Benchtop Lexicon

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Benchtop Lexicon

Name	Description
Chip Board	Also known as particle board and low-density fiberboard, it is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood chips and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded. It is generally considered to be a lower cost cheaper option to MDF.
Cut Corner	A cut corner is when the sharp corner is sliced off leaving another edge with two less sharp angles.
Plant On	Is a rolled cut corner.
Rounded Corner	The sharp pointy corner is shaved off leaving a nice curved rounded corner.
Softened Corner	A small notch at the end of the benchtop with a subtle indent that makes it less likely to bang when walking past. Ideal for corridors or areas with high foot traffic near the benchtop.
Square Corner	A corner that is a sharp 90 degrees.
ABS Edge Tape	Very similar at a glance to a Laminate edge, ABS edge tape is actually a thicker material that is softer when knocked and creates a less obvious join between the laminate on top of the bench and the edge.
Boxed End	The same as an elbow edge but terminology specifically for downdrops.
Edge Tape Loose	Sometimes it is unknown if an edge will need edge tape or if the edge tape will run the full length of the benchtop. In these cases it is supplied as a separate piece to be applied on site.
Elbow End	When a benchtop has an upstand or downdrop attached and you want a piece of laminate to cover its left or right edge. And elbow edge is made my taking a rectangular piece of laminate and cutting it into an "L" shape so there is no join on the laminate.
Laminate Edge	Made with the same laminate that is used for the top of the bench. Often results in a more visible line between the top and the edge of the benchtop on square edges so it is only recommended for rounded / profiled edges.
Laser Edge	When a laser is used to create a seal around the edge tape. Suitable for doors or desks however it is not heat resistant so is not suitable for kitchens as ovens will make the edge tape fall off.
Tekton Edge	An edging material made out of wood. Has the texture of wood when touched but is often polished or coated in a resin.
Timber Edge	When the edge of the benchtop is made of a separate piece of wood. These will usually be coved, sanded and varnished before being attached to the edge of the benchtop.
10/0mm / FR5	A pronounced rounding on the top of the edge so that it has a smooth feel.
10/10mm / FR10	A pronounced rounding on the top and bottom of the edge so that it has a smooth feel.
5/0mm / MR5	A very subtle rounding on the top of the edge so that it has a smooth feel.
5/5mm / MR55	A very subtle rounding on the top and bottom of the edge so that it has a smooth feel.
Antispill	A slight ridge just before the edge of your bench so if you spill a small amount of water it won't drip off.
Barcap	A barcap is a shelf that sits on top of your upstand (often placed on breakfast bars).
Breakfast Bar	A breakfast bar is when a shelf (barcap) sits on top of your upstand and the back is open to the room behind it (not flush against a wall).
Coved Upstand	A small splashback that goes along the back of your bench. It has a slight curve as it slants upwards. Harder and more expensive to make than a square upstand, it is best to use this if it will be behind a sink. Connecting 2 coved upstands together is a difficult and time consuming task.
Coving	When a panel gently rolls upwards into an upstand in a smooth motion.
D Roll / BN3	A very pronounced roll in the shape of a D.
Deluxing	The process of adding (building up) more wood to the edges of a benchtop to make it look thicker. This is done to create a thicker looking benchtop whilst keeping the weight down.
Downdrop	A small strip of wood hanging down, typically placed at the front of the bench. It is often used to hide the tops of cabinets or an old benchtop. Only used if the downdrop needs to be longer than the maximum deluxing thickness of 60mm.
Full Roll	A completely even round roll shape on the edge of your benchtop.
Profiled Downdrop	A small strip of wood hanging down, typically placed at the front of the bench. It is often used to hide the tops of cabinets or an old benchtop. Profiled means that the angle from the top panel to the downdrop panel is gently rolled forward so that there are no sharp edges.
Profiled Edge	When the edge of a benchtop is rounded.
Roll Front	When the front edge of a benchtop is rolled (profiled).
Shark Nose	An edge that mimics the shape of a shark's nose. A thin piece protruding out followed by a slanted angle going downwards until it rejoins the panel.
Softened Edge	A small notch at the end of the benchtop with a subtle indent that makes it less likely to bang when walking past. Ideal for corridors or areas with high foot traffic near the benchtop.
Square Downdrop	A small strip of wood hanging down, typically placed at the front of the bench. It is often used to hide the tops of cabinets or an old benchtop. Square means the the angle from the top panel to the downdrop panel is a sharp 90 degree corner.
Square Edge	The simplest and most common type of edge, a flat edge at a 90° angle. The edge you would also choose if you are going to press it against a wall or a cabinet with no laminate or edge tape applied.
Square Upstand	A small splashback that goes along the back of your bench. It has no curve and goes straight upwards. Can easily be joined to a coved upstand.
Upstand	A piece of wood that goes upwards at the end of a benchtop. Like a splashback but normally shorter and part of the benchtop.
Vanity	A benchtop that has both an upstand and a dropdown
Waterfall	A benchtop for the side of your bench. The waterfall is another panel that goes down as far as you want, usually to the floor.
Glue	In benchtops glue is used for sticking the laminate onto the panel. For sticking the deluxing around the edges and gluing the edge tape onto the edges of the panel.
Transparent Glue	Generally two types of glue are used depending on the colour of the laminate or edge tape being applied. For all dark colours transparent glue is used. Even though a new benchtop will not have visible glue, often once a benchtop has aged the glue will become slightly visible forming a thin white line around the seams between the edge tape and the laminate. So getting a close colour match makes this much less visible once this happens.
White Glue	Generally two types of glue are used depending on the colour of the laminate or edge tape being applied. For all light colours white glue is used. Even though a new benchtop will not have visible glue, often once a benchtop has aged the glue will become slightly visible forming a thin white line around the seams between the edge tape and the laminate. So getting a close colour match makes this much less visible once this happens.
Angle Mitre	When two panels joining together have rolled edges meeting each other, an angle mitre join is required. This is made by drawing a line above each edge that is 23mm from the edge (or the width of the roll being used) and making a cut between the corner of the joining panels and the corner of the 23mm lines. Then for the rest of the join a straight line is cut to the corner on the far edge.
Butt Join	The simplest join, when two straight edges are attached to one another in a straight line. Only possible when both panels have square edges.
Cove Join	The join used when two coved upstands meet at an angle and the curved laminates from each cove need to seamlessly meet up.
Double Dog Leg	When two panels joining together have rolled edges on all four meeting sides and the width of both panels is different, a double dog leg join is required. This is made by drawing a line above each edge that is 23mm from the edge (or the width of the roll being used) and making a cut between the corner of the joining panels and the corner of the 23mm lines. Do this on both sides where there are rolled edges joining each other. Then for the rest of the join cut a straight line to the end of the opposite cut.
Mason Mitre	When two panels joining together have rolled edges meeting each other and you want to do either a left or right join, a mason mitre join is required. This is made by drawing a line above each edge that is 23mm from the edge (or the width of the roll being used) and making a cut between the corner of the joining panels and the corner of the 23mm lines. Then for the rest of the join a straight line is cut to the left or right far edge.
Laminate	A protective material that has a pattern and covers the material underneath.
Loose Laminate	Whenever a piece of laminate is supplied as a separate piece and not attached to a wood panel.
Pressed Laminate	Laminate that has been applied to the benchtop using a machine the presses it together very tightly.
Cold Press	A machine that does not use heat to attach the laminate to the benchtop. It works by applying a great deal of pressure to the benchtop for many hours while the glue sets. Much slower than a hot press but avoids the minor warping you can sometimes get with a hot press.
Graveyard	The place where defective panels that were damaged during production are stored. You can often get these at a steep discount if you go to the factory and ask to see what they have in their graveyard.
Hot Press	A machine that uses heat and pressure to get the glue on the laminate to set. Usually it will squeeze the benchtop tightly while heating it up.
Packer	A packer is the piece of wood that sits inside a barcap used to get a stable hold between the upstand it rests upon and the shelf that is the barcap.
Postformer	A machine that creates a profiled edge.
Top	A top is a standalone piece of bench, with nothing joined to it.
Top 2 in 1	A term used within the industry to describe a case where 2 panels can be cut out of a single piece of board due to their corresponding shapes.
Tray	A tray is a benchtop panel with a coved upstand.
Acrylic	Acrylic is a group of plastics that can be used for making benchtops. Like most plastics, acrylic benchtops can be bent and molded into almost any shape imaginable. These make them popular with businesses and high traffic venues where an eye catching centerpiece is desired.
Compact	A type of laminate that is very thick and solid. It is made up of many layers of paper and resin pressed together.
Solid Core	A super strong, high quality alternative to stone benchtops. It is made up of many layers of paper and resin pressed together. Can be worked with traditional wood working tools but the material has properties closer to stone slabs, without the health risks of silica.
Bowl	Another word for sink.
Cutout	A hole made in the benchtop. Often to insert a sink, hob or other appliance.
Dishwasher Seal	Dishwashers have been known to leak steam which can cause excessive moisture buildup on the underside of benchtops. This in turn can cause rotting and mold buildup on the exposed wood underneath. A dishwasher seal is a metallic film placed above the dishwasher to protect the benchtop.
Island Leg	A leg in benchtop terminology refers to a specific piece of a multi part benchtop. The island leg is a standalone panel that sits by itself in the center of your kitchen.
Left Leg	A leg in benchtop terminology refers to a specific piece of a multi part benchtop. Say you have a "U" shaped benchtop. The left leg is the panel to the left of the main center panel.
Leg	A leg in benchtop terminology refers to a specific piece of a multi part benchtop. Say you have a "U" shaped benchtop. The left leg is the panel to the left of the main center panel.
MDF	Stands for Medium-density fibreboard which is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibre, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming it into panels by applying high temperature and pressure. It is a very dense and solid material.
Partition	For example a toilet partition used for separating toilet stalls from each other. Or otherwise used for changing rooms.
Right Leg	A leg in benchtop terminology refers to a specific piece of a multi part benchtop. Say you have a "U" shaped benchtop. The right leg is the panel to the right of the main center panel.