I'm building a 12' long work bench at the back of my garage. I just finished the drywall, mud and tape, and put a coat of primer on the walls for a 'clean' look to the garage. I was able to find some good quality white kitchen cabinets on Kijiji to build my workbench out of. I've already hung the upper cabinets.
For the lowers, I plan on beefing up the cabinets by building a 2x4 frame on the inside of the cabinet (where I can to keep it clean looking on the outside), or on the outside if I have to (i.e., on the fronts of the cabinets I may have to put the 2x4 frame on the outside because the cabinet drawers don't give any room to hide the 2x4's inside the cabinet). Either way, the workbench surface will be supported by the 2x4 frame, and not just merely the cabinets. I tend to go overkill on things like this, so I'm sure the frame will be solid.
Where I need help is for the workbench surface, and any coatings I should be placing on it (depending on the type of surface I install). I've searched google for some ideas, but still don't know what will be best for a strong surface, yet look nice too.
I'd love to hear your ideas. The cabinets may be slightly away from the drywall as the foundation wall sticks out a bit, so the counter top will be slightly more than the standard kitchen counter top depth of 25 1/2". Assume it will be about 27" deep, and 144" wide.
About a 4' stretch of the wall in the middle of the bench juts out 5 1/2". There will be no base cabinets under this area (I'll put my compressor, stool, etc. here). For the workbench, I'll just notch out this area.
Thanks in advance for your tips, ideas and advice!
For the lowers, I plan on beefing up the cabinets by building a 2x4 frame on the inside of the cabinet (where I can to keep it clean looking on the outside), or on the outside if I have to (i.e., on the fronts of the cabinets I may have to put the 2x4 frame on the outside because the cabinet drawers don't give any room to hide the 2x4's inside the cabinet). Either way, the workbench surface will be supported by the 2x4 frame, and not just merely the cabinets. I tend to go overkill on things like this, so I'm sure the frame will be solid.
Where I need help is for the workbench surface, and any coatings I should be placing on it (depending on the type of surface I install). I've searched google for some ideas, but still don't know what will be best for a strong surface, yet look nice too.
I'd love to hear your ideas. The cabinets may be slightly away from the drywall as the foundation wall sticks out a bit, so the counter top will be slightly more than the standard kitchen counter top depth of 25 1/2". Assume it will be about 27" deep, and 144" wide.
About a 4' stretch of the wall in the middle of the bench juts out 5 1/2". There will be no base cabinets under this area (I'll put my compressor, stool, etc. here). For the workbench, I'll just notch out this area.
Thanks in advance for your tips, ideas and advice!
