Eco-friendly materials in the kitchen: solid wood worktop. How to make a wooden countertop for the kitchen with your own hands: do it step by step

The countertop is one of the key elements of kitchen design, which is why its choice should be approached with an extensive set of knowledge. Stone, concrete, tiled, as well as wooden countertops for the kitchen each have their own set of unique features, which means that the choice will be very difficult.

And yet, it is wooden countertops that are the undisputed leader today. Let their performance be somewhat inferior to more modern countertops made of cast marble or other artificial stone- but still, a natural tree will always find its buyer, and therefore - its niche in the market kitchen furniture.

You will find more information in the article.

Wooden countertops: an overview

Natural wood and substitutes

Modern technologies make it possible to simulate appearance almost any material. This is why many kitchen furniture models that look like wood are actually not. That is why you need to carefully study the material from which the countertop is made.

To date, the most common:

Laminated worktops based on MDF or chipboard. These countertops are rather thick panels of pressed material, covered with a textured polymer film. natural wood. They look quite attractive, but they are inferior to wooden ones in terms of characteristics (see additional material)

Veneered countertops. The foundation - MDF panel or a shield made of inexpensive wood - pasted over with a thin decorative veneer of natural wood. The appearance of such a countertop is almost flawless, but the veneer is a rather “problematic” coating. Over time, its deformation and peeling off from the base is possible.
Solid wood countertops. The best option in terms of not only appearance, but also operational qualities. True, the price of such countertops is quite high - especially if noble wood is used for their manufacture.

What should be the ideal wood countertop for the kitchen?

Wood for wooden countertops

Any master furniture maker, but what's there - any housewife can easily answer this question: a wooden tabletop must be durable. Therefore, for the production of countertops, it is necessary to choose wood species that are characterized by high hardness.

However, not all so simple. Too hard woods are prone to deformation under the influence of moisture and temperature - therefore, some wood kitchen worktops tend to either swell or “cry out” over time. That is why, along with the hardness of wood, its stability is very important - the ability to effectively resist shape changes.

The conclusion is simple - in order for the countertop to last as long as possible, it is necessary to choose species that optimally combine the hardness and stability of wood.

These breeds include:

cherry;
cherry;
Nut;
Iroko, etc.

In addition to the choice of wood, the quality of the countertop is also influenced by its design.

Of course, premium kitchen countertops can even be made from solid wood slabs - but they are:

First, they are very expensive;
Secondly, they are subject to operational deformations.

That is why in the modern market of wooden countertops, the bulk are glued-type countertops. Such countertops are either cut from finished furniture board, or they are produced by gluing several lamellas (plates).

Note! A glued-type tabletop can be “picked up” from lamellas of one or several types of wood. In the second case, we get a very interesting option in terms of design - especially if the lamellas have a contrasting color or a very different texture.

The main advantage of glued worktops is that when glued, the internal stress between the wood fibers is leveled. Unlike solid board big size glued worktop practically not subject to deformation - which means that it will last much longer with proper care!

Pros and cons of wood countertops

Wood countertops for the kitchen have become popular for a reason. Here are the benefits they offer:

Firstly, wood is a fairly easy-to-work material, thanks to which we can produce wooden tabletop almost any shape. In addition - and we noted this above - in one countertop you can combine elements of wood different breeds. Then the wooden kitchen worktop will look more unusual!
Secondly, even the simplest wooden countertops look natural - and this is a definite plus in those interiors in which the emphasis is on natural materials.
Thirdly, a wooden tabletop is quite resistant to external influences– moisture, temperature, ultraviolet.

Note! Although wooden countertops are inferior in density to stone countertops, chips and scratches form on them somewhat less frequently. The reason for this is the internal elasticity of wood: where the stone is damaged, the tree will be able to partially absorb the impact.

It should also be borne in mind that if a wooden tabletop is damaged, it can be restored without much labor - this can also be attributed to its advantages.

There are few disadvantages of such countertops:

Countertop surface resistance to different kind impact depends on the quality of the varnish. Varnish needs to be updated over time - which means spending time and money on it.
An alternative to lacquered countertops are oiled ones, moreover, they are more heat resistant. But oiled wood countertops darken quickly enough.
Countertops made of sufficiently soft wood are less prone to deformation. But scratching them is easy.
The cost of solid wood countertops is quite high.

How to make a table top

To reduce the cost of arranging the kitchen, you can make a wooden countertop with your own hands.

Of course, the task is quite complicated, but we hope that the instructions in this article, as well as the explanatory video, will help you cope:

The boards selected for the countertop are thoroughly dried ( optimal humidity- no more than 10%), after which we impregnate with an antiseptic.
We process boards on a planer, achieving a perfectly smooth and even surface.

At the ends of the long sides of the boards, using a manual milling cutter, we make grooves. After milling, we carefully grind the planes of the boards, providing them with the most snug fit.

Advice! For thick board worktop optimal width and the depth of the groove is 10-12 mm, for a thin board, 6-8 mm is enough.

We begin to assemble our countertop: first, we glue a rail into the groove of one of the boards, the width of which is twice the depth of the groove. You can see the connection diagram in the photo.
Then we put the groove of the next board on the glued rail. According to this principle, we collect the entire countertop.

We carefully grind the glued tabletop, after which we treat it with oil or varnish it.

Wood as a manufacturing material home furniture, doors and other interior items have always been highly valued. Especially in the context of its ecological properties, naturalness. Kitchen wooden furniture and solid wood countertops contribute to a better mood, positive emotions due to the bright natural texture, excellent tactile sensations and harmonious combination with various culinary smells.

Characteristics of kitchen worktops

The tree in the kitchen looks fashionable and gives the kitchen a twist

By means of a correctly selected one, it is quite easy to ennoble internal design kitchen area, to give the interior environmental friendliness, solidity and prestige. Despite the fact that, made of solid wood, today it is somewhat inferior in terms of practicality to some synthetic materials(primarily due to the need regular care), its attractiveness is a fundamental factor in sustainable demand.

The main characteristics that a high-quality kitchen worktop must meet:

resistance to moisture;
resistance to temperature changes, thermal influences;
ability to resist mechanical influences;
ease of care, cleaning, cleaning;
resistance to absorption of dirt, foreign odors, condensate, grease;
high aesthetic and ergonomic qualities.

Modern technologies involve the manufacture of several types of solid wood countertops, which are classified according to two criteria: the type of wood used and the method of production.

For the production of countertops today, several types of wood are used, soft and hard varieties. Moreover, too hard rocks can dry out over time, which will lead to early deformations and the formation of visible cracks on the surface of the product. And too soft can quickly push through during careless handling. The optimal varieties most accessible in our area are:
:

nut;
cherry;
ash;
pine.

Today, two main technologies for the manufacture of wooden countertops are used:

Made from solid wood. These products are characterized by a great natural texture. Since the cost of such products is extremely high, they are usually used in expensive classic kitchen sets.
From glued lamellas. It is a collection of perfectly processed and fitted strips of wood to one another. Since in each layer it is possible to use different varieties wood, it is much easier to build a countertop that is resistant to temperature effects and more durable than analogues from solid wood. Only the aesthetics in this case may be lower, since it is difficult to match the lines of the wood texture of different lamellas.

Advantages of boards made of oak, pine

Wooden countertop goes with almost all styles

These furniture products have the following advantages:

1. Ease of manufacture and. Having special skills and having the appropriate carpentry tools, equipment, you can give countertops any shape, produce them in any configuration and size. They are also subject to repeated restoration procedures, varnishing, painting.
2. Ecological cleanliness. natural wood is natural natural material and therefore cannot harm environment, people and pets due to the absence of any harmful / dangerous emissions.
3. The highest aesthetic qualities. Kitchen worktops even the most affordable types of wood, moreover, subjected to minimal processing, always look much more profitable in the kitchen than most alternative products.

Huge selection of textures, colors, methods of wood processing will allow you to create a unique product that can become a highlight of the kitchen interior, executed in any style.
Elasticity. Wood is more resistant to not very significant mechanical stress when compared, for example, with natural stone. Due to some shock-absorbing properties, dents and chips on the working surface.
High wear resistance. Subject to the manufacturing technology of solid wood countertops, corresponding to the primary processing and correct operation they easily withstand the test of high temperatures and moisture.
Excellent ergonomic performance. Natural wood is pleasant to the touch, with tactile contact it creates a feeling of warmth due to low thermal conductivity, unlike natural stone, metal.

Natural wood is an eco-friendly material that looks amazing

Flaws

The easiest way to do this is to unfasten a series of transverse rails from the bottom, putting them on self-tapping screws and glue.

Installation of natural wood in the kitchen

Installation of the finished countertop is carried out in several stages:

if a non-prefabricated frame is used for its installation, lower set the headset section according to the readings of the level gauge;
then by means of a jigsaw it is necessary cut holes for acrylic or or/and . The edges must be treated with a sealant;
by means of metal corners and wood screws, you need to reliably fix the tabletop to the lower sections of the headset or a prefabricated frame, while leaving a gap of several millimeters to the wall;
left fix the plinth to the wall using special glue or self-tapping screws (depending on the material of the skirting board and its design features). Do not forget to install In order for the wooden countertop to serve for a long time, it must be carefully looked after
Due to the tendency to deformation during operation and poor resistance to thermal and wet influences, wooden countertops require more careful maintenance than most products made from other materials:
- surface cleaning should be carried out with a slightly damp cloth;
- Maybe application of soft detergents for gentle cleaning
- categorically hard brushes are not allowed, brushes and abrasive cleaning powders;
- to maintain moisture-proof properties the work surface must be cleaned regularly special water-repellent compositions;
- in case of violation paintwork it must be restored immediately.
If, nevertheless, you have not saved your countertop or table, read how you can decorate its canvas with ceramic tiles

It is very fashionable in recent years to make a table of rough wooden canvas.

Despite the rather high cost of such elements furniture designs, many adherents natural materials stop their choice on a wooden array. In our other articles you can get acquainted with and .

A do-it-yourself kitchen countertop is much cheaper; in addition, it makes it possible to make the product “for yourself”, taking into account the needs and size of the kitchen. Modern countertops come in two types: prefabricated or made from joiner's shield. Premium furniture is sometimes made from solid wooden plates. But, in order to independently make a countertop for the kitchen, such material is unsuitable, since it is unreasonably expensive and difficult to process.

How to make a countertop for the kitchen? Start by choosing a material. In order for the wooden countertop for the kitchen to be durable and serve for a long time, as source material choose moderately hard woods. Excessive hardness will do a disservice: the wood will dry out or swell from the water. That is, in addition to the hardness of wood, its stability is also important, which allows it to keep its shape.

Oak, cherry, cherry, walnut, teak are considered optimal. Exotic wood is not always superior in quality to the materials familiar to us, but it costs much more.

To make a countertop in the kitchen, you will need:

wooden boards;
nails;
antiseptic impregnation;
paint or varnish;
wood glue;
thickness gauge;
clamps;
jointer;
cutters;
sandpaper;
hacksaw;
drill;
a hammer;
pliers;
drill.

To make a tabletop from a joiner's shield, you will additionally need a jointer, a milling machine (it is successfully replaced by a hand mill). In the absence of a cutter, glue the ends of the carpentry shield with groove-thorn heads, placing the spike on the end, and the groove on the edge of the head bar.

You can strengthen the shield in another way - to glue the bottom of the transverse rails included in the grooves. Reiki and grooves of the dovetail system will give the carpentry board increased reliability.

Edge-to-groove connection

More reliable method fastenings - lining; at the same time, boards with a “comb-groove” connection are taken for the shield. The ridge before the spike has the advantage in that it allows you to evenly distribute the load, which contributes to the strengthening of the structure as a whole. Grooves and ridges are made milling machine or hand cutter.

It is permissible to use a glued rail - the reliability of the countertop will not suffer from this in any way. The boards must first be cut along the edges, and then grooves should be formed using a router. On thick boards, the groove dimensions are 10-15 mm, on thin boards - smaller -6-8 mm. Also, these parameters are determined by the cutter that you are working with. Planing the slats exactly to size will help the surface gage; an easier option is to buy ready-made, the required size. To correctly choose the width of the rail, one must proceed from the dimensions of a particular carpentry board, and the thickness is determined by the dimensions of the groove.

Instead of a rail, plywood or MDF, 6-12 mm thick, is suitable. From this material, blanks of the desired width are cut. The groove is made after the rail is completely ready, since its width is directly dependent on the thickness of the plywood.

If the tabletop is to be used outdoors, for example on summer kitchen, you should think about using a grooved board. The assembly is similar to the assembly from a carpenter's shield, but the tongue plays the role of an edge for the groove. The boards are fastened at the bottom cross bar and self-tapping screws. For an apartment or house, such tables are of little use because of their external massiveness and rudeness, but they will perfectly decorate summer garden or veranda.

Table top with plastic coating

The task becomes somewhat more complicated if you have to make a countertop small size, or one that also serves as a lid for kitchen drawer? The solid wood here does not look like the best option, because from the temperature difference it rapidly loses its initially neat appearance. It is better to use chipboard, glued with protective plastic. Water and dirt inside the countertop will not let a special edge.

What will be needed for manufacturing?

Chipboard - 1 sheet.
Wooden beam (40x40 mm).
Thin plastic.
Self-tapping screws (25 mm).
Drill and drill bits for wood.
Hacksaw or electric jigsaw.
Clamps.

Plastic is better to choose one that is specifically designed for kitchen furniture. Its thickness does not exceed 1 mm, but, pasted on wooden surface, it acquires rigidity and high wear resistance. Plastic can be replaced with hardboard, or another coating that is close in strength. You also need a chipboard blank.

How to fasten parts correctly

If the finished worktop is small in size, then there is no need to strengthen its design, since the density of the sheet will be quite enough. The height of the quarter for the lining will be 7-8 mm. If you are making a table of considerable size, it is advisable to cut out several parts from chipboard that serve to reinforce the structure: 2 long ones that are flush with the edges and 2 short ones that serve as end inserts. The dimensions of the parts correspond to the dimensions of the countertop itself.

To increase the reliability of the fasteners, the reinforcing elements are fastened with self-tapping screws, for which holes are pre-drilled. The edges of the edges are covered with wood glue. The attached parts are pulled together with clamps, after which the screws are screwed in, and their caps are sunk into the plate. Convinced of reliable fastening all elements, self-tapping screws can be removed.

Prefabricated worktop cover

To make a cover (protective edge), you will need 4 bars of solid wood- birch or beech. Oak will not work, because it is too heavy, and softwood short-lived. Bars are better to cut with a margin. For example, for a tabletop measuring 134x80 cm, you will need 4 bars; 2 of them will have a length of 140 cm and 2 bars - 85 cm.

The installation of the lining is preceded by the manufacture of a one-sided comb in all edges of the table top. It is formed with hand cutter or circular saw on which special disks for working with laminate are installed.

When using a saw, a sheet of thick laminated chipboard is attached to the guide ruler. Saw setting: height 10 mm, distance from the outer guide along the guide - 10 mm. The bar is installed opposite, at a distance of 33-34 mm from the guide ruler and fixed with clamps. It is designed to be a countertop stopper. After that, you can install chipboard on the edge and work with a saw, removing all unnecessary.

Having completed the cuts in all sections, the fixing bar is removed, and the procedure is repeated with front side. Thus, a spike-rib is formed, the thickness of which is 22 mm. The inner edges of the edging bars are provided with grooves, the depth of which is determined by the thickness of the spike. For this procedure, you will need manual frezer and the 4th cutter with support bearing. When installing a salary on the edge, the level of parts should exceed the chipboard by 1 mm.

The next step will be marking the edging detail, determining the required length and cutting the ends at an angle of 45 degrees. Then the prepared slats are glued, and in order for them to better grip with glue, they are pulled together with clamps. You can add strength if you connect the lining with the countertop with self-tapping screws, while working with self-tapping screws, you must fulfill several conditions: fasten them dry, sink the caps and close the holes with putty. The last step is gluing the plastic panel.

We hope that the tabletop, made with your own hands, will delight you for many years.

Why make a table with your own hands, because you can buy it in a store? There is a very correct answer to this question: such a table will exist in a single copy and can become a home decoration, giving the interior a touch of originality. For country houses a do-it-yourself table is a way to save money and create a space that is comfortable for living - it's no secret that the layout of many country houses is such that choosing a table for them is not an easy task. As a rule, such tables are made of wood - an affordable and versatile material.

Tabletops may have different design. They are made from solid wood, can be prefabricated, glued or represent a shield of wooden plates.

A solid array is used to make expensive premium furniture - such countertops are expensive. Therefore, to create a table with their own hands, two options are used - prefabricated structures or shields.

Important: glued tabletops are made from boards (lamellas). You can take lamellas from different types of wood - then the countertop will look very decorative.

Glued tabletops are practically not deformed, since there is no deformation of the wood fibers.

For countertops, you can take materials such as:

wood;
mdf boards;
chipboard;
veneer.

Table tops look particle boards beautiful, but they have their big drawbacks - they are extremely short-lived and quickly deformed. The veneer tabletop looks very decorative. But it will be good only at the coffee table. Veneer is not suitable for a kitchen or a table for giving, as it is easily deformed and peeled off; does not tolerate frequent washing.

A wooden tabletop is considered the best option from a practical point of view and in terms of durability and beauty.

Tree selection

The main requirements for a wooden tabletop are that it must be durable. Accordingly, it is required to choose a suitable type of wood that can provide strength and durability.

At first glance, it seems that hardwoods are ideal in this case. But hard rock there are drawbacks - under the influence of moisture and temperature fluctuations, the surface begins to dry out or swell. It is more important to choose elastic wood, which, along with hardness, has the ability to return to its original state. Then a table made of boards of such breeds will not be deformed.

The most suitable breeds are:

cherry;
nut.

Important: today you can even choose exotic woods. Just keep in mind that they will cost much more. You can buy boards from exotic woods in hardware stores.

Pros of wood countertops

So the benefits:

the wooden tabletop is easy to process and looks aesthetically pleasing;
the tree is resistant to sunlight; temperature, water;
scratches and chips on it are formed less often than on plastic and even stone, since the tree absorbs well;
Such a wooden countertop is easily restored.

There are very few downsides to wood countertops. And if you consider that a hand-made table is environmentally friendly and safe for human health, then the number of pluses greatly prevails.

Table size

The size of a handmade table depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room and the purpose of the product. But, as a rule, its standard height is 70 cm.

For a family of 4, it will be enough to make a tabletop measuring 1m by 1m. The ideal table size would be 120 cm by 80-90 cm - such a table will accommodate not only the hosts, but also guests.

Required Tools

Making a table out of wood will require a number of tools. In order to make a table, you will need:

jointer;
saw;
thickness gauge;
clamps;
cutter.

Materials:

wooden boards;
impregnation-antiseptic;
sandpaper;
wood glue;
varnish, paint.

Making a table from a shield

It will be easiest to make a table with your own hands from a furniture board. It is not so difficult to assemble a shield at home from boards - you will not need special tools and complex technologies here.

Important: it is necessary to process the boards with a jointer. If you do not have the skills to work with this tool, then it is better to purchase finished processed boards of the same desired length and thickness. Then making a tabletop with your own hands will not cause severe difficulties.

Before assembly, the tree must be dried. Then it is necessary to impregnate the tree with an antiseptic and let it dry.

Making a countertop involves preparing the boards for assembly. To do this, the boards are carefully processed, and grooves are made at their ends using a milling cutter or electric jigsaw. The depth of the grooves for do-it-yourself tables should be 10-12 mm. If the table is made of thin boards, then the width is reduced to 6-8 mm. Boards for countertops are divided into two parts. In one part, the grooves are glued with carpentry glue.

Important: to speed up work, you can use ready-made boards with grooves and ridges, which are sold in the store. You can buy a wagon.

After the surface becomes perfectly even and smooth, you can cover the countertop with paint or varnish.

Thus, you can make countertops of any configuration and shape. This creates an incredible scope for creativity.

Simple tables for a summer residence and a workshop can also be assembled, only the boards are fastened from below to the self-tapping screws with a beam. Such tables look emphatically rough, which allows you to create beautiful stylized country furniture.

Other wood processing methods

If the tabletop is made of fiberboard sheet or chipboard, then it will be necessary to protect the edges of the countertop from moisture. Otherwise, she will quickly warp.

In this case, an edge must be used to process the edges of the tabletop. You can purchase an edge that is easy to glue with your own hands with a hot iron. If you want to make the table more durable and aesthetic, then it is best to purchase furniture edge with a comb. Using a cutter, cut a groove along the perimeter of the tabletop and then insert the edge into it. Such a do-it-yourself countertop will last much longer and will look like a factory.

How to make a tabletop with your own hands (video)

So, making a table with your own hands is not difficult. This requires minimal skills in carpentry tools and good materials.

Some more photos

All photos from the article

Despite the abundance of modern high-quality and quite presentable materials, natural wood countertops are still in demand. Moreover, rampant fashion recent years on all natural brought such countertops to the leaders of sales. People no longer want to live in a stone jungle made of glass and concrete, they want the natural warmth of natural wood.

Our site could not remain indifferent and, based on own experience, we systematized the most exciting questions this topic. Based on such an analysis, this article was born, from which you will learn about the reasons for such popularity and how to make a wooden tabletop with your own hands.

What is the secret of popularity

For centuries, our ancestors have used wood for construction and home improvement.

Such furniture was, is and will remain at the peak of popularity and there are a lot of reasons for this, here are just a few of them:

It is difficult to find a more environmentally friendly material. Wood itself has a natural warmth. Plus, with proper processing, such a table top made of wood will have a very beneficial effect on the aura and health of the household.
In terms of design, this material fits perfectly into almost any interior. The array is easy to decorate and adapts well to different, sometimes diametrically opposed styles.
Such furniture may different shape, in addition to the classic rectangular and square tables, you can order or cut out a plane of any configuration with your own hands.

If you correctly process such an array, he will not be afraid biological pests, moisture and direct Sun rays. As a result, the table will feel good both in the house and on the veranda or in the open gazebo.
Tabletop made of natural wood, many times more elastic than natural or artificial stone. Where the stone cracks or begins to crumble, only a small dent will remain on the board, which can then be puttied.
And finally, making do-it-yourself wooden tabletops is quite affordable for a person with basic carpentry skills.

Anyone, even the most perfect and beautiful material has its drawbacks. The countertop made of natural wood is no exception.

Luckily, there aren't many:

The durability of the material directly depends on how to cover the wood countertop.. Synthetic varnishes have high protective data, but at the same time they neutralize the environmental component of the material. natural oils are good, but the wood with this treatment quickly darkens in the sun. Plus, any coating needs to be updated at regular intervals, and these are additional costs.
Compared to glass or stone, wooden table easy enough to leave a scratch or dent. Although in fairness it should be noted that repairing such a defect will not be difficult.

quality, natural product at all times it was expensive, especially if it is a countertop made of a single piece of wood, which is very problematic to make on your own, in a home workshop.

Alternatives

Everyone knows that the price of good solid wood furniture is quite high. Therefore, as alternative often a wood countertop is installed. We will not talk about pure plastic, we will focus only on materials close to wood in composition.

by the most affordable option are laminated panels based on chipboard or MDF. The slabs are made from woodworking industry waste and are covered with a synthetic film on top, on which a background is applied that copies the natural pattern. Thanks to modern technologies, externally, such a plate is not much different from a natural array.

Veneered coating is much closer to the natural array. In fact, this is an average cheap option. MDF or a board of an inexpensive breed is taken as the basis, on which a thin slice of wood of more expensive varieties is glued and pressed.

If a round tabletop is made under coffee table, then it will serve for decades. But such a product is not suitable for a kitchen or a summer cottage, the veneer will quickly delaminate.

Tip: if you plan to install the stove yourself under kitchen sink or a cutting table, then the factory laminated woodgrain countertop will be the best option both in terms of cost and quality. in any decent hardware store There is a wide range of this product.

If we are talking about a work surface for the kitchen, then it is better to take varnish for a wooden worktop on synthetic basis. Polyurethane compounds for parquet are often used.

If the price does not play a big role for you, then you can take urethane-alkyd or, as it is also called, yacht varnish. Coating on acrylic base not suitable for work surfaces.

Natural oil formulations are more suitable for home use. Oil for wood countertops, as a rule, linseed is used. If you have heard about mint, spruce or any other oil, then know that they are made by infusing the product, for example, mint, with linseed oil in a dark place for 2 weeks. For 1 liter of refined oil, 1 glass of filler is poured.

Natural wax mastics are made by mixing in a water bath the same linseed oil with clean beeswax. The proportion is selected depending on the type of wood and can range from 1:3 to 1:5.

Important: both varnishing and oil treatment are done at least 2 times. If you wish to achieve good result, you may have to apply up to 7 layers. Moreover, the composition is applied only on a dried surface.