Benchtop for long inbuilt bench seat

Hi everyone,

I'm in the middle of a renovation at present. I am building a long builtin bench seat to go in our master bedroom. It will be approximately 4.6m long with inbuilt storage.

The boss would like a stained timber top in Tasmanian oak to match other timbers we have.

I'm trying to workout how to build/install this benchtop, I think I have these options:
1) Buy Tassie Oak DAR (180mmx30mm), laminate and join long ways. I presume this would look the best, however I don't own extensive woodworking equipment and would need to pay for the edge banding and 10+ pipe clamps for gluing it up. I think this option would cost around 1-2k plus my own labour.
2) Buy 2 x Tassie oak benchtops (2440 x 620 x 35mm), there would be a visible join in the middle. Maybe $500.

Got any thoughts to help me choose? Will a visible join look terrible if I go with 2x benchtops.

Thanks,
Craig.

Given you don't have much equipment I would go with option 2. It would help to align the butt joint by using some dowels or a biscuit joiner if you have either; whether you do or don't have these you should still join the two together with two benchtop connectors. Assuming you can buy two connectors and you only have some chisels, you can chop out the holes you need for these with the chisels. Rather than butt the two ends together directly though, you can fit in between a piece of timber (at 90º to the grain of the bench) say 12mm wide and 40mm high and width of bench plus 5mm. Round over the top edge and front end of this piece so it is a soft feature and a break between the two benchtops. If that makes sense:whatonearth:

drawer storage or lift up lid?
if lift up lid, option 2 gives you 2 lids.

Yellow tongue flooring and laminate 14 or 19mm Tas Oak T&G on top, run a edge piece underneath at exposed edges so you dont see the yellow tongue. If you want mitre the end section so you dont have end grain.

EG. Like this.. except that one one is Blackbutt.
Attachment 537939

Oh I didn't realise the top might be lift up. Getting slow on the uptake... Better to do two lids then

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm planning on getting 5 x 900mm wide melamine drawers, cladding the drawers with VJ boards with a tassie oak top.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by craigoss_

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm planning on getting 5 x 900mm wide melamine drawers, cladding the drawers with VJ boards with a tassie oak top.

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Ok in that case I stand by my original reply. Use the bench tops and screw directly to the carcass, no need to use bench connectors, but I would still put a stick of timber crosswise at the butt joint to hide discrepancies between the two panels like I explained in my original reply. Screw this down too.
To screw the panel down, you will need to allow for timber movement. Predrill a couple of holes through the carcass at the back of each bench top and screw the back of the bench tops to locate them, but not up real tight yet. Predrill a line of holes through the front of the carcass and into the top. Then use an 8mm drill to open up the holes in just the carcass (wedge the bench top up a little clear - hence don't screw the back down tight). Use mudguard washers and screw down the front of the bench top. Add more screws to the back as desired. Like this.

Attachment 537940