How to choose and install a skirting board on your kitchen countertop?

When re-equipping the kitchen and installing new furniture, it is necessary to take into account the slightest nuances so that the repair is both complete and as functional as possible. Particular attention should be paid to the gaps between the worktop and the rest of the kitchen set. They can and should be covered with a plinth. This solution will help make the kitchen more aesthetically pleasing and prevent unwanted contamination in hard-to-reach areas.

Laying the skirting board for the kitchen can be called the final stage of installation. The need to install it on a tabletop is due to several reasons.

• The presence of uneven gaps between the edges of the table and walls. When performing repairs, the walls are rarely leveled if most of them are planned to be closed with a headset, because this is extra money and effort. Therefore, the gaps are uneven. To hide such a visual defect, you just need to use a decorative skirting board.
• High probability of ingress of water and other liquid substances. In the process of cooking, liquids of all kinds and properties are constantly poured. It can be not only plain water, but also sweet tea or fish broth. If they get into the cracks between the countertop and the walls, such substances create a sticky coating and lead to the formation of mildew and mildew. For the absence of these formations and for maintaining cleanliness, the kitchen skirting board is simply irreplaceable. In addition, in inexpensive kitchens, the side walls can be made of MDF material, which swells when moisture gets in and irreparably deteriorates. Preventing these situations will help extend the life of your kitchen furniture.
• The need to create protection from debris. When cutting vegetables or unpacking food, debris appears, which falls not only on the floor, but also in the gaps near the table. It is inconvenient, and often not so easy, to constantly move the tabletop away for cleaning. Therefore, the plinth in such a situation is not just a decor, but an important functional element.

Kitchen skirting boards are distinguished by shape and material of manufacture. Both criteria are of great importance not only for a harmonious appearance, but also for reliable sealing of gaps. Depending on the material, the products (baguettes) are as follows:

• plastic;
• aluminum;
• ceramic;
• metal (possibly with chrome plating);
• Chipboard.

If the kitchen is made to order, then the skirting board is included in the package. Most often it is made of the same material as the headset itself. But when independently decorating a room, it is necessary to select such an element, starting from the external features of the purchased countertop, its texture and the color of the cabinets. The most economical and variable are plastic and metal baguettes. They are distinguished by their low cost and excellent compatibility with any surfaces. The metal version is versatile in the presence of the same sink, with which it will create an excellent tandem in any case. And the plastic skirting board can be selected due to a wide range of colors.

But each material has its own distinctive features, which it is better to know about in advance. So, plastic products are produced by adding color to a liquid material. It is then covered with a layer of laminate, which gives it a similarity to various types of materials, such as wood, stone or tiles.The price of this frieze, as well as its moisture resistance and ease of installation, are indisputable advantages. The peculiarity of the polymer material is that the plinth made of it can be flexible. However, there are several disadvantages as well. Plastic is fusible and cannot be located next to a periodically heated stove, because when exposed to heat, it begins to release a harmful substance - formaldehyde. In addition, if installed incorrectly, the narrow strip of the skirting board may split. And finally, although its appearance imitates expensive materials, it looks cheaper than natural ones.

Aluminum modifications are heat-resistant, while also inexpensive and not afraid of moisture. But these friezes are produced only in one color - metal, which makes their use impractical in the absence of a sink or other decorative elements made in this tone. Edge holders, which should be transparent, are also of great importance when choosing. Otherwise, the assembled composition will look cumbersome.

Ceramic skirting boards have all the positive qualities of the previous types, since this material is resistant to moisture and high temperatures. But in a decorative sense, it is combined mainly with the same countertops. In addition, the price of ceramic cutters is higher, but it pays off for a long service life. Ceramic retains its appearance throughout the entire service life, as it is scratch resistant. However, such material can be damaged due to its barbness. Such a plinth can crack not only during installation, but also during operation. For example, if a knife or any other heavy object accidentally falls on him.

Metal skirting boards are most often chrome-plated, which protects cutters from corrosion. Such material is easy to clean, is not afraid of heat, but is not used in decor without the presence of elements of similar quality in other parts of the kitchen. In addition, the cost of such a product is not the smallest. A laminated chipboard skirting board is an excellent addition to a wooden kitchen, as it is not afraid of moisture. Its price is available to any category of buyers. Its main disadvantage is considered to be low heat resistance, as is the case with plastic. It is best not to use this combustible material near the stove. It burns with an unpleasant odor and black smoke.

In order for the skirting board to blend harmoniously with the overall design, it is necessary to take into account its shape, which may be as follows:

• curly (corner);
• flat;
• triangular;
• rectangular (border);
• rounded.

The choice of the dimension of the product is influenced by the width of the gaps between the wall and the countertop. The larger they are, the wider the cutter should be. Otherwise, debris and moisture can get into the gaps after installing the skirting board, since its size will not allow for a high-quality installation. It is also necessary to take into account when choosing ceramic models that their fasteners are designed to be fixed to the wall, and not to the table top. When calculating the required number of skirting boards, you need to remember that the length of the product can vary from 3 to 4 meters. When buying, you should pay attention to the presence of an additional silicone seal, since this is a guarantee of a sealed installation of the frieze.

In order to choose the right skirting board for your kitchen worktop, all necessary characteristics should be taken into account.

• First of all, this concerns the width, as well as moisture and heat resistance. If there is a slab with a heating surface near the gaps, it is worth immediately excluding the plastic option, as well as the plinth made of chipboard. The same goes for the framing of the sink.
• Next, you need to pay attention to the features of the decor, which dictate the direction of choice.So, if you have chrome-plated handles on cabinets or a stove, you can safely choose aluminum or metal chrome plinths. And if there are rails under the boxes, then you can focus on their color and texture solution.
• But the most popular option is the choice of moldings in the color of the countertop. This visually expands its area, due to which the structure looks expensive. This solution will perfectly match the design of the headset.

It should be noted that the best option would be to choose cutters along with kitchen furniture. Most often, there are assembled modules in the store, to which you can attach various skirting board samples in order to immediately understand how this or that option will look. But it is necessary to mention also non-standard design solutions, when moldings, as well as small details of the headset, such as handles, can be combined with other details of the room, for example, the color of the walls or the cornice with curtains. However, in order to obtain a positive effect in this case, it is better to contact a professional designer. Self-design of the kitchen with such a decor may not work the first time, which will cause additional expenses.

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

• First, check the complete set. All bolts and silicone gaskets must be in place. Otherwise, you need to go to the store with a receipt and get the necessary components.
• Then you need to take care of the tools with which you can cut the selected type of material. For plastic, chipboard and aluminum, a hacksaw for metal will be enough. Its small teeth provide a neat, clean cut. If the skirting board is ceramic, then you will need a more serious unit, such as a grinder with a special cutting wheel for ceramics. And also it is worth preparing a ruler and a pencil for measurements, a screwdriver for installing screws. Depending on the type of fastener, a drill with drills may also come in handy.
• Next, you need to measure the length of the cut strips, then measure it again, and only after that 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, therefore, you can consider in more detail the method of fastening using the example of one type of skirting board - an aluminum kitchen corner-border. The following elements must be included in the complete set of such a set:

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

First, you need to establish a framework. In the aluminum skirting board, it is attached to the worktop. The base is a thick plastic strip, in which there are holes for self-tapping screws. Please note that this plank is not wall-mounted for technical reasons. Over time, the tabletop may shift, which will lead to the appearance of gaps between the skirting board, respectively, debris will get there. But if an apron is included in the headset, 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 firmly pressed against the table top and, inserting the screw, screw it in. The standard distance between the screws should be about 30 cm. During installation, the base must be laid so that it fits into all the gaps and is inserted into the corner joints. Laying is done gradually with the sequential installation of all the 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 a little on them. If any of the elements does not fit into the groove, do not immediately press on it with great effort. It is better to first check if a screw or shavings have fallen into the mount. If you try to snap fasteners with a foreign object, then you can simply break the latches.

For greater tightness of the gaps, after installation, you can cover the edges of the skirting board with a small amount of silicone. Due to its transparency, it will remain invisible, but it will create the necessary level of protection. And also it is worth taking care that the end caps do not fly off during operation. To do this, they need to be glued to the base of PVA glue.

For information on how to install a skirting board on a kitchen countertop, see the next video.