How to calculate how much plinth, cornice and pelmet are required
One of the questions we’re often asked by customers is ‘How many lengths of plinths/cornice/pelmet will I need?’ This, however, is not as difficult to work out as you might think.
In our experience, it’s always better to order a little more than is actually required (plinths are particularly useful for fillers) but we have a simple calculation to help you when you’re ordering.
Although the calculation for plinth, cornice and pelmet is similar, each product type has its own unique considerations to take in to account, so it’s important that each section of this help guide is read thoroughly before you calculate how much you need.
To calculate plinth lengths
The next thing to calculate is the number of ‘returns’ you will have in your kitchen. A return can be simply described as the end of a run of cabinets, effectively the exposed end panel of the cabinet. We recommend a nominal 600mm is added so in the example above, if you’re kitchen design features two returns, then you will require a further 1200mm (600 + 600 = 1200). If you are using plant-on end panels then you may not require any return plinths as these panels run down to the floor and if you’ve planned some curved cabinets in to your design, then don’t worry about calculating the length of the curved plinth as we supply these manufactured to suit the curve exactly.
Therefore to calculate the total length of plinth required for the example above:
Total Width (7200mm) + Number of Returns (2×600 = 1200mm ) = 8400mm
To calculate the number of plinths you will require for your kitchen then you will need to divide the total length by the length of the plinth available for your range (our plinths are either 2600mm, 2750mm or 3000m long – check what plinth sizes are available with the range you have selected).
So taking our example above with a range using 3000mm plinths the calculation is:
Total length (8400mm) divided by Plinth Length (3000mm) = 2.8
Therefore the requirement in this example is for 3 plinths.
To calculate cornice lengths
The next thing to calculate is the number of ‘returns’ you will have in your kitchen. A return can be simply described as the end of a run of cabinets, effectively the exposed end panel of the cabinet. As cornice needs to be joined by a mitre at the corner of a return we recommend a nominal 400mm is added. Remember if you’ve included a curve in your design then you don’t need to worry about calculating the cornice for this as we supply curved cornice to suit the curve exactly.
When a tall cabinet is planned (as in this example), if the return is a full one i.e. the entire end of the tall cabinet is exposed, then we recommend adding an additional 650mm per return.
If the return is a half one i.e. the wall cabinets run in to the tall cabinet, then we recommend adding an additional 350mm per half return.
So in the example above, if your design contains one standard return (400mm), one tall cabinet half return (350mm) and one tall cabinet full return (650mm) then you will require and additional 1400mm (400 + 350 + 650 = 1400mm).
Therefore to calculate the total length of cornice required for the example above:
Total Width (6500mm) + Number of Returns/Half Returns (1400mm ) = 7900mm
To calculate the number of lengths of cornice you will require for your kitchen you will need to divide the total length by the length of the cornice available for your range (our cornice are either 2700mm or 3000m long – check what cornice lengths are available with the range you have selected).
So taking our example above with a range using 3000mm cornice the calculation is:
Total length (7900mm) divided by Cornice Length (3000mm) = 2.63 lengths
Therefore the requirement in this example is for 3 lengths of cornice.
To calculate pelmet lengths
The next thing to calculate is the number of ‘returns’ you will have in your kitchen. A return can be simply described as the end of a run of cabinets, effectively the exposed end panel of the cabinet. As pelmet needs to be joined by a mitre at the corner of a return we recommend a nominal 400mm is added. Don’t forget that you will need a return at the either side of a hob area. Remember if you’ve included a curve in your design then you don’t need to worry about calculating the pelmet for this as we supply curved pelmet to suit the curve exactly.
So in the example above, if your kitchen design contains four returns then you will require an additional 1600mm (4x 400mm = 1600mm).
Therefore to calculate the total length of pelmet required for the example above:
Total Width (7200mm) + Number of Returns (1600mm ) = 8800mm
To calculate the number of lengths of pelmet you will require for your kitchen you will need to divide the total length by the length of the pelmet available for your range (our pelmets are either 2700mm or 3000mm long – check what pelmet lengths are available with the range you have selected).
So taking our example above with a range using 2700mm pelmet the calculation is:
Total length (8800mm) divided by Pelmet Length (2700mm) = 3.26 lengths
Therefore the requirement in this example is for 4 lengths of pelmet.
Fitting your own cornice?
If you are planning on fitting your own cornice, then this short video will show you how it is done.
#attaching pelmet #attaching cornice
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