How to properly attach a plinth to a countertop in the kitchen: do it yourself, how to attach it, useful tips

A special plinth, which is fixed between the tabletop and the wall, has several purposes. Many people underestimate its importance, which is why they make a number of mistakes when purchasing and installing it. Today we are going to learn about how to attach a plinth to a countertop in the kitchen, and what is its peculiarity.

We fix the kitchen plinth with our own hands.

Why do you need a plinth on the countertop?

The baseboard is a special board that protects the tabletop from the penetration of excess moisture, crumbs and other debris. It is also part of the decor of the kitchen module, which allows you to maintain a smooth transition of the module to the wall.

Using kitchen skirting boards you can improve the appearance of your kitchen.

Main functions

Today, there is a wide range of sides to choose from, which are made of different materials. The main functions of this integral part include the following:

Camouflage effect. The plinth smoothes out unevenness of the wall and the surface of the tabletop well.
Protection from debris and contamination. All housewives know that if you lose sight of a few crumbs, insects will soon appear.
Moisture protection. Most modern modules are made from low quality raw materials, which is why even minor but regular leaks can lead to swelling and damage to the module. Experts especially recommend purchasing a high-quality fillet if the interior is made of MDF.

This is only a small part of what a seemingly simple baseboard on a tabletop can provide.

Important! It makes the kitchen look complete and does not cause dissonance.

Without a kitchen plinth, the furniture in the kitchen does not look harmonious.

Materials

The plinth for the kitchen on the countertop made of artificial and natural stone, wood, porcelain stoneware should be made of the same material. But usually in typical kitchens, units are installed with a plastic or metal work surface, so plastic or aluminum baseboards are considered the most popular.

Plastic

Plastic kitchen plinth for countertops is made using the co-extrusion method from polyvinyl chloride. To do this, the plastic is melted and pigments and dyes are added to obtain the desired color or laminated with special films that imitate the textures of natural materials such as wood, metal and stone. Depending on the texture of the kitchen plinth covering, there are:

smooth;
shagreen;
matte;
glossy.

Kitchen plastic plinth for countertops is environmentally friendly, not afraid of water and has a low cost. Thanks to the huge color palette, you can easily choose the necessary profile for any interior. Plastic bends and cuts easily, so installation is quite simple, especially if the tabletop is adjacent to an uneven wall or it is necessary to bend this part around complex and curved shapes.

Aluminum

The kitchen aluminum plinth for the kitchen countertop has a thin but rather dense oxide film on top, which is so hard that it is not inferior in quality to corundum and quartz. Thanks to this film, the kitchen aluminum profile acquires:

electrical insulating qualities;
increased wear resistance to mechanical loads;
is not afraid of the negative effects of aggressive substances, for example, household chemicals.

Such profiles serve the kitchen for a very long time.

The main advantage of an aluminum product over its plastic counterparts is its heat resistance, so it can be installed quite close to stoves, ovens, and hobs.

Basic rules for choosing skirting boards

Additionally, there are several important points for those who are just starting to furnish a room and purchase furniture:

The color and design should be the same as the entire kitchen and module. You can’t buy a baseboard that doesn’t match the tone; it will always catch your eye.
When choosing decor, you need to start from the set. If handles and various small parts are made to resemble copper, it is necessary that the plinth should have a small part of this direction. This can affect both the pattern and the painted border.
Important attention should be paid to the material from which the fillet will be made. The plastic comes away from the sealant very quickly, and within six months the first problems will be visible.

A modern kitchen requires a kitchen baseboard.

The baseboard should not only be beautiful, but also easy to clean. A large number of textures can lead to contamination. It is almost impossible to wash such a baseboard without using strong chemicals.

Rules of care

The main function of the baseboard as a barrier is to prevent liquid or solid household waste, which has the ability to decompose under the influence of the kitchen microclimate, from getting into hard-to-reach places. Therefore, if gaps appear between the tabletop and the baseboard, they need to be eliminated. Transparent silicone is suitable for this.

It is important to ensure that no gaps form between the baseboard and the wall. Otherwise, there are no special care rules (except for the obvious - avoid contact with hot objects if the profile is PVC).

Useful tips and tricks

Most often, buyers are faced with universal models. Their cost is fully justified by the quality, and installation does not take much time. However, each manufacturer assembles the kit differently.

Universal kitchen skirting boards are sold at any hardware store.

It is advisable to pay attention to what the plinth for the tabletop should consist of:

The guide is a special latch on which the decorative body will be held. It is desirable that it be made of high-quality metal or solid silicone.
The plinth itself is a decorative component. It is necessary to choose options with minimal textures. The deeper the drawing, the more difficult the care will be.
Corners and plugs. Selected to match the tone of the kitchen set. It happens that the package may contain a plug that is completely contrary in tone to the chosen direction. You can purchase it separately; there are a lot of plastic options.

The most important thing is to choose a plinth that matches the existing jambs and irregularities. The baseboard can hide the wrong cut of the tabletop.

Trust your baseboard installer. Do not neglect the advice of experts.

Many people refuse plinths, preferring tiled sides. However, it is worth considering that the seams will in any case allow moisture to pass through, which will ultimately affect the overall condition of the module. The proposed options will help you understand this issue.

Installation methods

First, I will dwell on the design features of the moldings.

Kitchen baseboards can be solid or consist of a base strip and a removable element.

Choose dismountable kitchen baseboards.

There are several reasons:

the removable part can be replaced over time;
fastenings remain invisible;
you can use self-tapping screws for fixation;
wide selection of decorative strips;
ease of installation.

Both plastic and aluminum plinths, which I have already talked about, can be collapsible.

Depending on the materials used, there are 2 types of fastening:

On self-tapping screws
. This is how skirting boards with a removable cover are attached. The base strip is fixed, and the molding is already snapped onto it. As a result, the attachment point remains invisible;
For liquid nails
. Or silicone glue. It is the same. Suitable for solid skirting boards. They are not mounted using self-tapping screws. After all, this damages their design.

There are also different types of installation using self-tapping screws depending on where they are screwed:

On the countertop
. The most practical and common option. The base strip is fastened with self-tapping screws to the tabletop, positioned close to the wall. The main thing is to choose the correct width of the molding itself. As a result, there is no gap between the wall and the set;
Into the wall
. All experienced craftsmen do not advise attaching the baseboard to the wall, as is done when installing floor elements. Even a slight displacement of the kitchen unit leads to the formation of a gap. There will be no protection anymore.

Now you can separately see how to attach the plinth to the tabletop using self-tapping screws, and we will also take a separate look at the option with glue.

Fasten with self-tapping screws

There are also those who use nails. This is a wrong decision. If it is a flexible plastic baseboard, then you should not nail it to the tabletop. It is so easy to damage the molding itself, as well as the headset element.

Self-tapping screws are suitable for dismountable skirting boards. The installation sequence is as follows:

prepare tools and materials for work;
remove the decorative trim from the kitchen baseboard;
attach the base strip and mark for fastening;
make cuts in the countertop with a small drill for self-tapping screws so that the material does not begin to crack;
This is especially true for wooden countertops;
clean the surface and degrease it;
Apply a layer of silicone sealant along the entire installed baseboard;
Place the base of the baseboard on top of the sealant and press it;
screw the base bar according to the markings;
install a decorative profile;
install all plugs;
add sealant where it is missing.

It is important that all possible gaps between the headset and the wall are filled with sealant.

If the molding becomes worn out, damaged, or simply becomes boring, it is not necessary to completely replace the baseboard. It is enough to remove the decorative trim and install a new one. At the same time, you can add a little sealant in places where it has worn out.

Fasten with glue

Mainly used for solid plastic skirting boards. Objectively, it is considered a simpler installation option.

An important condition is the purchase of high-quality adhesive-sealant. Nothing will work without him.

The step by step process looks like this:

take accurate measurements of the kitchen after it is fully assembled;
determine the size of the plinth itself, as well as the required number of plugs and corners;
prepare the surface by cleaning and degreasing it;
if it is a collapsible plinth, then divide it into 2 parts;
cut the required length of the base strip using a hacksaw or a sharp knife;
Apply glue to the surface at the junction of the wall and the furniture (table top);
attach and press the baseboard;
keep for as long as the glue manufacturer indicated in the instructions;
cut the decorative strip and snap it onto the base;
install all caps and corners.

That's all. The work is completed. Nothing complicated.

Options for kitchen baseboards suitable for different designs

Experts advise buying a metal kitchen plinth made individually for your kitchen. Installation of granite countertops with natural stone Labrodorid, Lviv city

Stove in the countertop

The kitchen is the face of the housewife. Keeping household kitchen surfaces clean is quite easy if they are even and smooth.

But what to do with the gap between the stove and the countertop so that it does not become a collector of dirt?

Stove in countertop

Manufacturers of stoves attach special limiters to them, because of which it is impossible to place the stove close to the lower modules of the kitchen. This creates a gap between the stove and the countertop

He's not that useless. After all, when there is a gap, nearby furniture does not overheat, and this is a plus. But that doesn't make cleaning any easier.

Anything can get into the gap, this huge gap, during the cooking process: grains, drops of fat, dust, dirt. We have to fight this.

How to close the gap between the stove and the countertop

Aluminum or plastic tee This strip completely covers the gap. Aluminum is good because it does not heat up. And plastic - for its aesthetics. It can be any color, exactly the same as the tabletop, and will remain invisible against the general background.

The Taurus sinks into the gap, fitting tightly to its edges. This prevents the accumulation of dirt.

This part is sold in building materials and household appliances stores. Before purchasing, you need to measure the length of the slab and the width of the gap between the slab and the countertop and come to the store with ready-made figures.

Rubber seal A slightly less effective, but also acceptable way to eliminate the gap is a rubber seal. Cheap, easy to use, but not as aesthetically pleasing and can get hot.

A rubber seal may temporarily fix the problem. Thanks to it, the stove will adhere as closely as possible to the countertop. The sides of the gas or electric stove and the floor remain clean.

But often the seal absorbs fumes and dust, which is why it begins to peel off, requiring replacement.

The problem with gaps does not bother housewives who buy a kitchen with built-in appliances. A stove built into the countertop is a solution to the problem of gaps.

But those who buy kitchen appliances and kitchen furniture separately still have to bridge the gap. And our advice will help them.

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How the device is attached

The set of accessories for the table top is equipped with shaped and shaped profiles of three, three and a half and four meters. The silicone seal is located along the length of the structure.

When fixing the baseboard, the silicone adheres firmly to the surface, sealing the joints and preventing moisture from penetrating the ends of the tabletop.

The wall plinth has the shape of an equilateral triangle or boot, extended upward.

The base is fastened with self-tapping screws, and a decorative insert is secured at the top of the base until it clicks.

Fasteners include right- and left-side end caps and angle brackets attached to the outer sides.

All fittings have the same color as the baseboards.

Installation is easy.

First, measure the tabletop from the corner and “cut off” the required part of the profile using a hacksaw.
Clean the end parts with abrasive material. The gap from the tabletop to the apron is treated with sealed material for better adhesion.
The base of the plinth is placed at the joint and screwed to the tabletop.

If you attach metal or wooden baseboards with screws, then be sure to treat the edges with silicone.

Finally, we secure the corners and the front part by snapping it into the base, according to the instructions.

To accurately fit the decorative insert, you need to cut the strip correctly, subtracting three to five millimeters from the long sides of the tabletop when taking measurements. The insert is fixed in the corners by pressing. A click will notify you that the bar has been successfully and tightly fixed. The side elements of the decorative part are also installed.

Installing the plugs will complete the job of securing the baseboard.

Using silicone sealant, treat all elements before fastening, wait until it “sets.” This procedure is necessary for proper fixation and tight fit to the surface. Then insert and press the plugs.

The baseboard will provide the kitchen with sterility, cleanliness and freshness, which is what this room should have.

The installation of skirting boards using glue is practically the same. This method is less time-consuming, but does not allow you to hide kitchen appliances, since it fits firmly to the wall. And it will be almost impossible to remove the layer of glue after dismantling the kitchen baseboard.

In addition, the kitchen plinth will help you hide defects in the built-in kitchen and make its position visually more even.

Docking with a segment

A tabletop segment is essentially the top table for a segmented base cabinet. The standard dimensions of the segment are 900 by 900 mm, with a width of 600 m. Along the front, the edge of the segment can be straight or semicircular.

Related article: Enamels in kitchen painting

Since the ends of the joining of the table tops are sawn off smoothly, wood glue is used for joining. If such fastening seems insufficient, use special metal connectors for countertops (see photo).

By the way, similar parts are used for household trimming of countertops.

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Why is this necessary?

Before attaching the baseboard to the tabletop, many are interested in why this is necessary.

Not everyone understands its functions and tasks. But in vain. An important and also necessary element in the kitchen.

There are 3 main functions:

Disguise
. The gap between the headset and the wall looks ugly. It should be covered with molding. It's a plinth. It hides all defects and also forms a complete picture;
Protection
. I consider the main function to be protection from moisture. When cooking and cleaning, water and dirt get into the joints. Over time they accumulate there. Water pours behind the furniture. It mixes with garbage there. The process of decay begins. As a result, the furniture deteriorates and an unpleasant odor forms on the furniture. This is a source of mold and mildew. If you install a plinth, all these problems will be eliminated;
Decorative effect
. Modern skirting boards are beautiful and are also made in the style of kitchen furniture. They decorate it perfectly and complement it visually.

These reasons are enough to take moldings from Leroy Merlin or another store and install them in your kitchen.

Photo

Narrow aluminum plinth

For kitchen

Features of kitchen skirting boards

Kitchen set with aluminum baseboard

Aluminum baseboard attached to table top

Aluminum edging for kitchen worktop

Where can I buy

Kitchen baguette can be purchased at many hardware stores. Let's look at several manufacturers that are in great demand.

"Rehau"

This baguette is made with a seal that is practically invisible. The transition between the side and the tabletop is not noticeable. It has special strength and high heat resistance. Can be cleaned with any means. Additionally, the following advantages can be highlighted:

reliable protection against dirt;
durability;
ease of care.

The palette has a wide range of colors.

"Leroy Merlin"

This chain of stores for renovation and decoration offers kitchen countertop plinths made of plastic. Decorated with laminated film. It will help hide the gaps between the furniture and the wall. Main advantages:

low cost;
attractive appearance;
lasting;
easy;
easy to install.

The baguette has a standard length of 3 meters. Width and thickness 31 mm.

Plastic or aluminum

Aluminum and plastic curbs are used more often than others . This is due to the large assortment, ease of installation and affordable price (if we do not consider the products of European manufacturers).

Plastic

Plastic skirting boards are most in demand. This is the most budget option that has a lot of advantages.

pros:

Low price (except European brands).
Large assortment of shapes and colors.
Ease of installation.
Possibility of simulating any material.
Flexibility.

Cons (for the cheapest ones):

Low strength.
Burnout of colored models in direct sunlight.

Plastic borders are decorated with a coating of PVC film of various colors and shades . The second option is a coating made of aluminum foil that imitates aluminum or stainless steel.

Price range – from 50 to 300 rubles. per linear m . A high-quality plastic plinth “stainless steel” or “aluminum” looks no different from its metal counterpart and lasts for many years.

It can be useful:
Everything about do-it-yourself kitchen renovation
How to make a kitchen apron with your own hands
All about sockets on the kitchen apron

Aluminum

Aluminum plinth is more expensive than plastic, but has a number of advantages.

pros:

long service life;
strength and scratch resistance;
heat resistance;
does not fade in the sun;
high quality;
easy installation.

Minuses:

more expensive than plastic (about 1.5-2 times);
not flexible (the apron wall must be perfectly flat).

Aluminum skirting boards have a durable anodized matte or glossy finish , sometimes imitating stainless steel. All connecting elements are made of ordinary plastic, without decorative coating. Price – from 150 to 400 rubles. per linear meter.

Reference! Length of finished kitchen skirting boards made of plastic and aluminum: produced in Russia, China and Poland - 3 and 3.05 m, Italy (Opes, Volpato, etc.) - 4, 4.2 and 5 m, Germany (Rehau) - 3.7 , 4 and 4.2 m.