Kitchen plinth for countertops: types, purpose and mounting features

Even the most beautiful and renovated kitchen won't look finished unless you install baseboards for the countertops. It would seem that such a small detail, but how much it affects the overall picture. In this review we will look at what types they exist and how to install them correctly yourself.

Functionality

First of all, it is worth understanding its purpose and main characteristics. Many people are interested in two questions:

• Is the plinth a simple decorative element or does it also have a practical function?
• Why is it even needed?

To answer these two questions, it is worth understanding the advantages. They are as follows:

• Disguise. Not a single apartment or house has straight walls. If the table does not fit flush against the wall and there remains a large and uneven gap along its entire length, then it is necessary to hide such flaws with the help of a kitchen plinth. With it, the interior will look aesthetically pleasing and complete.
• Debris protection. First of all, the kitchen is associated with the room where people constantly cook. There is a lot of different small waste here. To prevent them from getting behind the kitchen unit, a plinth is installed. Additionally, it will protect against the formation of various fungi and mold.
• Water protection. It is installed along the entire length of the countertop, also in place of the sink, to prevent dirty splashes. Washing dishes is accompanied by water splashing and getting into hard-to-reach places and soaking the back of the furniture.

Attention!

If the set is made of MDF, then it must be protected from contact with water. Otherwise, the material will swell from moisture and deteriorate.

Is it possible to do without a kitchen baseboard?

When choosing a turnkey repair, most users shift concerns about the final result to professionals. At the same time, you need to take into account that there are several ways to connect a tabletop with an apron so that the result looks harmonious in the interior.

So, some owners prefer to lay out the tiles first, and then call measurers to make furniture to the required dimensions. This method greatly simplifies the task for builders. At the same time, you cannot do without a border, especially if the floors in the room are uneven. Even if the set is made perfectly according to the parameters, there may be a gap between it and the wall.

A more practical option is to install the apron after installing the kitchen unit. At the same time, finishing will require more time and effort for repair work, since the tiles will need to be adjusted strictly to the specified dimensions. But in this case, you can exclude the use of skirting boards. If the tiles almost completely cover the gap between the wall and the furniture, then you can get by using a transparent sealant.

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Material of manufacture

When purchasing a kitchen set, the baseboard is included in the kit. It matches exactly in color and shape. Arranging a room yourself is much more difficult and in this case you need to choose the baguette yourself. To make this task easier, here are some simple tips:

• For wooden furniture, a frieze made of wood or chipboard is suitable;
• granite can be combined with artificial stone baguette.

Attention!

The baguette must completely match the color and texture of the countertop surface. You can use a more economical option - made of plastic. This material perfectly imitates any surface.

But truly the most popular were, are and remain aluminum and plastic baguettes. Let's look at each type in more detail.

Plastic frieze

It is made from polyvinyl chloride by coextrusion. In simpler terms, this is the addition of a colored pigment to the composition of molten plastic. The color takes on a natural look. If the plinth is additionally laminated, you can get a product that imitates wood, stone or metal. Can be used with any countertop.

The main advantages are:

• low cost of the product;
• high moisture resistance;
• simplicity and ease of installation.

There are also some disadvantages:

• when compared with natural stone or wood, it is inferior in appearance;
• near the hob with slight heat exposure can release formaldehyde.

Aluminum frieze

This analogue is not much more expensive than its predecessor. It is easy to clean and wash. The most important advantage of the material is heat resistance. It can be safely installed in the area of ​​the stove.

This plinth does not have a wide range of colors. It is exclusively suitable for stainless steel worktops.

On a note!

To ensure that the baguette fits perfectly with your kitchen workstation, you need to order them from the same manufacturer.

This rule must be followed even if you assemble the kitchen yourself. When purchasing such products, you should pay attention to edge holders. They should only be transparent. Otherwise, they will stand out strongly from the general range.

Pay special attention to the heat resistance of the material. If part of the countertop goes behind the stove, then baseboards made of wood and plastic are inferior to aluminum models.

Installation subtleties

When ordering a kitchen, installation of all elements is included in the cost of the specialist’s work. But there are times when you want to try your own and save money at the same time. To carry out independent work, you need to know the basic rules for handling kitchen plinths. Most often, when purchasing a set of skirting boards, instructions with installation rules are located on or inside the package. If this is not the case, then you need to take into account the main stages of the work.

• First, check the kit's contents. All bolts and silicone gaskets must be in place. Otherwise, you need to contact the store with a receipt and get the necessary components.
• Then you need to take care of the tools that can be used to cut the selected type of material. For plastic, chipboard and aluminum, a hacksaw for metal will suffice. Its small teeth will ensure a neat, clean cut. If the baseboard is ceramic, then you will need a more serious unit, such as a grinder with a special cutting wheel for ceramics. It’s also worth preparing a ruler and pencil for measurements, and a screwdriver for installing screws. Depending on the type of fastener, a drill with drill bits may also be useful.
• Next, you need to measure the length of the strips to be cut, then measure them again, and only then start cutting. First, the lower part of the panel is cut and fastened, and then the upper decorative part is inserted or snapped into it.

The design of modern skirting boards is approximately the same, so you can consider in more detail the method of fastening using the example of one type of skirting board - an aluminum kitchen corner-border. Such a kit must include the following elements:

• mounting base;
• decorative panel;
• corner convex and concave elements;
• end caps;
• jumpers.

First you need to establish the foundation. In an aluminum plinth it is attached to the tabletop. The basis is a thick plastic strip, in which there are holes for self-tapping screws.

Please note that this strip is not mounted on the wall for technical reasons. Over time, the tabletop may shift, which will lead to gaps appearing between the baseboards, and accordingly, debris will begin to get there.

But if the set includes an apron, then you can install a plinth on it.

Direct fastening can be done using a screwdriver or drill with an attachment. The plastic strip must be pressed tightly against the tabletop and, inserting a screw, screw it in. The standard distance between screws should be about 30 cm. During the installation process, you need to lay the base so that it fits into all the gaps and is inserted into the corner joints. Laying is carried out gradually with the sequential installation of all necessary elements.

After completing the installation of this element, you can snap the plugs on the sides. To do this, you also need to press them a little. If any of the elements does not fit into the groove, do not immediately press on it with great force. It is better to first check whether a screw or chips have gotten into the fastening. If you try to latch fasteners with a foreign object, you can simply break the latches.

To make the gaps more tight after installation, you can coat the edges of the plinth with a small amount of silicone. Thanks to its transparency, it will remain invisible, but will create the necessary level of protection. It is also worth taking care that the end caps do not fly off during operation. To do this, they need to be glued to a base of PVA glue.

To learn how to install a plinth on a kitchen countertop, see the following video.

Shape matters

This criterion is selected based on the functional features of the baguette. There is only one rule here: the larger the gap between the tabletop and the wall, the wider the baseboard. Otherwise, he will not be able to hide all the flaws and irregularities. It will also not be able to protect against debris and moisture.

The stores offer kitchen skirting boards of various shapes:

• figured
• flat;
• triangular;
• rectangular;
• rounded.

Absolutely any form can be chosen.
It all depends on your taste preferences and overall kitchen design. On a note!

Baguettes made of wood and plastic have a wide variety of shapes.

As for the sizes, the length of the frieze can reach 3, 3.5 and 4 meters. Additionally, it is equipped with a silicone seal. It helps to install tightly.

Advantages of high ceilings

A room with high ceilings allows you to experiment with furniture options: make cabinets and shelves of various heights. Sometimes open shelves leave space above cabinets.

Ceramic tile backsplash

A kitchen apron becomes an assistant in such a situation. Special visual techniques will help harmoniously separate the space. Modeling a kitchen with high walls (3 m), its working area can be divided horizontally into 4 parts:

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1. The first level is at a height of 85 cm. This is the line where the working surface (tabletop) is located.
2. The second level is 65 cm higher than the first. Kitchen apron height mark.
3. The third level is 85 cm higher than the previous one. Maximum height of mezzanines.
4. The last level is after 65 cm. Marking the ceilings themselves.

This conditional division of the wall into 4 proportionate parts allows you to compose the area with a single plan. The protective panel in this case will create a feeling of comfort and spaciousness.

Diagram indicating optimal sizes

It is better to use a kitchen apron in a single color or with calm patterns. A horizontal pattern will make the kitchen wider, while a vertical pattern will make it taller.

The image of a landscape will give a feeling of space. Increasing the size of the apron visually makes the kitchen larger. Open shelves raise the ceiling as much as possible. Sometimes high mezzanines are installed, reaching to the very top.

Installation

If the kitchen is ready, then the assembly and installation of the baguette is the work of the master. When assembling furniture yourself, it is important not to forget and attach the frieze correctly. To ensure everything goes well, we recommend that you read the detailed instructions.

Checking the contents

Before installation, double check that the entire kit is in place. It should include the following elements:

• baguette base, which is attached to the wall and tabletop;
• decorative part;
• plugs;
• external and external corners, joint connectors;
• fasteners.

Installation

For the installation to be successful, you must follow these steps:

• Measuring the tabletop. If the baguette is too long, it can be shortened using a saw with fine teeth. The tool is suitable for cutting frieze of any material.
• It is necessary to take the base and place it at the installation site.
• Use a hammer drill to drill holes through.
• We insert the plastic part of the fastening into the wall, attach the base part and screw in the metal part. For convenience, you can use a screwdriver.
• If you are attaching a baguette to a tabletop, then use ordinary self-tapping screws.
• We install the decorative part.
• You need to put caps in the edges, as well as in the outer and inner corners.
• All joints must be treated with silicone sealant.

Now the installation of the kitchen plinth is complete.

On a note!

If you need to fix the baseboard to the tiles, you must use a special drill that will prevent cracking.

What does the kitchen edge consist of?

The design is mostly standard. Let's look at an aluminum model as an example:

• Fasteners are the main part that is installed first;
• Decorative element;
• Caps and corner parts;
• Jumpers.

The main part will not be visible after installation - the strip completely covers it during installation. To ensure tightness, the package includes a silicone liner (usually for aluminum moldings, less often for plastic).

When buying a plinth, consider the size of the gap. The standard height of the molding is about 2-3 cm, more - up to 10 cm.

Professional installation is preferable. If you decide to replace the set, it is better to immediately install the tabletop baseboards to protect the gaps.

There are two ways to secure the molding: using special glue or using self-tapping screws or bolts. Self-adhesive skirting boards are on sale.

Update

If you decide to equip your kitchen with interesting functionality, then LED lighting is the best choice. To do this, you need to purchase a baguette made of transparent plastic. A diode strip of any shade is inserted inside.

If you want to save money, you can install a regular Christmas tree garland. The room will acquire a stylish design and an intimate atmosphere. This will allow you to have romantic dinners every day and for any occasion. Additionally, the backlight can be used as lighting.

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.

Ceramic tiles or porcelain stoneware as a material for a kitchen apron

A traditional, familiar option for wall decoration in the kitchen. Has a number of advantages:

• excellent resistance to moisture and high temperatures;
• withstands the effects of acids, alkalis, household chemicals;
• strength, durability;
• easy to clean from any stains, the ability to use abrasive cleaning agents;
• a huge range of sizes, colors, decorative patterns.

Disadvantages include the complexity of installation and the need to purchase additional materials - tile adhesive, corners, grout. Replacing old tiles will also require some work.