How to cut a countertop for a cooktop

How to build a cooktop into a worktop

When the built-in hob is installed in a new modern set, a table under the hob, and there is no special hole for mounting the case, you need to prepare in advance a set of tools. This requires a jigsaw and a drill.

The layout of modern furniture sets for the kitchen includes a built-in electric or gas stove.

To connect to the network you need a screwdriver, pliers. It is worth taking care about the serviceability of the socket, it will include the hob. The choice of location is made in advance.

How to saw the right countertop under the hob?

Modern kitchen furniture sets allow for independent installation of a gas, electric or induction cooktop. Such models can be operated both together with the oven, i.e. dependent, and separately, i.e. independent. Despite some difference in their design, the general rules that should be followed when carrying out works, are similar in all versions.

Marking

The appearance of the finished kitchen depends on how accurately the marking will be made, and a mistake of even half a centimeter will force the purchase of a new countertop.

Markings can be made in two ways:

Despite the apparent simplicity and attractiveness of the first way, there is a chance to make a mistake and put the wrong markings.

It is much more reliable to mark the place of installation by careful calculations:

• On the surface of the countertop are drawn the boundaries of the internal space of the cabinet over which the hob will be placed. In this way, the place within which the work will be carried out will be marked. The marking should be made with a pencil, so that when the work is finished, the lines can be easily erased. If the tabletop does not allow you to draw clearly visible lines, you should glue a paper masking tape on its surface, and draw the marks on it.
• It is necessary to find the future center of the hole in which the body will be installed. To do this, draw the diagonals of a rectangle on the countertop, formed by the front and back of the countertop and the drawn boundaries of the cabinet.
• At the point of intersection of the marked diagonals will be placed the center of the hob. Two straight lines must be drawn through it: one parallel to the edge of the tabletop, the other perpendicular.
• On these straight lines you must mark the dimensions of the part of the appliance to be built in. These can be seen in the technical documentation, or you can measure them yourself. These sizes should be increased by 1-2 mm for more convenient installation of the device afterwards.
• Draw straight lines (parallel and perpendicular to the edge of the worktop) through the marks. They form a rectangle that exactly matches the recessed part of the cabinet and is centred on the worktop.
• Make sure that the minimum distance between the final marking lines and the surrounding objects is maintained, as specified by the manufacturer in the technical documentation.
• The obtained rectangle should be circled with a marker, and unnecessary lines should be erased so as not to make a mistake when cutting the hole.

The marked rectangle corresponds to the size of the cooking surface

Milling the seating hole

To cut the seating for the cooktop, you can use the following tools:

The best quality cut is obtained when working with a milling machine. A slightly lower-quality cut is made with an electric jigsaw with a fine-toothed saw blade.

You can use a drill or electric jigsaw for the work

The order of cutting a hole with the jigsaw is as follows:

• Drill holes with a 8-10 mm bit in the corners of the marked rectangle (inside).
• Carefully cut along the marked lines with a fine-toothed saw. The body of the jigsaw must not be held “by weight” and must be firmly pressed against the table top.

The hole is cut along the planned lines

But not every household has handy tools. A much less beautiful, but nevertheless suitable cut for installation, can be made with an ordinary drill.

The procedure for cutting the planting hole with a drill is as follows:

• Use an 8-10 mm drill bit to drill along the marked line. They must be drilled on the inside of the marks so that the drilled places are in contact with the intended line of cut. Holes should be made as often as possible, so that the cut piece of countertop can be easily broken off.
• The rough edges of the hole must be aligned along the marked line. Use a rasp or a fine wood or metal file for this purpose. The resulting edges should be as flat as possible.

Attention! After the hole is made, the hob must be inserted into the hole. The appliance should go in without any effort and completely cover the cutout hole with its body.

Sealing the sealing hole

The next step is sealing. It is necessary to protect the countertop from water during cleaning or cooking. A worktop made of wood or chipboard can thus swell and deteriorate.

Sealing is carried out with acrylic sealant for sanitary work or nitro lacquer. It must be carefully applied with a thin layer from the inside to the ends of the hole made. On the upper surface of the countertop sealant is not necessary to apply. there will be used a special gasket in the form of sealing tape that comes with the panel.

The countertop ends are treated with silicone

• The sealing tape has an adhesive layer that is sealed with a film. It should not be removed all at once, and remove it gradually, as sticking to the surface.
• Tape is glued around the perimeter of the seating hole in one piece. It cannot be cut into the corners, but simply glued on with a twist.
• The end and beginning of the tape are butted together, without an overlap or gap.

Some manufacturers supply aluminum gaskets for cooktops. Instructions for installation are contained in the appliance documentation.

Fixing the hob

Fixing the hob is carried out as follows:

• The appliance is inserted into the recess and centred so that the front side is parallel to the edge of the worktop.
• On the inside of the cabinet, the cabinet is fixed to the worktop using the special plates provided.
• Mounting must be carried out in such a way that there are no gaps between the hob and the worktop.
• With a clerical knife from the top are cut off the excess gasket.

Cut the sealant with a box cutter

Electric hob

The connection point for the electric cooktop should preferably be provided before installing the kitchen set. The socket outlet must comply with all electrical safety requirements:

In the back wall of the floor cabinet in front of the electrical outlet is cut a hole of such size that you can easily hand insert and remove the plug from the hob.

Outlets installed for self-wiring come in two varieties:

If the hob wire is fitted with a plug, it is sufficient to plug it into the socket. The power cord should be of such length that it is not tight when you connect the appliance.

Plugs and sockets to connect cooktops

For models sold without a plug, certain steps will be required:

• If the socket is three-pronged and the wire has four wires, you will need to connect the two-phase model to a single-phase network. To do this, connect the black and brown insulated wires in the cord. This connection is connected to the phase of the outlet. Zero blue wire is connected to the socket’s ground and the green/yellow wire is connected to the ground. All connections must be securely insulated.
• If the location of the wires in the socket is unknown, you must use a multimeter to determine phase and zero. If necessary, they are rearranged so that they correspond to the wiring in the appliance plug.

Warning! By itself, cutting in an electric cooktop, you must provide for the mandatory installation of individual RCD and circuit breaker. For example, a 16A socket requires a RCD of at least 40A, and a circuit breaker of at least 25A.

Induction panel

The induction hob has the same general principles for connection as the electric hob. Many models have no power cord, just a terminal for connecting the external cable.

Wiring diagram is shown next to the terminal block

The connection is then made in the following order:

• The protective cover on the back of the unit is removed.
• The external cable is passed through the cover.
• The cord is connected to the terminal plate in accordance with the diagram accompanying the hob.
• If a jumper is installed that connects the zero and ground. it must be removed.

Gas Hob

Household gas is source of increased danger, so there are special requirements for the kitchen room:

• Availability of a ventilation hood.
• Air supply of at least 2 cubic meters.м. per hour per each kilowatt of panel power.
• The distance to the wall must be at least 130 mm.
• The gas supply hose must be positioned so that it is not exposed to unnecessary heat and can be inspected periodically by an inspection body.

Hose the stove hob with a flexible hose

Attention! If the mandatory requirements are not met, the operating company will not permit the operation of the installed gas hob.

Connection of the panel shall be carried out by a certified specialist in the following order:

• On the places of threaded connections are applied sealing fum-tape.
• Steam plastic gaskets are inserted in the gas hose.
• Connect the hose to the hob and to the gas supply.
• The joints are checked for leaks with soapy foam.
• The power cord is inserted into a moisture-proof socket.

The way to connect the hob: socket or connection block

There are two options for connecting an electric cooktop to the power supply:

Both options have the right to exist. Tip is simple, if the panel comes with a plug, then put the socket. A standard socket can handle 32 amps, and won’t do anything unless you turn it off when the load is on.

How To Cut a Laminate Countertop | Including Lessons Learned

Connection through the clamp is more reliable, although not convenient when repairing the panel or replacing it.

Marking

The appearance of the finished kitchen depends on how accurately the marking will be made, and a mistake of even half a centimeter will force the purchase of a new countertop.

Marking can be done in two ways:

Despite the apparent simplicity and attractiveness of the first way, the chances of making a mistake and applying the wrong marking are very high.

It is much more reliable to mark the place of installation by careful calculation:

• On the surface of the countertop are drawn the borders of the internal space of the cabinet, above which the cooker hob will be placed. In this way, the place within which the work will be carried out will be marked. The markings must be drawn with a pencil so that the lines can be easily erased when the work is finished. If the tabletop does not allow you to draw clearly visible lines, you should put some masking tape on its surface and draw the marks on it.
• It is necessary to find the future center of the hole in which the body will be installed. For this purpose, the diagonals of the rectangle formed by the front and back of the worktop and the drawn borders of the cabinet are drawn on the worktop.
• The center of the cooktop will be located at the intersection of the marked diagonals. Through it you need to draw two straight lines: one parallel to the edge of the tabletop, the other. perpendicularly.
• On these straight lines you need to mark the dimensions of the recessed part of the cabinet. You can read about it in the technical documentation or measure it yourself. These dimensions must be increased by 1 to 2 mm so that the appliance can be installed more easily.
• Draw straight lines (parallel and perpendicular to the edge of the worktop) through the marks. They form a rectangle that corresponds exactly to the recessed part of the cabinet and is positioned in the center of the countertop.
• Make sure that the minimum distance between the final marking lines and the surroundings is maintained, as specified by the manufacturer in the technical documentation.
• Trace the marker on the rectangle and erase all superfluous lines to avoid making a mistake when drilling the hole.

The marked rectangle corresponds to the size of the hob

Cutting the seating hole

To cut the seating for the cooktop, you can use the following tools:

The best cuts are produced using a milling machine. A slightly lower quality cut is produced by an electric jigsaw with a fine-toothed file.

A drill or jigsaw can be used for the work

The order of cutting a hole with the jigsaw is as follows:

• At the corners of the marked rectangle (on the inside) drill holes with a drill bit of 8-10 mm.
• Carefully cut along the marked lines with a fine-toothed file. The body of the jigsaw must not be held “by weight” and must be firmly pressed against the worktop.

The holes are cut along the marked lines

But not every household can find handy tools. A much less beautiful, but nevertheless fitting cut can be made with an ordinary drill.

The order of cutting the planting hole with a drill is as follows:

• Drill holes along the marked line with a drill 8-10 mm. They must be drilled from the inside of the marks so that the drilled out places are in contact with the planned cut line. Drill as many holes as possible so that the piece of countertop you want to cut could easily be broken off.
• The rough edges of the hole must be aligned with the marked line. To do this you can use a rasp or fine wood or metal file. The resulting edges must be made as even as possible.

Attention! After the sealing hole is made, the hob must be inserted into it. The device must enter without any effort and completely cover the cut hole with its body.

Sealing the seating hole

The next step is sealing. It is necessary to protect the countertop from water ingress during cleaning or cooking. A worktop made of wood or chipboard can thus swell and deteriorate.

Sealing is made with acrylic sealant for plumbing work or nitro varnish. Carefully apply a thin layer of it from the inside to the ends of the hole. On the upper surface of the countertop sealant is not necessary to apply. there will be used a special gasket in the form of sealing tape, coming with the panel.

The ends of the countertop are treated with silicone

• The sealing tape has an adhesive layer covered by a film. It should not be removed all at once, and to remove it gradually, as gluing to the surface.
• Tape is glued along the perimeter of the seating hole in one piece. It is not cut on the corners, but simply glued with a twist.
• The end and the beginning of the tape are butted together without overlapping or gaps.

Some manufacturers complete the hobs with aluminum seals. Instructions for installing them are contained in the documentation of the device.

Fixing the hob

Attachment of the hob is carried out as follows

• The appliance is inserted into the seating hole and centered so that the front side is parallel to the edge of the worktop.
• From the inside of the cabinet, the enclosure is attached to the countertop with the special plates provided.
• The assembly must be carried out in such a way that there are no gaps between the hob and the worktop.
• Use a box cutter to trim off the excess sealant from above.

The sealer is cut with a box cutter

How to install a recessed cooktop in the countertop?

Recessed appliances have long since ceased to be a luxury and have become commonplace in any modern kitchen. For example, the cooktop can be harmoniously integrated into the worktop and become one with the surface. This solution is a great option for small rooms, where every square centimeter is worth its weight in gold.

To perform the installation of the hob into the countertop you need to have some knowledge and skills. However, if you study the steps of installation, you can save on calling a specialist and do all the work with your own hands.

How to install a gas cooker in the countertop with your own hands

In the conditions of the apartment, the place of installation of the gas hob, is determined by the location of the gas pipe. On the gas pipe, there should be a stop valve. It is worth noting that the transfer of the gas pipe at any distance, should be done only by specialists of the gas company. However, no one forbids to install the gas panel at some distance from the pipe, using a flexible supply for gas (gas hose).

Installation details

Kitchen hobs come in gas, electric and induction. Each of them has its own characteristics and requires a certain approach to installation. But there are general rules that apply to all types of kitchen installations.

Before proceeding with the installation, you need to make sure that the following nuances will be met:

• the presence of a ventilation system and equipped over the stove hood or the presence of a powerful fan in the window;
• A worktop material with a level of heat resistance no lower than 100 °C and a surface no thinner than 25 mm;
• If you plan to install the panel between two cabinets, the distance between the walls and the hob should be at least 15 cm;
• The gap between the wall and the hob should be at least 5 cm, and if it is less, then lay a thermal insulating material.

Any discrepancy in the installation of equipment is fraught with the risk of improper operation and the emergence of a fire hazard.

Electric panel

Electric stoves are particularly popular with users. They are convenient to use, durable and beautiful. In the case of breakage, you can repair them yourself without calling a master. Of course, if there is not at least minimal knowledge in the field of electricity, it is better to leave the installation and subsequent repairs to professionals.

On the back wall of any built-in electric panel there is a scheme by which the connection is made. If you do something wrong, it is fraught with a short circuit and the incorrect work of the burners. Some models are equipped with a wire to connect the hob directly to the switchboard. This relieves the need to make an extra power point for the outlet. Installation in this case consists only of connecting the cable to the hob, its installation in the hole made and sealing.

Gas cooker hob

The gas stove, built into the countertop, is installed by the owner of the equipment himself. But to make connections and check the malfunction should a representative of the relevant service.

Usually gas panels are attached to the tabletop with special brackets that are included in the kit. After installation, you can connect the power cable and open the gas supply. At this stage, you need to be extremely careful and take into account all safety rules.

Make sure there are no leaks. Use a special gas analyzer or the “old-fashioned” method. Lubricate the joints between the panel and the pipe with a soapy solution and open the gas. If you see bubbling, then there is a malfunction, which must be eliminated.

Правила установки над духовым шкафом

Induction hobs have many advantages over gas and electric stoves.

• the surface quickly heats up to a certain temperature;
• easy to care for and keep clean;
• saving power consumption;
• The absence of open flame and too high temperatures makes the technique safe for children.

Fit the hob over the oven must take into account some subtleties. The oven must be equipped with a cooling system and forced ventilation.

The worktop into which the panel will be installed must be perfectly flat. If this rule is neglected, it is possible that the deformation will disrupt the normal operation of the equipment, and it will quickly break down.

Marking the tabletop for installation

To ensure that when sawing out the holes did not chip the laminate around the perimeter of the marking glue masking tape and reapply the marking.

How to glue the hob to the worktop

В последнее время все чаще громоздкие плиты сменяются компактными варочными панелями, становящимися неотъемлемой частью кухонного гарнитура. Since any such model must be cut into the existing surface, it is much wiser to learn this simple process and perform everything yourself.

Features

The specifics of installing the cooktop in the countertop largely depends on whether it will be electric or gas. Electric, as you can guess, must be located near the power point. Be sure to take into account both the cross section of the cable and the power of the nearest outlet. You can not ignore such a procedure as the grounding of metal parts as well. The installation of the gas surface is a little more complicated, because it is important to think about how to connect it to the gas pipe.

In addition, safety requirements categorically prohibit independent connection of gas cooking tops. To carry out this operation will have to invite an employee of special services, which will perform all for a fee. Of course, you can try to install everything yourself, but in this case you will have to expect not only serious penalties, but also a real danger to the lives of the inhabitants of the whole house. By the way, sanctions can go up to complete closure of the gas and sealing the valve.

Install and connect the electric stove yourself, of course, is allowed, but clearly following the available instructions. In the case where a person does not have any skills to work with electrical devices, it is recommended to contact professionals. If the installation process is carried out incorrectly, the negative consequences may include not only the disrupted operation of the device, but also its breakdown or even the failure of the entire wiring in the apartment.

There are a few more nuances, relating to the connection of the hob. For example, the maximum possible gap between the hob and the countertop is 1-2 millimeters. The thickness of the countertop itself must comply with the minimum figure specified in the instructions. In addition, the location of the countertop is always aligned with the front edge of the part of the kitchen set.

Marking the lines

Insertion of the hob begins with figuring out the dimensions and drawing them on the countertop. You can usually find all the parameters listed in the instructions that come with the appliance. If the manufacturer has not taken care of it, you can calculate it all yourself. In the first variant the panel is turned over, and then traced on heavy cardboard or even directly on the countertop. A ruler long enough, a pencil and a marker are needed.

You can try to determine yourself the place of attachment. First the borders of the inner space of the cabinet are transferred to the surface with a pencil, on which the panel itself will be placed. By the way, when a pencil does not make it possible to apply a bright marking, then it is reasonable to first glue a masking tape, and then already draw. Next, the center of the hole for the cabinet is determined. To do this, it will be enough to draw the diagonals of the rectangle, which creates the front and back of the countertop, and the drawn boundaries of the cabinet.

At the point where the diagonals intersect, two lines are drawn to form a cross. This means that one must run parallel to the edge of the worktop and the other perpendicular to it. On the lines that appear, the dimensions of the part of the enclosure that is to appear built in are marked. The exact figures are either self-determined or derived from the instructions. It is better, by the way, to increase them by a centimeter or two for more convenience.

If more parallel and perpendicular lines are drawn through the resulting marks, a rectangle is formed. It will not only appear exactly in the center, but also coincide with the part of the cooking surface that is to be deepened. If the gap between the lines formed and other objects preserved, as prescribed by the manufacturer, you can trace the figure with a marker and move on to the next stage.

Cutting a hole

To saw out the space for the hob, you will need either a milling machine or an electric jigsaw with fine teeth, or a drill. The size of the cutout should already be determined by this point, so you need to move on to the inside of the drawn rectangle. In the corners, holes are created using a drill with an 8- or 10-mm drill bit. Then the straight lines are machined with a saw or grinder. When working, it is important to fix the body of the appliance firmly on the worktop.

In the case where mortising is carried out using a drill only, the order of operations becomes slightly different. The first step remains the same. with a 8-10 mm drill holes are created from inside the drawn rectangle. Do them as often as possible so that the surface fragment then breaks off easily. Rough edges of the resulting recesses are smoothed along the line with a rasp or saw, designed for fine metal or woodwork. The main aim of this stage is to align the edges as much as possible.

After creating the landing hole, you can already cut the panel itself. The appliance should rest smoothly and completely close the hole in the worktop. After making sure that everything went smoothly, the burners should be removed for a while, and the cut areas should be sanded with emery cloth or a file. Wooden worktop requires additional treatment to prevent the penetration of liquid. The places of the cut should be treated with silicone, nitro-lacquer or sealant. Plastic tabletops do not need such treatment.

Installing

The installation of the hob is very simple. The panel is simply lowered into the cut-out hole and aligned with the help of a measuring device or your own eyes. everything must look nice and straight. If the hob is gas, the hose with a union nut is connected before installing the hob itself. Having centered the plate, you can proceed to fixing it.

Sealing

Sealing tape is wound even before the placement of the device itself. It is advised to plant it according to certain rules. The sealant usually comes with the stove hob and is self-adhesive: coated with adhesive and sealed with a protective film.

Separate the rubber band and the paper backing gradually as it joins the surface, so as not to confuse it. The sealant must be installed in one piece. Thermal tape should follow the perimeter of the hole on the front side of the furniture box. The corners are bypassed with a twist to prevent any cutting of the tape.

The two ends of the gasket should come together so that no gaps are left.