Is there anyway to extend a worktops length

Gurkin · Post by **Gurkin** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:08 pm

Hi,

is there anyway to extend a worktops length by min. 20mm? Only the front edge and 45mm of the surface will be visable as I would be fixing a filling strip on the worktop between a larder cupboard and a cupboard that is covering the boiler.

Thankyou for any replies received.

G.

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:42 pm

yes you can do this with care.

End of main worktop needs to be cut with router and jig to give a nice finish for mating to extension piece. Same applies for the extension piece, this needs to be done with router and jig. Then you can use biscuits and glue to join the two pieces together.

Other option is to glue and screw the two pieces together.

bear in mind that if the extension piece is a 'L' shape, which i think from your description it may be, you will have to have this cut out before screwing it.

The better way to do it would be to have the main worktop shorter in length and hence a bigger extension peice. that way you can also use the router and jig to cut the slots on the underside and glue and clamp it together with worktop bolts.

Even better still, get a longer length worktop, if you can.

Gurkin · Post by **Gurkin** » Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:56 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. This isn't an 'L' extention. In all honesty this has been caused by my c*ck up. As I was cutting the worktop in situ to fit the larder cupboard (got distracted) and managed somehow to cut it too short (how I manged to do this I don't know). Now even with both the dishwasher and washing machine pushed tightly together, there is only a 9mm gap to the end. (which isn't enough for an end panel). I think leaving it as it is will cause me problems whenever I need to move either machine. Unfortunately I don't possess a router and buying another worktop is not an option.

Could I cut a 20mm piece off the worktop I removed and glue and screw that? There would be no weight on it only the filling piece between the 2 cupboards.

If there ever was a lesson for measuring twice etc. this is it!!

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:03 am

Yes I see what you mean now......yes you could glue and screw the piece back on that you cut off by mistake.

With lack of tools that would be best option. Do a pilot hole for the screws first so that top of surfaces line up nicely, and front edge of course.

Gurkin · Post by **Gurkin** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:15 am

After I'd made the cut I stood back and admired my work and thought that it was nice and clean. Feel a right numpty now

.

Thanks again.

royaloakcarpentry · Post by **royaloakcarpentry** » Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:01 pm

Everyone makes a mistake, even us pros. i would be a liar if I said I had never cut a worktop wrong, even after measuring 2,3 or 4 times.

I cut in all the glue laminated roof beams for a classroom block. Flat roof which had a 10 degree pitch to it. I couldn't cut 1 and try it for fit because they had to be craned into position. I was too busy running the other carpenters on site that I wasn't concentrating enough on my work and cut the birdsmaouths in the wrong place. I forgot to take the pitch into account and had worked out on the basis of flat roof with 0 pitch to it. Oooops. As luck would have it the site agent was an ex carpenter and he had done exactly the same thing before. I had the offcuts so glued em back and cut them at the right place.

These things happen. I have seen doors hung wrong side, upside down, double doors upside down. Everything that can go wrong will at one time or another, go wrong.