I’m working on designing a countertop installation for a client. I purchased and milled a bunch of hard maple and curly cherry to 3/4. The plan is to treat the countertop like hardwood flooring, using 3/4 plywood as a base and glueing/screwing from bottom each board that will be at different lengths, followed by a 1/2 maple trim along the front.
I’m interested in getting some advice on is how to attach the boards so that there’s room for expansion and movement. What I’ve heard would work well is to just glue the bottoms of each board, leave a small gap between each piece (a playing card or 2) and fill all the cracks with a sawdust/glue mortar. I’ve also considered adding tongue and grooves to the boards, but wondering if that will be overkill??? ALSO, I’m wondering if it’s better to construct and install the countertop in the client’s store itself so the wood acclimates to the temperature and humidity, or do it in my non-climate controlled shop and install after built…
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Steve Saada
Replies
It does not sound like a good plan to me. Screwing the individual strips down to plywood with a small gap may work but, once you fill the gap you have lost the space you need or movement. If you don't fill the gaps, you have a place for dirt and crud to collect.
Edge glue your maple and cherry as you would for any table top making a monolithic panel. Then fasten it down to a frame; again, as you would if making a table. Use screws through elongated holes or "Z" clips or other methods to allow for wood movement.
What bilyo said.
For a counter, I would use 1-1/2 rather than 3/4"
Thanks! Would you recommend edge gluing AND gluing the bottoms, or just edge gluing and attaching to plywood base with screws/brad nails?
Also, do you think I should build and install in the clients store, which is climate controlled, or am I safe to build in my shop (NOT climate controlled) and then install/finish in client's store?
Thanks,
Steve
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