Expert Guide: How to Prepare for Your Kitchen Benchtop Installation
Follow the professionals' guide to prepping for your kitchen benchtops and your new surface and installation will be problem free
The secret to a good benchtop installation is preparation – and installing a benchtop involves a lot more than simply considering which materials to use. Benchtop installation is one of the last things to happen in your kitchen renovation. But before your installer shows up to template the area (this ensures a perfect fit and minimal installation fuss), all cabinets must be permanently installed – nothing can move between template and install.
Below you’ll find information you’ll need to be prepared with before and on template day, and some helpful tips for after your gorgeous new benchtops are installed.
Below you’ll find information you’ll need to be prepared with before and on template day, and some helpful tips for after your gorgeous new benchtops are installed.
BONUS TIP: It is much easier to wipe down a benchtop when you have wall-mounted tapware. To get this right, you’ll need to know where the finished wall surface will fall once the splashback is installed and where the sink will be centred so you have a spout that comes out above the drain. Before the plumbers start roughing in pipes, every decision needs to be made or you risk ending up with elements that don’t work well together.
Here are some handy tips on pairing benchtops and splashbacks
Here are some handy tips on pairing benchtops and splashbacks
Benchtop overhang
If any section of your benchtop will overhang the cabinets (think of a breakfast bench), consider how you will support this area. Overhangs of 15-30cm are possible without bracing, depending on the material, but an attractive bracket adds support and peace of mind should someone hop up and sit on your benchtop.
If any section of your benchtop will overhang the cabinets (think of a breakfast bench), consider how you will support this area. Overhangs of 15-30cm are possible without bracing, depending on the material, but an attractive bracket adds support and peace of mind should someone hop up and sit on your benchtop.
Benchtop height
Different people and tasks require different benchtop heights. If custom cabinets are not in your budget, one way to vary the finished height of the benchtop is to use materials of different thicknesses set on standard cabinets. A standard kitchen benchtop is 900mm (plus or minus 20mm) off the floor, but if you have someone tall in your family, up to 1050mm may be a more comfortable height. Here, a butcher’s block set lower than adjacent benchtops gives the person chopping more leverage.
Different people and tasks require different benchtop heights. If custom cabinets are not in your budget, one way to vary the finished height of the benchtop is to use materials of different thicknesses set on standard cabinets. A standard kitchen benchtop is 900mm (plus or minus 20mm) off the floor, but if you have someone tall in your family, up to 1050mm may be a more comfortable height. Here, a butcher’s block set lower than adjacent benchtops gives the person chopping more leverage.
Benchtop support
In most spots, your cabinetry will provide the support for the benchtops, but think about what will support the benchtop around your appliances. A slide-in range like the one pictured has a 5cm strip of benchtop behind the cooktop. Because it is tricky to move two large slabs connected by a 5cm strip, this spot will often be seamed together onsite. Make sure you install wood blocking flush with the top of the adjacent cabinets so the contractor can properly attach this strip.
Another common trouble spot is where a benchtop ends on a dishwasher. The dishwasher can’t support the benchtop, so provide structural support on the side – ideally more than a 17mm fill panel.
In most spots, your cabinetry will provide the support for the benchtops, but think about what will support the benchtop around your appliances. A slide-in range like the one pictured has a 5cm strip of benchtop behind the cooktop. Because it is tricky to move two large slabs connected by a 5cm strip, this spot will often be seamed together onsite. Make sure you install wood blocking flush with the top of the adjacent cabinets so the contractor can properly attach this strip.
Another common trouble spot is where a benchtop ends on a dishwasher. The dishwasher can’t support the benchtop, so provide structural support on the side – ideally more than a 17mm fill panel.
TEMPLATE DAY
On template day, you may still need to make some decisions.
How much of the sink will show on an undermount install?
If keeping the sink clean with little hassle is a priority, have the contractor bring the edge of the benchtop flush with the walls of the sink. If you prefer the look shown here, where some of the top flange shows all around, let your installer know.
Benchtop seams
Very few benchtops lack seams. In stone with veining, you may be able to hide a seam along a vein, and coloured epoxies should make all seams hard to spot.
On template day, you may still need to make some decisions.
How much of the sink will show on an undermount install?
If keeping the sink clean with little hassle is a priority, have the contractor bring the edge of the benchtop flush with the walls of the sink. If you prefer the look shown here, where some of the top flange shows all around, let your installer know.
Benchtop seams
Very few benchtops lack seams. In stone with veining, you may be able to hide a seam along a vein, and coloured epoxies should make all seams hard to spot.
Time to template
Templates are usually done in one of two ways. The low-tech way is to use strips of thin plywood and a hot glue gun to form rectangles that fit the spaces in your kitchen. High-tech templates may involve paper targets placed around the kitchen, or your installer may use a laser templating system. Both methods can produce flawless results.
Templates are usually done in one of two ways. The low-tech way is to use strips of thin plywood and a hot glue gun to form rectangles that fit the spaces in your kitchen. High-tech templates may involve paper targets placed around the kitchen, or your installer may use a laser templating system. Both methods can produce flawless results.
AFTER TEMPLATE DAY
Once the templating is done, you’ll usually have to wait one to two weeks for your benchtops to be fabricated. Make sure you get a firm date from your installer, because you’ll want to schedule your plumber for right after the benchtops are installed.
The plumbing
The sink will be clamped and siliconed in place, and the tap holes drilled, on install day, but your plumber will need to hook up the tap and drain before you can use it. Silicone and the epoxy used to seam materials together also give off powerful fumes, so make sure the room is well ventilated that day.
Once the templating is done, you’ll usually have to wait one to two weeks for your benchtops to be fabricated. Make sure you get a firm date from your installer, because you’ll want to schedule your plumber for right after the benchtops are installed.
The plumbing
The sink will be clamped and siliconed in place, and the tap holes drilled, on install day, but your plumber will need to hook up the tap and drain before you can use it. Silicone and the epoxy used to seam materials together also give off powerful fumes, so make sure the room is well ventilated that day.
The splashback
After the benchtops are installed, it’s time to think about splashback installation and painting. Your benchtop sets the lower line for your tile, so even though you could install the tile before templating, you’ll get a better-looking backsplash if you wait. Muscling a heavy benchtop into place is a difficult job, and some walls inevitably will get bumped or dinged. Save your finish painting until after the install for this reason.
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After the benchtops are installed, it’s time to think about splashback installation and painting. Your benchtop sets the lower line for your tile, so even though you could install the tile before templating, you’ll get a better-looking backsplash if you wait. Muscling a heavy benchtop into place is a difficult job, and some walls inevitably will get bumped or dinged. Save your finish painting until after the install for this reason.
MORE
Find Your Ideal Kitchen Benchtop Right Here
How to Choose the Right Splashback for Your Kitchen
8 Kitchen Additions That’ll Make Life a Little Bit Easier
Super Splashbacks: Stylish Up-to-the-Minute Ideas for Your Next Kitchen
Sink and tap installation
Always have your sink onsite well before templating. For standard undermount or drop-in sinks, your contractor should make sure it fits into the sink cabinet, and it should be in the right position before template day. The cabinet may need to be altered for the sink to fit, so don’t delay talking about this with your contractor.
If you are installing an apron-front sink, there can be several different ways to place the bowl. Think about the spot where the front edge of the benchtop and the sink meet. Some sinks have a notch into which the benchtop fits. In this photo, the benchtop was coped around the edge. The way this detail will align with the overhang should be decided in advance of template day.
As for placement of the tap, it shouldn’t always be centred on the sink. The sink drain may be offset. And you may want to centre the tap on a window or other architectural detail on the wall rather than on the sink.