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Hi there,
We're currently updating our existing kitchen and have some questions/need advice please.
I'm trying to build a stand-alone island, and as this is an old house with not much storage space, I'm putting 4 x Practa 1000 cabinets together to create the base (as per photo).
I have cut a 3mm MDF sheet to fill the gaps on top of the backing sheets, so that there's no gaps on the surface (as per photo).
After quite a bit of research and discussions, we are leaning towards getting a stone benchtop rather than timber at this stage.
We are planning to have a bit of space at the one end, just enough to have a couple of bar stools, but no traditional seating along the length, as my choice was to have cupboard that can be accessed from the living room side (it is a open plan space).
So we're looking at getting the benchtop cut to size of roughly 2300x1030.
Here are my questions please.
- What is the capacity of these Practa base cabinets in terms of the weight they can hold? Can they hold a stone benchtop? Should we be putting anything on the back of the legs (not that they are going to move once it's put together...)
- Should we put anything on the top surface before the benchtop goes on?
We'll probably put the backing together with liquid nails and possibly also drill the sides together from inside for all the cabinets to be put together as a one base. After that, do we need to put a sheet of something on top, rather than the benchtop to go straight on?
If there are anything else you can advise, we'd appreciate it.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Ray0. It's fabulous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about base cabinets.
It’s quite common to build an island bench by joining several base cabinets together, so you’re definitely on the right track. The Practa cabinets are designed to support standard benchtops, including stone, provided they’re properly secured together and evenly supported underneath. Joining the cabinets with screws through the internal panels, as well as a bead of construction adhesive like Liquid Nails, is a great approach to create one solid base.
When it comes to the legs, you generally don’t need to add anything to the back unless the units feel unstable or the floor is uneven. Once all the cabinets are connected, the structure should be sturdy and unlikely to move. If you were referring to adding support behind the legs (for instance, a plinth or timber strip), it’s not essential unless the benchtop manufacturer recommends extra reinforcement for heavy stone tops.
You typically don’t need to place anything on top of the cabinets before the benchtop goes on, as long as the cabinet surfaces are level and flush. However, it’s important to check with your stone benchtop supplier. Some installers prefer a 16–18mm MDF or particleboard substrate beneath the stone, depending on the thickness and overhang. Since you’re planning a small overhang for bar stools, this would be worth confirming.
As a final check, make sure your island base is completely level and well-secured before the stone is installed. Uneven spots can put stress on the stone and cause cracks over time. Other than that, your plan sounds very solid and well thought out.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
