.

Laminate - very useful material, which can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also to make excellent designs from its remains that will be useful to you in everyday life.

Video

How to make a table from a laminate, you can learn in detail from the video:

Another useful piece of laminate flooring is a wall clock. How to make them? You will get the answer to this question in the video:

Take the time to plan your project. Where a splash guard is required for work, pre-fabricated pressed worktops may be more suitable, but in many cases this will work just as well. homemade countertop, giving you more design flexibility and satisfaction from self-manufacturing things. Before you get started, you need to know the following:

• Decide on the size of the tabletop. For example, a work surface in a workshop may require a width of 60-90 cm, depending on the dimensions of the materials you will be working with on it.
• Consider the colors and the effect they have on the surface. Designs look nice dark wood or stone, but if the lighting in the room is not enough, then it would be more appropriate to use lighter or brighter colors.
• Think about what kind of impact the countertop will be exposed to. For areas near sinks or where water and other liquids can be spilled, pre-pressed countertops can be used as they have a splash guard and a slightly raised front edge to reduce the chance of liquids running off the work surface.

Choose the type and finish of your material. plastic laminate Available in a virtually unlimited variety, from solid colors to realistic wood or stone designs in glossy and matte finishes, or textured for a more natural look.

Select the material to which you will be gluing the laminate. Plywood or MDF is usually used as a base for laminate flooring, both of which have their pros and cons. Here's a quick comparison:

• Plywood has greater structural strength and is lighter in weight compared to MDF. It can be purchased in thicknesses from 5mm to 20mm in sheets typically 1.2 x 2.4m, although longer sheets can be produced on special order. Plywood made with moisture resistant glue will be more resistant to moisture.
• MDF board is less prone to deformation, as it does not have unidirectional fibers. Its surface is rougher, so it absorbs the glue a little better than plywood, also the glue on it dries not so fast. Usually MDF board is 25-30% cheaper than sanded hardwood plywood.