help with countertop support

[carol]

i’m finishing up my laundry room redo; i’ve mounted RTA cabinets (bought before i knew how to build a cabinet!), and built the base cabinet with pull out drawers that fits between the washer and dryer. before i bolt the base cabinet to the wall, i’m trying to figure out how to build the countertop.

what size ledger boards do you think i need? would 1×2s, attached to studs with 3” screws along each of the 3 walls be enough to support the weight of 2 layers of 3/4” plywood? 2 layers would prob weigh somewhere around 80 pounds.

do i really NEED 2 layers? with an unsupported span of approx 30”, would a single layer of 3/4” bow with little to no weight on top?

to cover the plywood edge, i’ll attach a 1×2 across the front, probably with biscuits and glue.

i’ll store the most commonly used laundry supplies in the drawers now that i have them, so about the only thing i’d do with the counter is stack clothes out of the dryer for folding.

[Trace Farthing]

From your description and diagram, 1x2s attached to the studs should be fine. One sheet of plywood will hold but there will be noticeable flex across the front edge. Two would be flex much less.

That said, I would rather run some kind of support across the front to support the front edge, even if it's just a face frame. The additional height would be minimal and then you could get away with just one of layer of plywood. If, you plan on covering the countertop with Formica, tile, or such, you'll want a front lip anyway. So, it might as well be functional and add some strength.

Great project. Good luck!

[Glen S]

The 1x2 across the front will add considerable strength.  2 layers of a good cabinet ply,,glued together,, will be very strong. The 1x2 will be more decoration with those 2 layers IMO.