Dimensions and cost of kitchen worktops made of chipboard

The kitchen is the place in the apartment that should be equipped with maximum practicality and the use of durable and eco-friendly materials. Therefore, the choice of furniture in the kitchen should be approached not only from the point of view of the beauty of the interior, but also taking into account the peculiarities of its operation. The countertop plays a key role in organizing space, because it is on it that we place various kitchen appliances and are engaged in cooking. One of the optimal options in all respects is chipboard kitchen countertops.

Advantages and disadvantages of chipboard products

Particleboard is a sheet consisting of pressed wood sawdust and shavings, impregnated with a special binder. There is a kind of chipboard coated on one side with plastic or a lamination film - chipboard. On the reverse side, such plates are reinforced with several layers of moisture-proof kraft paper.

A worktop made of this material has the following advantages:

1. The relatively low cost of the product.
2. Excellent moisture resistance.
3. This countertop is suitable for the kitchen in any style - the choice of colors and imitations of various materials is huge.
4. The ability to create a flat surface without joints and seams.
5. High strength and resistance to mechanical and thermal damage.
6. Eco-friendly material safety.
7. Easy to transport, install and care for the product.
8. Durability.

Several disadvantages of such a product:

1. The need to seal joints during installation of built-in household appliances and sinks - water falling on unprotected sections will lead to swelling of the chipboard.
2. Significant damage to the plate cannot be repaired - it will have to be completely replaced.

But with the right approach to installation and careful operation of countertops, these disadvantages will never spoil your kitchen set.

Dimensions of chipboard kitchen worktops

Before you choose the design of a new countertop for your kitchen, you should decide on its size. This is necessary so that in the final result the free space on it corresponds to your needs and room capabilities.

Thus, the dimensions of the kitchen worktops from chipboard are determined taking into account:

• footage of the kitchen;
• location and size of the lower modules of the headset;
• preferences and needs of the owners.

The standard width of the countertop is 60 centimeters, but this parameter can vary from 40 to 120 centimeters.

The chipboard plate can be of various lengths - this depends on the design of the headset, the number of cabinets assigned to the countertop functions, etc. The maximum length of the workpieces is approximately 4 meters.

The thickness of the plates varies from 26 to 38 millimeters. Foreign manufacturers offer a thickness of exactly 38 millimeters, and domestic - most often 28 and 38 millimeters.

A parameter such as the thickness of the fiberboard depends on what functions the countertop will perform. If heavy kitchen appliances will stand on it, and the stove itself will be installed without solid supports (cabinets), then it is better to choose a maximum thickness of 38 millimeters. If the design of the headset itself is very durable, then you can not be afraid to choose chipboard with a thickness of less than 38 millimeters.

What are pressed tabletops

In addition to sizes, countertops can differ in their facing materials and their shapes. Their price also varies depending on these parameters.

Particleboard manufacturing technology involves the use of the following materials for their lining:

• Plastic. With its help, laminated products from chipboard are created. Thanks to plastic, they acquire moisture resistance, resistance to contamination and mechanical damage, increases the service life of the product. The most common type of coating.

• Melamine. This is a synthetic decorative coating, which is a paper with an image deposited on it, coated with melamine resin. It has excellent moisture repellent properties and resistance to mechanical as well as chemical damage.

• Veneer. Particleboard of this type is covered with a layer of veneer, then fixed with varnish. Veneered chipboard sheets are not very popular due to poor resistance to various kinds of damage.

Thus, an additional 0.4 to 0.8 mm of the protective coating is added to the existing 38 mm. This parameter is very insignificant, therefore it is not specified when choosing the size of the product.

The shape of the countertops can be:

• T-shaped;
• angular (in the form of the letter G);
• U-shaped (used in large kitchens, may be part of bar counter);
• with a recess for a chair or convenient access to the sink / hob;
• straight;
• with a trapezoidal angle.

Countertop Shape It is selected based on the availability of free space in the room and the design of the entire kitchen set. It can even be located in the center of the kitchen, join the windowsill or be an independent continuation of the kitchen set.

The cost of products from chipboard

Many factors influence how much a high-quality tabletop made of chipboard costs. For example, its design, the quality of the material, the methods of edge processing. Of great importance are the thickness and size. Naturally, the price of a plate 26 mm thick will differ significantly from the cost of a product whose thickness is 38 mm.

• The average price of a tabletop 38 mm with a glossy surface of a standard width of 60 cm and a length of 305 cm varies from 3,000–4,500 rubles .;
• the cost of the product is 38 mm with a matte surface of 60 × 305 cm - 2,500–6,000 rubles;
• a three-meter plate with a maximum width of 120 cm will cost from 8,500 to 11,000 rubles .;
• for a 28 mm slab 60-centimeter wide, the price will start from 1800 rubles, for a 120-centimeter slab from 7 000 rubles.

Accessories for countertops also vary in cost, for example, for a 28-millimeter price for accessories will be from 120 to 200 rubles, and for 38 mm - 160 to 250 rubles.

In addition, cutting, delivery and installation of countertops can be added to the cost.

Durable conditions for extruded worktops

Despite the fact that chipboard is a very strong and practically non-damaging material, there is the possibility of its damage. In order to prevent this from happening, you must follow certain conditions for using such a countertop. There are only two of them:

• Professional installation. Even if your countertop is installed perfectly evenly, without unnecessary seams and joints, there is the possibility of its swelling due to the influence of moisture. Therefore, even an expensive product, ordered from a foreign company, but mounted without proper sealing of all sections, will not serve its owners for long. Conversely, a properly installed and protected chipboard sheet will last as long as the most expensive.

• Careful operation. Scratches on a stone, wooden or steel surface can ruin the appearance of the countertops, but their functionality will not be affected. But chips, scratches and punched grooves on the worktops made of chipboard will open moisture access to the body of the plate. This will lead to damage to the product, which will no longer be possible to restore to its original form.

You can avoid most problems by following simple rules: use cutting boards, hot coasters, and do not spill boiling water on the surface. With proper care, a chipboard worktop will be an excellent functional and interior solution for your kitchen.