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A Short Installation Guide Of Solid Wood
Countertops And Kitchen Islands
How to Install Solid Wood Countertops and
Kitchen Islands
By: Lafor Wood Products
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Solid wood countertops are natural products made of wood from trees
approximately 120 years old. Wood is a living material and the more moisture
receives, the more the wood countertop will expand. The wood we used in solid
wood worktops has been previously kiln dried to a humidity level of 6%, and it
is therefore important that the worktop is not exposed to a constantly high
level of humidity. Normally the humidity level in kitchens is approximately
50-70%. |
The solid wood top must be attached to the cabinet box using only wood screws
and washers. It is not recommended at all to glue the top on the cabinet box;
the top and the box expand and contract at different rates, therefore cracks
might eventually appear, most probably on the cabinets' surface.
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The proper
way of installing a solid wood top is using metal fixings along the cabinet
box. The metal fixings must be uniformly distributed throughout the length
of the top, spaced at a 1' - 1.5' distance from each other. Across the
width, the top is usually fixed to each metal support with three screws, one in
the middle, one toward the front edge and one toward the rear edge. The supports
must be perfectly leveled; otherwise tensions can develop in the wood, leading
to warping, cupping, or cracks. |
We recommend pre-drilling the screw holes into the wood countertop, in order to
avoid cracks and splits. For the same reason, it is a good idea not to over
tighten the screws. The finishing will considerably diminish the extent of such
movements, but will not eliminate them altogether. Due to the panel's laminated
structure, the lengthwise movements are insignificant, so the installer should
pay attention to the movements occurring across the panel's width. In order to
prevent the development of inner tensions, the holes in the metal fixings should
be elongated in the direction of the movements.
When exposed to normal humidity levels - i.e. 50-60% - the worktop's width will
expand by 1/12”-1/24”, but when exposed to a level of 80-90%, this measurement
may expand by up to 1/2" or even more for some species. Therefore, when the rear
edge of the counter top is installed against a wall, the wall might restrict the
top's natural movements, leading to undesired tensions in the wood. To avoid
this, you can allow a 1/4”-1/2” joint between the wall and the countertop edge
and caulk it with a thin bid of acid-free silicone.
Additionally, you can firmly fix the rear edge to the metal supports underneath
and thus, allow the natural movements to occur at the expense of the opposite
edge.
In this case, the holes in the metal fixings corresponding to the rear edge will
be no larger than the screws diameter, while the holes corresponding to the
middle section and the front edge will be elongated.
For additional information regarding the installation of wood countertops, bar
tops and kitchen islands, please visit our web page.
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