ᐅ IKEA Metod kitchen countertop, induction cooktop, wall panels

Hello,

I’m currently planning an IKEA kitchen for our new house and keep running into the issue that an induction cooktop can only be installed in a countertop that is 3.8cm (1.5 inches) thick. Why is that, and is there any way around it?

The selection of 3.8cm (1.5 inches) thick countertops is unfortunately very limited. For me, only a laminate countertop comes into consideration, and visually I like only the Ekbacken series (preferably the dark walnut finish). Why isn’t the Ekbacken countertop available in 3.8cm (1.5 inches)? Induction cooking is becoming increasingly popular, so there should be more compatible countertops offered.

I also have another question: If I order the kitchen online, can I also order the matching Personlig wall panels along with the countertop, or do I have to order those directly at the IKEA store?

I would appreciate it if someone could answer these questions, as they have been on my mind for months and I haven’t found any answers online, nor received a response from IKEA’s customer service. The nearest IKEA store is quite difficult for us to reach, so going there to ask is not really an option. I’m looking forward to the store opening in Bremerhaven in spring, which will make things easier.

Hello,

there are also induction cooktops that require only 29 mm (1.1 inches) countertop thickness, for example the Miele KM 6323 – but probably many other models as well, including from other manufacturers. In any case, you should follow the installation instructions carefully because induction cooktops usually need active fans for cooling and therefore have specific installation requirements. Otherwise, the warranty may become void, and safe operation might no longer be guaranteed.

Best regards,
IKEA-Freund

PS: AEG also offers cooktops that work with a minimum countertop thickness of 12 mm (0.5 inches)...

Hi,

… that an induction cooktop can only be installed into a 3.8cm (1.5 inch) thick countertop. Why is that, and is there any way around it?
…

Hello,

There are also induction cooktops that require only 29mm (1.1 inch) countertop thickness, for example the Miele KM 6323—but probably many other models from different manufacturers as well.
In any case, you should follow the installation guidelines, …

The decisive factor for countertop thickness is the installation instructions, minimum clearance to components beneath, the oven intermediate shelf in case of drawers.

And yes, the more powerful an induction cooktop is, the larger the cooling fans usually are.

You can work around many things: cabinet with method, 2.8cm (1.1 inch) countertop, 10cm (4 inch) panel, oven, and below another 10cm (4 inch) panel. Unfortunately, then no drawer fits below at Ikea; the old drawer under the oven from Faktum probably would have fitted.

One more tip: if you violate installation instructions, manufacturers usually refuse the warranty.

[Quote]Hi,

... that an induction cooktop can only be installed in a countertop that is 3.8cm (1.5 inches) thick. Why is that, and is there a way to work around it?
...

Hello,

there are also induction cooktops that require only 29mm (1.1 inches) countertop thickness, for example the Miele KM 6323 – but probably many others as well, from different manufacturers.
In any case, you should follow the installation guidelines, ...

The key factor for countertop thickness is the installation regulations, minimum clearance to components below, oven intermediate shelf in the case of pull-outs.

And yes, the more powerful the induction cooktop, the larger the fans usually are.

You can work around this in many cases – cabinet depth, 2.8cm (1.1 inches) countertop, 10cm (4 inches) panel, oven, and below that another 10cm (4 inches) panel. Unfortunately, with Ikea cabinets, no drawer fits below then; the old drawer under the oven from Faktum probably would have fit.

One more tip: if you violate installation guidelines, manufacturers usually void the warranty.[/Quote]

I fully agree with zetterberg, Ikea also does not tolerate this, and the same applies to insurance companies in case of fire.

So, better no suitable solution with a cover panel? Of course, I don’t want any trouble with the insurance in case of a fire!

Does anyone know if it is possible to install countertops from a hardware store, or won’t they fit properly on an IKEA kitchen?

So, no suitable solution with a cover panel then?

If you install a 10cm (4 inch) cover panel above the oven, as Zetterberg described, there will probably be no issues. It depends on the requirements of the cooktop manufacturer. Since the cover panel provides more than enough distance between the cooktop and the oven, and there are likely sufficient gaps above and below the panel, it should work. Check the user manual to be sure.

Does anyone know if you can install countertops from a hardware store or if they don’t fit on an IKEA kitchen?

It depends on the dimensions of the countertop. With the front panel, a base cabinet is about 61cm (24 inches) deep if installed without a hanging rail. The countertop should therefore be about 63cm (25 inches) deep. In a hardware store, you’ll probably only find custom-made countertops in that size, which I suspect will be more expensive than a custom-made countertop from IKEA.