How to Install a Raised Countertop for a Breakfast Bar

Raising the countertop is a great way to add an interesting and unique design element to your kitchen. This process makes it convenient to attach a breakfast countertop to the raised section to add another eating area at a kitchen island or peninsula. This increases your overall capacity and makes your home more comfortable for hosting guests. The basic steps of this process are fairly involved, with the attachment of the countertop and raised addition to the original countertop. Finishing the exterior of the countertop requires some experience to correctly install tile around the exposed edges of the countertop supports.

4 2-by-4 boards, 36-inch
4 2-by-4 boards, 12-inch
Drill
Drill bits
Wood screws, 5-inch
8 2-by-4 boards, 6-inch
Wood screws, 3-inch
Countertop section, at least 1-by-24-by-36-inch
Wood screws, 2 1/2-inch
2 plywood boards, 1/2-by-9-by-36-inch
2 plywood boards, 1/2-by-9-by-20-inch
Backsplash tile
Tile cutter
Mortar
Trowel
Caulking

Instructions

- 1
  Set two 36-inch two-by-four boards parallel to each other with their large sides down. Space them 12 inches apart. Set two 12-inch two-by-four boards between them, perpendicular to them with their large surfaces down as well. Slide the shorter boards to the ends of the larger boards to make a 19-by-36-inch rectangular frame.
- 2
  Drill 2 holes through each long board and into each end of the shorter boards. Set 5-inch wood screws in the holes and screw the frame together.
- 3
  Repeat with two more short boards and two more long boards to create another identical rectangular 19-by-36-inch frame.
- 4
  Set four 6-inch two-by-four boards up on their ends in a 19-by-36-inch rectangle. Set one of the rectangular frames on top of them and adjust the short boards so they are flush with the longer sides of the frame. Drill two holes through the frame and into the end of each short board. Attach the boards together with 3-inch wood screws.
- 5
  Flip the frame with attached short boards over and set the other rectangular frame on top of it. Drill two holes through the frame and into the end of each short board. Attach the frames together with 3-inch wood screws.
- 6
  Position four additional 6-inch 2-by-4 boards between the rectangular frames, evenly spaced along each pair of side boards. Attach them to the frames in the same manner as the corner short boards.
- 7
  Set a countertop that measures at least 1-by-24-by-36 inches upside down on the working surface. Set the frame on the countertop so that one side of the countertop overlaps the frame by an inch and the other side overlaps the frame by 11 inches. Drill holes down through the frame and into the countertop every six inches. Attach the frame to the countertop with 2 1/2-inch wood screws.
- 8
  Position the frame and countertop on top of the counter where they will be installed. Drill up through the bottom of the counter and into the frame. Attach the frame to the installation counter with 2 1/2-inch wood screws.
- 9
  Cover the exposed frame sections with two 1/2-by-9-by-36-inch plywood boards and two 1/2-by-9-by-20-inch plywood boards so all the frame is covered. Screw these boards in place with 2 1/2-inch wood screws.
- 10
  Cut backsplash tile to fit these side surfaces. Apply mortar to the plywood boards and position backsplash tile on the surfaces. Allow the tile to dry and caulk any exposed areas or corners.

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