Securing Steel Table to wall/kitchen worktop

v-uk · Post by **v-uk** » Fri Jul 07, 2023 5:35 pm

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I'm posting in the Metalworking forum as I think it's more relevant here than in others, so forgive me if I get it wrong

I am trying to fashion some kind of breakfast bar for a kitchen/diner. There is no chance of me trying to find something to match the current kitchen (been down that road) so thought, as there are steel appliances and splashbacks, that I could try a stainless steel bench instead, like the kind you get in commercial kitchens. See attached photo.

I think it would work and actually look really great. It will act as a peninsular breakfast bar and additional worktop space in a small kitchen. creating an L-shape with the kitchen counter etc. Only thing is I need to secure it to the wall/kitchen worktop/floor some how.

The trouble is because it's steel I don't know how to do that (I'm not attempting it myself, I'd get someone in, but I at least want some concept of how it could be done, and find the right kind of person to do it).

Another problem to add to the mix is, I would like to install a steel splashback on the wall behind it, almost floor to ceiling, so I'd be wanting to attach the steel table to that. If that's the best way to do it of course. I don't have a problem securing the legs to the floor (an engineered wood floor). I would expect a proper kitchen breakfast bar to be fixed to the floor so why not this. Trouble is I wouldn't know what fixings to use, and the legs of this table are square, and have little feet.

The other alternative is to have just a steel countertop (see photo), MDF core, and fix that to the wall with a batten, simple enough. But then I present myself with another problem because I can't find any legs that fix to the floor to provide support (many seem to be freestanding and use tension to secure themselves to the floor), so there is the danger of them being kicked out etc. The countertop would be 1500mm x 600mm so would need a bit of support. I don't know how many legs that would need. Maybe something like in the attached photo that I could have a custom made height for (these are used to fix tables in restaurants, cafes and nightclubs etc)

I also know I don't have to have a long splashback, it can just go as far as the countertop if necessary, I'm just liking the idea of the floor to top-of-cabinet length to make a feature of it (see photo of proposed splashback, it's only 1mm thick), creating an extension of the kitchen without the breakfast bar making the whole room look odd (it's a kitchen/diner/lounge). I'm probably making things a bit hard for myself! It's the only thing I can think of to create a breakfast bar and more work surface.

I'm looking for any ideas or suggestions here. Basically I need to secure the steel table/countertop to stop tenants moving the table about/kicking out supporting legs when I'm eventually not living there.

Thanks so much!

mikew1972 · Post by **mikew1972** » Sat Jul 08, 2023 8:05 am

In all the commercial kitchens I've worked in things like this (The table in your last picture) are just free standing. They are heavy enough to not move around on their own and strong enough to not need the added strength of being attached to anything and, in a commercial kitchen, need to be pulled out every few months so the area behind and underneath them can be deep cleaned. If you want to make sure they are always in exactly the same place and can't be pushed around how about just nailing / gluing some pieces of matching engineered wood flooring on top of the existing either with a hole cut in for the legs to sit in or even just a couple of small strips of matching engineered wood flooring or even a couple of short lengths of wood flooring trim around each of the corner legs.

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dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Jul 08, 2023 9:28 am

My thoughts were the cost equation between replacing the existing worktops to provide a matching breakfast bar or a stainless solution. You have thought of that no doubt so assuming you want the stainless look I would look at building a square edge bar with an offcut worktop and veneering it with a thin stainless steel top. See an example source https://www.clickmetal.co.uk/stainless-steel-sheet/ A steel fabricator could possibly bend the edge form and weld the corners to create a slip-over for a few hundred if you shop around. Just an idea.

DWD

APDIY · Post by **APDIY** » Sat Jul 08, 2023 11:11 am

A general comment:
I’m creating an Industrial style, stainless steel, kitchen in my home.
I’ve sourced much of my material and components from my local scrap metal site.
Having established a working relationship with the owner and operatives, equipped with suitable H&S items,
my bargains are tremendous.
And the exercise is most beneficial.

v-uk · Post by **v-uk** » Sat Jul 08, 2023 11:26 am

Thanks all for the replies and ideas. I think I probably answered my own question as I was writing the post TBH. I think trying to secure the table is too much of a faff, and that getting a steel countertop with MDF underside would allow me to fix it to the wall like any other worktop. I think I've also now found a company that can provide the kind of leg that I want that can be fixed to the floor, the type used to bolt down tables in nightclubs, so it might be problem solved. Plus the splashback I want is only 1mm thick, so with the right drill I don't think it's going to pose a problem screwing through it to secure a batten to the wall.

But I appreciate the ideas and I'll certainly keep them in mind for future projects!

Hope this post helps others too