Modern kitchen has a dozen required attributes. The premises can not do without additional lighting, hoods and skirting boards for countertops. Exceptions are made only in rare cases, due to the old-style styling or the absence of a suitable skirting option. Protective strips are sold separately, but sometimes complete with countertops. In the second case, the buyer is deprived of the opportunity to make the best decision. At the same time, product size, material and manufacturing complexity affect a large price gap. Decorative options often turn out to be uncomfortable, but modifications with cavities and prefabricated models have the best characteristics. The first ones help in organizing the space, the other ones are easily mounted, as they consist of a lower bar and a decorative plug. The decorating function is in second place, immediately after the protective one.
The joint of the kitchen working area and the walls are usually hidden with trims, and this place is not the most convenient for installation. There are practical and aesthetic reasons for using skirting boards for countertops. Fat, water, garbage and food fragments will surely fall into the slot and eventually spoil hygiene, create a mess behind the nightstands. Now furniture skirting boards are used in almost all kitchens, and the problem has been partially solved. In addition, the slats help hide wall defects and visually round off irregularities. Protection also benefits countertop materials. For example, a tree due to additional insulation and sealing will last longer and will not swell from water. The skirting board for joints provides additional options for laying cables. Thin attractive borders become the final element in the arrangement of the room and design.
Shape and size
Popular shape options:
rounded frieze;
triangular border;
figured relief;
flat strip
rectangular bar.
The shape of the product for the kitchen worktop is selected depending on the size and characteristics of the gap between it and the apron, otherwise they are guided by personal preferences. A variety of performance is typical for plastic and wooden planks. Skirting boards can be pre-examined in the interior, and after that - make a decision about the purchase. In the case of other elements, this would be difficult. As for the sizes, more than half of the models on the market have standard parameters. Often you have to make a special order.The usual height indicator is in the range of 1-2 cm, but standard models are also of a higher height - 10 cm. Sometimes there are reasons for installing larger options - depending on the features of the hob. The standard length of skirting boards is within 3-4 m. The planks are easily trimmed.
Material - advantages and disadvantages
Skirting boards are made from:
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
Aluminum;
Silicone;
Acrylic
Natural stone;
Natural wood.
The choice of material is not very varied, because the place of operation is subjected to significant loads: moisture constantly accumulates there, and next to the oven and stove there is a high temperature. Plastic and metal, as the most versatile materials, provide protection against external influences. Moreover, choosing between the first and second, you can sacrifice the appearance and get more reliability, that is, stop on the metal, or else make a more “aesthetic” decision at the loss of part of the functional. Natural and acrylic stones are, in a sense, coarse materials. They are not suitable for delicate work, less versatile and expensive. Instead, the stone has good external characteristics. Wood is a classic that should only be used if the performance of the furniture is not affected. Silicone is added to models from other materials, rarely used separately.
PVC
PVC skirting boards have high elasticity: products tightly close the gaps with thoughtful curved shapes and pronounced irregularities. Polyvinyl chloride - resistant to moisture, corrosion, rot. Plinths made of plastic are easier to take the desired shape during production, so there are almost no options for sale without cable channels. The textured and color variety is “recorded” in the asset of PVC strips, while there are also products with imitation of metal, wood and stone.An affordable price is added to all these advantages: beautiful and high-quality skirting boards are present in all price categories. Installation of plastic rails will not cause difficulties even for a simple layman. At the same time, PVC skirting boards have 3 fundamental disadvantages. The most unpleasant thing is the color change as a result of exposure to cleaning products. PVC does not have high strength and in addition - poorly tolerates extreme temperatures.
Aluminum
Aluminum products are noted for heat resistance, functionality, increased decorativeness, ease of care and convenience. They have high strength and resistance to deformation. In addition to the main advantages, the purchase of metal skirting boards has several alternative options. Either one molding alone or a modification with a colored ribbon is purchased. The finishing coating can be replaced at any time. The surface itself is simple, polished and embossed, which adds selection options for different interiors. Even if the baseboard is not included with the headset, it will still look organic. It is only necessary to choose a close color scheme. "Weaknesses" in aluminum skirting boards - a minimum. These include high cost. In addition, the plank material is more suitable for sturdy worktops.
Aluminum products sometimes darken!
Silicone
The solid version is rarely used. Silicone in the baseboard usually acts as a sealant. Silicone edge is present in wood, metal and plastic products. Manufacturers place it either at the edges or inside, next to the groove under the wires. Silicone tightly adheres to the coating, and protects the joints from water and foreign objects. At the same time, solid silicone skirtings are also made from the sanitary option. Special material is endowed with improved qualities in terms of resistance to moisture and mold.He has increased adhesion to commonly used materials: wood, tile, glass, concrete. At the same time, ordinary and modified silicone does not mix well with granite and other types of stone. The performance of the silicone layer in the skirting board sometimes fails. Small stitches will generally look ugly.
Acrylic
Skirting boards made of this material will be useful where dirt accumulates and pests gather. Acrylic prevents unpleasant pollution and excludes the spread of microorganisms, since it has no pores. Acrylic stone was invented a long time ago - 50 years ago, and a relatively small prevalence is due to the popularity of other raw materials. The material is obtained by processing acrylic resins, mixing them with mineral fillers and pigment inclusions. The main component is usually polymethyl methacrylate. The quality of acrylic directly depends on the concentration of this component, the higher the better. The coating of acrylic stone is easily cleaned with one movement of the hand, so skirting boards from it are widely used in kitchens of restaurants, as well as in medical institutions. Among the disadvantages is the modest choice of form and high cost, which is raised in direct connection with an increase in the concentration of polymethyl methacrylate.
A natural stone
The most expensive of the popular options. Stone skirting boards for countertops are small furniture friezes. The key advantages of natural stone are felt already in contact with this material - it is resistant and able to withstand mechanical loads of a different nature: shock, impact of sharp objects, pressure. This is associated with its durability, which is also expressed in maintaining the appearance. Stone slabs retain color and texture for a long time, are not “afraid” of moisture, chemical agents and ultraviolet radiation.Skirting boards made of stone are made in the form of a flat panel, and, despite the attractive qualities in terms of design, some joints the frieze will not be able to hide. The wall should be as flat as possible, and this is the main limitation. In stone skirting boards rarely make channels for wires due to the technological complexity of the process.
Natural wood
Wood is devoid of most of the benefits of metal and PVC. At the same time, products serve more than 10 years in the case of treatment with compounds against fungus, mold, insects, aggressive chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, moisture. At the same time, protection against burning does not hurt. The external characteristics of wooden products are worth it to spend time searching for a well-crafted version or to conduct independent manipulations. Aesthetic qualities are ideal for an expensive interior. For environmental friendliness and thermal conductivity, the tree has become widespread, and these are two more arguments for the purchase of a wooden baseboard. A variety of textures, in turn, helps designers to implement new ideas. In contrast to all this, cost and the total mass of flaws play. Wood rots, swells from water, loses its integrity at the ends.
Used wood species:
oak;
beech;
ash;
Pine.
Mounting Methods
There are 2 options, for glue or self-tapping screws, but lately there are more and more self-adhesive models of skirting boards that are installed faster. As for glue, it is better to choose liquid nails. The adhesive is applied to the bar, then gently put on the joint and hold until the glue hardens completely. After that, the sealant is treated and the cap is mounted on top. Installation on fasteners such as screws takes longer. You will need to mark and drill holes. The process does not differ from the method with glue in terms of calculating the length of fragments and the number of connecting and corner elements.Self-adhesive skirting boards are mounted on any kind of joints, regardless of shape. The strips are installed directly from the roll, and sometimes additional fastening elements are used. The choice of materials is small.
Adhesive options are more difficult to dismantle, although installation takes less time.
With glue
Necessary tools and devices:
hacksaw;
roulette;
pencil;
marker;
the glue itself.
Worktop flanges are usually fixed to glue, plain or silicone. Before mounting, the dimensions of the countertops are clarified and the exact number of corners and caps is determined. Then prepare the interface: clean, degrease and level. The bar is disassembled into 2 parts: the base and the overlay (plug). The necessary part of the lower bar is measured and cut. Its surfaces are lubricated with glue from the side of the countertop and the wall. The bar is put in place by a slow, gentle movement, after which the actions cease for the time specified in the instructions for the glue. Then set the inner corners and repeat the algorithm of work in all areas. After that, a decorative latch of a suitable length is cut out. The plug is finally mounted 5 mm under the edge of the corner element. The upper part of the baseboard is pressed so that it clicks on the bottom. Work then moves on to other installation locations, if any.
With screws
For compact plastic sides, the method is almost never used, although small fasteners should not ruin the baseboard. First of all, they find the ideal bar for the size of the countertop. In the course of work, the rail is first attached to the joint and the points of attachment to the wall are marked. At this point, determine the ideal number of right, left, connecting and central fasteners. Then the base of the baseboard is installed on the gaps. Fixing is done with self-tapping screws - perfectly even, without the slightest bias. Then mount the decorative strip, fittings, end caps.The joints with the surfaces are additionally treated with sealant - to increase the insulating qualities. The upper decorative strip, if necessary, is removed, for example, for dismantling self-tapping screws. Thus, the base of the baseboard will be mobile to the extent necessary.
Self-adhesive baseboards
They will benefit those who want to carry out repairs as quickly as possible. The production material is soft PVC or aluminum, which allows you to mount them on almost any surface. In this case, the plinth looks like a roll of electrical tape. The strip is connected to the surface with double-sided adhesive tape or mounting tape. Due to the difficulty of installing individual pieces of material, self-adhesive products are increasingly used in large rooms: kitchens of large restaurants and hotels, and if we talk about the floor-mounted version, then everywhere. The strip not only bends and fastens itself, but also joins with the help of fasteners. The installation location should be clearly marked, since the material has a significant minus in the form of the complexity of dismantling. It is difficult to tear off a self-adhesive baseboard without damaging it or the coating on which it is fixed. At the same time, the strip lends itself to wet cleaning.
Self-installation of a kitchen skirting board
The process will not cause difficulties even for a beginner, but you may need the help of a second person during the marking of attachment points. If the shape of the apron has bends, you will have to measure the length of individual lines. The baseboard is cut with a conventional hacksaw for metal, and the free edges are cleaned from roughness and protruding elements. The gap between the wall and the countertop should be pre-treated with sealant. After that, we attach parts of the base, connecting and angular additional elements with fastening on screws and using a conventional screwdriver. The fastener pitch is selected within 35 cm.Since most modern skirting boards consist of a base and an upper decorative part, they should be installed separately. Gently bend the top cap, insert it into the connecting elements, press and snap.
How to replace a skirting board
To do this, you will need to dismantle the old product. In this regard, self-adhesive options and strips installed on glue will be less convenient than material with fastening on hardware. Removing the old baseboard begins with the removal of self-tapping screws. They are unscrewed after removing the decorative lining or immediately if the latter is not provided for by the design. Before installing a new frieze, you need to make sure that the material is complete and select fasteners. With the second moment, everything is simple, but in the first case, you will need to calculate the direct and angular joints of the baseboard itself. The upper bar is checked for compliance basis, even at the stage of purchase. The following steps repeat the principle of a typical installation. First, the parameters of the countertop are measured, then fragments of the desired length are obtained and then a gradual installation is started. With drilling if hardware will be used.
Conclusion
A kitchen skirting board for a countertop combines a design component and practical need. Defects and irregularities of the walls and their general curvature spoil even the most attractive interior, and kitchen borders perfectly solve the problem, acting as an additional element and independent decor. Furniture will last several years longer if you just protect it with a baseboard. Planks are made of PVC, aluminum, silicone, acrylic and natural stone, wood - with a triangular, rounded or curved shape. There are regular and soft self-adhesive “versions” on sale. Standard options are mounted on hardware or special glue. Moreover, during the course of work, a minimum of tools and skills will be required.Manufacturers make skirting boards with cable channels and plugs, which have become the most popular in our time.
Modern kitchen has a dozen required attributes. The premises can not do without additional lighting, hoods and skirting boards for countertops. Exceptions are made only in rare cases, due to the old-style styling or the absence of a suitable skirting option. Protective strips are sold separately, but sometimes complete with countertops. In the second case, the buyer is deprived of the opportunity to make the best decision. At the same time, product size, material and manufacturing complexity affect a large price gap. Decorative options often turn out to be uncomfortable, but modifications with cavities and prefabricated models have the best characteristics. The first ones help in organizing the space, the other ones are easily mounted, as they consist of a lower bar and a decorative plug. The decorating function is in second place, immediately after the protective one.
Content
Functionality
The joint of the kitchen working area and the walls are usually hidden with trims, and this place is not the most convenient for installation. There are practical and aesthetic reasons for using skirting boards for countertops. Fat, water, garbage and food fragments will surely fall into the slot and eventually spoil hygiene, create a mess behind the nightstands. Now furniture skirting boards are used in almost all kitchens, and the problem has been partially solved. In addition, the slats help hide wall defects and visually round off irregularities. Protection also benefits countertop materials. For example, a tree due to additional insulation and sealing will last longer and will not swell from water. The skirting board for joints provides additional options for laying cables. Thin attractive borders become the final element in the arrangement of the room and design.
Shape and size
Popular shape options:
The shape of the product for the kitchen worktop is selected depending on the size and characteristics of the gap between it and the apron, otherwise they are guided by personal preferences. A variety of performance is typical for plastic and wooden planks. Skirting boards can be pre-examined in the interior, and after that - make a decision about the purchase. In the case of other elements, this would be difficult. As for the sizes, more than half of the models on the market have standard parameters. Often you have to make a special order.The usual height indicator is in the range of 1-2 cm, but standard models are also of a higher height - 10 cm. Sometimes there are reasons for installing larger options - depending on the features of the hob. The standard length of skirting boards is within 3-4 m. The planks are easily trimmed.
Material - advantages and disadvantages
Skirting boards are made from:
The choice of material is not very varied, because the place of operation is subjected to significant loads: moisture constantly accumulates there, and next to the oven and stove there is a high temperature. Plastic and metal, as the most versatile materials, provide protection against external influences. Moreover, choosing between the first and second, you can sacrifice the appearance and get more reliability, that is, stop on the metal, or else make a more “aesthetic” decision at the loss of part of the functional. Natural and acrylic stones are, in a sense, coarse materials. They are not suitable for delicate work, less versatile and expensive. Instead, the stone has good external characteristics. Wood is a classic that should only be used if the performance of the furniture is not affected. Silicone is added to models from other materials, rarely used separately.
PVC
PVC skirting boards have high elasticity: products tightly close the gaps with thoughtful curved shapes and pronounced irregularities. Polyvinyl chloride - resistant to moisture, corrosion, rot. Plinths made of plastic are easier to take the desired shape during production, so there are almost no options for sale without cable channels. The textured and color variety is “recorded” in the asset of PVC strips, while there are also products with imitation of metal, wood and stone.An affordable price is added to all these advantages: beautiful and high-quality skirting boards are present in all price categories. Installation of plastic rails will not cause difficulties even for a simple layman. At the same time, PVC skirting boards have 3 fundamental disadvantages. The most unpleasant thing is the color change as a result of exposure to cleaning products. PVC does not have high strength and in addition - poorly tolerates extreme temperatures.
Aluminum
Aluminum products are noted for heat resistance, functionality, increased decorativeness, ease of care and convenience. They have high strength and resistance to deformation. In addition to the main advantages, the purchase of metal skirting boards has several alternative options. Either one molding alone or a modification with a colored ribbon is purchased. The finishing coating can be replaced at any time. The surface itself is simple, polished and embossed, which adds selection options for different interiors. Even if the baseboard is not included with the headset, it will still look organic. It is only necessary to choose a close color scheme. "Weaknesses" in aluminum skirting boards - a minimum. These include high cost. In addition, the plank material is more suitable for sturdy worktops.
Silicone
The solid version is rarely used. Silicone in the baseboard usually acts as a sealant. Silicone edge is present in wood, metal and plastic products. Manufacturers place it either at the edges or inside, next to the groove under the wires. Silicone tightly adheres to the coating, and protects the joints from water and foreign objects. At the same time, solid silicone skirtings are also made from the sanitary option. Special material is endowed with improved qualities in terms of resistance to moisture and mold.He has increased adhesion to commonly used materials: wood, tile, glass, concrete. At the same time, ordinary and modified silicone does not mix well with granite and other types of stone. The performance of the silicone layer in the skirting board sometimes fails. Small stitches will generally look ugly.
Acrylic
Skirting boards made of this material will be useful where dirt accumulates and pests gather. Acrylic prevents unpleasant pollution and excludes the spread of microorganisms, since it has no pores. Acrylic stone was invented a long time ago - 50 years ago, and a relatively small prevalence is due to the popularity of other raw materials. The material is obtained by processing acrylic resins, mixing them with mineral fillers and pigment inclusions. The main component is usually polymethyl methacrylate. The quality of acrylic directly depends on the concentration of this component, the higher the better. The coating of acrylic stone is easily cleaned with one movement of the hand, so skirting boards from it are widely used in kitchens of restaurants, as well as in medical institutions. Among the disadvantages is the modest choice of form and high cost, which is raised in direct connection with an increase in the concentration of polymethyl methacrylate.
A natural stone
The most expensive of the popular options. Stone skirting boards for countertops are small furniture friezes. The key advantages of natural stone are felt already in contact with this material - it is resistant and able to withstand mechanical loads of a different nature: shock, impact of sharp objects, pressure. This is associated with its durability, which is also expressed in maintaining the appearance. Stone slabs retain color and texture for a long time, are not “afraid” of moisture, chemical agents and ultraviolet radiation.Skirting boards made of stone are made in the form of a flat panel, and, despite the attractive qualities in terms of design, some joints the frieze will not be able to hide. The wall should be as flat as possible, and this is the main limitation. In stone skirting boards rarely make channels for wires due to the technological complexity of the process.
Natural wood
Wood is devoid of most of the benefits of metal and PVC. At the same time, products serve more than 10 years in the case of treatment with compounds against fungus, mold, insects, aggressive chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, moisture. At the same time, protection against burning does not hurt. The external characteristics of wooden products are worth it to spend time searching for a well-crafted version or to conduct independent manipulations. Aesthetic qualities are ideal for an expensive interior. For environmental friendliness and thermal conductivity, the tree has become widespread, and these are two more arguments for the purchase of a wooden baseboard. A variety of textures, in turn, helps designers to implement new ideas. In contrast to all this, cost and the total mass of flaws play. Wood rots, swells from water, loses its integrity at the ends.
Used wood species:
Mounting Methods
There are 2 options, for glue or self-tapping screws, but lately there are more and more self-adhesive models of skirting boards that are installed faster. As for glue, it is better to choose liquid nails. The adhesive is applied to the bar, then gently put on the joint and hold until the glue hardens completely. After that, the sealant is treated and the cap is mounted on top. Installation on fasteners such as screws takes longer. You will need to mark and drill holes. The process does not differ from the method with glue in terms of calculating the length of fragments and the number of connecting and corner elements.Self-adhesive skirting boards are mounted on any kind of joints, regardless of shape. The strips are installed directly from the roll, and sometimes additional fastening elements are used. The choice of materials is small.
With glue
Necessary tools and devices:
Worktop flanges are usually fixed to glue, plain or silicone. Before mounting, the dimensions of the countertops are clarified and the exact number of corners and caps is determined. Then prepare the interface: clean, degrease and level. The bar is disassembled into 2 parts: the base and the overlay (plug). The necessary part of the lower bar is measured and cut. Its surfaces are lubricated with glue from the side of the countertop and the wall. The bar is put in place by a slow, gentle movement, after which the actions cease for the time specified in the instructions for the glue. Then set the inner corners and repeat the algorithm of work in all areas. After that, a decorative latch of a suitable length is cut out. The plug is finally mounted 5 mm under the edge of the corner element. The upper part of the baseboard is pressed so that it clicks on the bottom. Work then moves on to other installation locations, if any.
With screws
For compact plastic sides, the method is almost never used, although small fasteners should not ruin the baseboard. First of all, they find the ideal bar for the size of the countertop. In the course of work, the rail is first attached to the joint and the points of attachment to the wall are marked. At this point, determine the ideal number of right, left, connecting and central fasteners. Then the base of the baseboard is installed on the gaps. Fixing is done with self-tapping screws - perfectly even, without the slightest bias. Then mount the decorative strip, fittings, end caps.The joints with the surfaces are additionally treated with sealant - to increase the insulating qualities. The upper decorative strip, if necessary, is removed, for example, for dismantling self-tapping screws. Thus, the base of the baseboard will be mobile to the extent necessary.
Self-adhesive baseboards
They will benefit those who want to carry out repairs as quickly as possible. The production material is soft PVC or aluminum, which allows you to mount them on almost any surface. In this case, the plinth looks like a roll of electrical tape. The strip is connected to the surface with double-sided adhesive tape or mounting tape. Due to the difficulty of installing individual pieces of material, self-adhesive products are increasingly used in large rooms: kitchens of large restaurants and hotels, and if we talk about the floor-mounted version, then everywhere. The strip not only bends and fastens itself, but also joins with the help of fasteners. The installation location should be clearly marked, since the material has a significant minus in the form of the complexity of dismantling. It is difficult to tear off a self-adhesive baseboard without damaging it or the coating on which it is fixed. At the same time, the strip lends itself to wet cleaning.
Self-installation of a kitchen skirting board
The process will not cause difficulties even for a beginner, but you may need the help of a second person during the marking of attachment points. If the shape of the apron has bends, you will have to measure the length of individual lines. The baseboard is cut with a conventional hacksaw for metal, and the free edges are cleaned from roughness and protruding elements. The gap between the wall and the countertop should be pre-treated with sealant. After that, we attach parts of the base, connecting and angular additional elements with fastening on screws and using a conventional screwdriver. The fastener pitch is selected within 35 cm.Since most modern skirting boards consist of a base and an upper decorative part, they should be installed separately. Gently bend the top cap, insert it into the connecting elements, press and snap.
How to replace a skirting board
To do this, you will need to dismantle the old product. In this regard, self-adhesive options and strips installed on glue will be less convenient than material with fastening on hardware. Removing the old baseboard begins with the removal of self-tapping screws. They are unscrewed after removing the decorative lining or immediately if the latter is not provided for by the design. Before installing a new frieze, you need to make sure that the material is complete and select fasteners. With the second moment, everything is simple, but in the first case, you will need to calculate the direct and angular joints of the baseboard itself. The upper bar is checked for compliance basis, even at the stage of purchase. The following steps repeat the principle of a typical installation. First, the parameters of the countertop are measured, then fragments of the desired length are obtained and then a gradual installation is started. With drilling if hardware will be used.
Conclusion
A kitchen skirting board for a countertop combines a design component and practical need. Defects and irregularities of the walls and their general curvature spoil even the most attractive interior, and kitchen borders perfectly solve the problem, acting as an additional element and independent decor. Furniture will last several years longer if you just protect it with a baseboard. Planks are made of PVC, aluminum, silicone, acrylic and natural stone, wood - with a triangular, rounded or curved shape. There are regular and soft self-adhesive “versions” on sale. Standard options are mounted on hardware or special glue. Moreover, during the course of work, a minimum of tools and skills will be required.Manufacturers make skirting boards with cable channels and plugs, which have become the most popular in our time.