Hi. I wonder if anybody here might give me some direction to find more
info, or other advice. I am looking into putting a new deli counter in a
store. The counter is about 15 feet long, 3 1/2 ft deep, and about 40
inches high. I have a kind of small drawing of it here:
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/qstroker2004/detail?.dir=/771f&.dnm=69e3.jpg
The blue and grey boxes represent refrigeration equipment. I thought that I
might be able to construct a frame out of 2x4's and plywood, and then just
set the equipment inside the counter. From the customer side, I will need a
decorative finish, and probably a stainless counter top. There will be a
glass sneeze guard mounted at the front of the counter. I thought I would
hire a professional to do the stuff that the customer will see.
This might be a dumb question, but what is the best way to figure out how to
construct such a frame? I could just dig in and start building, but I want
to be sure it is very strong. I suppose I could hire a carpenter to design
and build a frame, but I wanted to look into doing it myself first.
Any ideas? Thanks,
dwhite
"Carl Stigers" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dan tell the group where you are and perhaps someone may be close enought
ot
> give you some advice...
>
> Carl Stigers
> Carl's Custom Woodworking
>
Good idea, Carl. I am in north Jersey.
dwhite
In article <[email protected]>,
Dan White <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi. I wonder if anybody here might give me some direction to find more
>info, or other advice. I am looking into putting a new deli counter in a
>store. The counter is about 15 feet long, 3 1/2 ft deep, and about 40
>inches high. I have a kind of small drawing of it here:
>
>http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/qstroker2004/detail?.dir=/771f&.dnm=69e3.jpg
>
>The blue and grey boxes represent refrigeration equipment. I thought that I
>might be able to construct a frame out of 2x4's and plywood, and then just
>set the equipment inside the counter. From the customer side, I will need a
>decorative finish, and probably a stainless counter top. There will be a
>glass sneeze guard mounted at the front of the counter. I thought I would
>hire a professional to do the stuff that the customer will see.
>
>This might be a dumb question, but what is the best way to figure out how to
>construct such a frame? I could just dig in and start building, but I want
>to be sure it is very strong. I suppose I could hire a carpenter to design
>and build a frame, but I wanted to look into doing it myself first.
>
>Any ideas? Thanks,
Be advised that there are a whole bunch of design/construction issues for
things in food-service areas.
You _can't_ just 'build something' and put it in.
Other kinds of construction get to deal with building codes. That's a
walk in the park, compared to dealing with the food-service/health
inspectors. They _really_ want to see 'NSF approved' stickers on everything.
If no sticker, then they'll fine-tooth things to check for 'NSF standards'
compliance.
Subject to local 'silliness', if it ain't an honest-to-goodness butcher
block, it's about got to be stainless surfaces. _all_ surfaces that are
oriented towards the 'working' area -- the 'front' of the base (towards
the customer side, below the counter-line, _may_ not have to be stainless.
One can use wood 'structurally', but it ends up having to be completely
'wrapped' in stainless, with soldered/welded seams, for cleaning/sterilization
requirements.
"Robert Bonomi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Dan White <[email protected]> wrote:
> >Hi. I wonder if anybody here might give me some direction to find more
> >info, or other advice. I am looking into putting a new deli counter in a
> >store. The counter is about 15 feet long, 3 1/2 ft deep, and about 40
> >inches high. I have a kind of small drawing of it here:
> >
>
>http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/qstroker2004/detail?.dir=/771f&.dnm=69e3.j
pg
> >
> >The blue and grey boxes represent refrigeration equipment. I thought
that I
> >might be able to construct a frame out of 2x4's and plywood, and then
just
> >set the equipment inside the counter. From the customer side, I will
need a
> >decorative finish, and probably a stainless counter top. There will be a
> >glass sneeze guard mounted at the front of the counter. I thought I
would
> >hire a professional to do the stuff that the customer will see.
> >
> >This might be a dumb question, but what is the best way to figure out how
to
> >construct such a frame? I could just dig in and start building, but I
want
> >to be sure it is very strong. I suppose I could hire a carpenter to
design
> >and build a frame, but I wanted to look into doing it myself first.
> >
> >Any ideas? Thanks,
>
> Be advised that there are a whole bunch of design/construction issues for
> things in food-service areas.
>
> You _can't_ just 'build something' and put it in.
>
> Other kinds of construction get to deal with building codes. That's a
> walk in the park, compared to dealing with the food-service/health
> inspectors. They _really_ want to see 'NSF approved' stickers on
everything.
> If no sticker, then they'll fine-tooth things to check for 'NSF standards'
> compliance.
>
> Subject to local 'silliness', if it ain't an honest-to-goodness butcher
> block, it's about got to be stainless surfaces. _all_ surfaces that are
> oriented towards the 'working' area -- the 'front' of the base (towards
> the customer side, below the counter-line, _may_ not have to be stainless.
>
> One can use wood 'structurally', but it ends up having to be completely
> 'wrapped' in stainless, with soldered/welded seams, for
cleaning/sterilization
> requirements.
>
Thanks Robert. I'm very familiar with the codes in this state. Any exposed
wood surfaces under the counter like 2x4's would just have to be painted.
That would suffice. If I really had to, I could also put a formica laminate
over these surfaces, but it really shouldn't be needed. I was just trying
to get some ideas on ways to assure that the counter is stong and stable.
regards,
dwhite