TIMBER WORKSURFACE DETAILS & OPTIONS

SECTION 3:

3.1 End Cap

There must be fitted to work surfaces adjacent to boilers, Agas and other hot appliances that run either permanently or for long periods of time.

The cap closes the endgrain to help reduce excessive drying of the timber.

It consists of a 20mm wide strip of matching timber, jointed and glued across the endgrain on the work surface.

Allow gaps of at least 15mm between the hot appliance and the capped ends of the timber top.

Low Level Hobs

End caps should also be fitted to timber worksurfaces that are adjacent to low level, dropped hobs where the hotplate level is aligned, or below, these adjacent worksurfaces.

3.2 Upstands

Upstands come in a choice of 3 designs and are supplied loose in 3 metre lengths with the ends cut square and arrises removed. Upstand 3, at 75mm high is intended for use both on its own and alongside the 75mm Timber Counter-back Units.

Cut down or scarf joint (splice) to the lengths required, on site. Install by fixing at the rear of the work- surface only.

Important Note:

The use of upstand adds 10mm to the overall depth of the work surface. Remember to take this into account when specifying top dimensions, cut-out positions etc. Either accommodate the extra 10mm OR have the work surface depths reduced by 10mm.

Upstands for 60, 80 & 100mm thick tops come with extension pieces to make them up to the appropriate height at ends where they will be visible.

These pieces are supplied loose and ready to assemble onto the left and/or right end of the upstand length(s) as appropriate.

3.3 CORNER AND PENINSULAR JOINTS

All joints are cut at 90 degrees unless specified otherwise (referto Part 1, Section 5 on Planning & Specifying below)

Joints are made with loose tongues and are drilled and slotted on their rear faces for work surface bolts that are supplied. The end grain in the joints is always factory sealed to stop the uptake of moisture:

a) Butt joints are used for tops with edge mouldings A, D & E.

b) Mitre joints are used for corners for 27mm & 40mm thick tops only. The mitre allows any of the edge mouldings to be run up to the corner, unlike the butt joint described above. Tops joined in this way require more material which is calculated from the rectangular area that circumscribes the mitres.

Note:

Mitre joints require careful handling and installation. Only specify them if the skills and conditions on site can ensure that the joints will be properly installed.

Note:

60, 80 & 100mm thick tops cannot be joined with mitres.

3.4 CUT-OUTS FOR APPLIANCES AND SINKS

Provide templates and/or drawings that show cut-out shapes and positions in the work-surface. Ensure that all the necessary information is sent with the order.

Specify your sink from” sink options “. All sinks in their stock range are proven products: selected for aesthetic and technical suitability. Their cut-outs and installation requirements are all known.

If you have a different appliance or sink, for which there is no template or cut-out drawing available you can make one.

Please refer to the sub-sections below for each type of cut-out.

When calculating the front-to-back position of the sink or appliance and its cut-out: take account of the worksurface’s front overhang, the door thickness, the size and position of the base unit top rails and clamping method that will hold the appliance or sink.

Side-to-side positioning needs to take account of the base unit side panels and any muntins or midrails.

a) Cut-outs for lay-on sinks and appliances:

These cut-outs have mill finish edges and are fully sealed against moisture.

When positioning and making a cut-out for a hob, always follow the hob manufacturer’s instruction for sizes, safety clearances, etc.

To make a template or cut-out drawing if none are available: measure the appliance or sink accurately around the point where it will go through the work surface. Add a clearance of 3mm per side, i.e. 6mm overall.

Test the measurements by using them to make a cut-out in cardboard and trying this onto the appliance or sink before sending the drawing.

b) Closed cut-outs fro undermounted sinks

These have fine sanded edges and small bevels all round between the edges and the faces of the work surface. The edges are oiled, as for the top’s surfaces.

Note:

Specify cut-outs for undermounted sinks only if it is certain that they can be fully and durably waterproofed on site.

To make a template or drawing of a cut-out if none is available: accurately measure the inside of the sink bowl at the point where the rounded top rim meets the vertical sides. Subtract an overhang of 7.5mm per side, i.e. 15mm overall. Test the measurements by using them to make a cut-out in cardboard and trying this above the bowl.

c) Open cut-outs for Belfast type sinks

These are suitable for 27 & 40mm thick work surfaces only.

It is not viable to form open-sided cut-outs in 60, 80 & 100mm thick worksurfaces.

The three edges have a fine sanded finished with small bevels all round between the edges and the faces of the top. The edges are oiled, as for the top’s surfaces.

A Belfast type sink should be installed with its front face projecting beyond the front edge of the top by half the thickness of the sink’s front wall.

Note:

Specify cut-outs for undermounted sinks only if it is certain that they can be fully and durably waterproofed on site.

The diagrams here show how to set-out this type of sink with formulae to calculate opening sizes and positions.

For Belfast and London sinks the cut-out size is: 520W, 408D with R20mm internal corner radii.

The sink fits on a 600W, 465H unit with one 450 x 597H door.

For the French Porcelain sink the cut-out size is 970W x 470D with R20mm internal corner radii.

Note:

The worksurface overlaps halfway over the rim of this sink along the rear and at the left and right sides. This sink fits on a 1000W x 570H base unit with two 497 x 570H doors.

Note:

The doors may need trimming along their top edge and re-edging or re-finishing to fit under the overhanging porcelain sink.

3. 5 Tap holes

These are usually 028mm for single supply and 035mm for Monobloc (dual supply) taps.

Check the taps to be used.

The sides of the holes are fully sealed against moisture.

Specify the hole positions by centrelines, also the distance between centres – particularly for bridge mixer taps.

Do not position tap holes than 50mm from the centreline to any edge. Position the tap hole to leave space for the tap’s flange and access for the fixing nuts and washers underneath.

If you are specifying upstand, take account of its thickness when positioning tapholes.

3. 6 Drainer grooves

Drainer areas are formed by cutting grooves into the timber work surface adjacent to undermounted sink apertures. The grooves are nominally 12mm wide with a fall from zero to minus 6mm over their length.

Recommended groove lengths range from 330mm up to 450mm long according to the scale of the kitchen and the available space.