Supporting a Karlby worktop

moneysaver1978

Recently received a 246cm wide Ikea Karlby worktop and planning to use it as a desk (for 2 people!)

Looking to prevent any potential sag - what approaches would you use other than bringing the legs closer to the middle? I am planning to use a set of electric legs for sit/standing.

Emmia

Having a sit/stand arrangement on that length will force both occupants to sit or stand at the same time. I'd consider splitting in the middle, and fixing two sets of sit/stand legs to allow independent sit/stand - which would also help with the potential sagging problem...

moneysaver1978

One of us would use the desk very occasionally and sadly 2 x desks make the study look a bit cluttered.

That said, we haven't decided yet to get standard legs or stand/sit legs.

Emmia

moneysaver1978 said:

One of us would use the desk very occasionally and sadly 2 x desks make the study look a bit cluttered.

That said, we haven't decided yet to get standard legs or stand/sit legs.

How would it look more cluttered if you had the desks in the same arrangement as a single piece, just split?

CliveOfIndia

The simplest way to stop sagging on any length of wood is to just fix a batten along the underneath of the back edge, if you see what I mean.  A length of wood, say 2 or 3 inches deep and and inch or so wide, screwed & glued to the underneath to strengthen it, kind of like putting a "back" on a cupboard but it's only a couple of inches deep, no need to go all the way to the floor.

I guess ideally you'd run the batten across the middle of the underneath, but you'd then be catching it with your knees when you're sitting at the desk, so just running it along the back edge should do the trick.  Not sure if that makes sense !

ashe

I've been using Ikea desks for years, best way to do it imo would be to use Alex drawers at either side and compliment it with some Ikea table legs. I have one currently but it's for one person but you could move the drawers to the centre and put the legs at the ends giving two distinct work spaces, with your own storage space each. Ikea sells the legs for very little, few quid each. Forgive the wires, only just finished putting everything back together and not properly routed everything yet 😂

moneysaver1978

CliveOfIndia said:

The simplest way to stop sagging on any length of wood is to just fix a batten along the underneath of the back edge, if you see what I mean.  A length of wood, say 2 or 3 inches deep and and inch or so wide, screwed & glued to the underneath to strengthen it, kind of like putting a "back" on a cupboard but it's only a couple of inches deep, no need to go all the way to the floor.

I guess ideally you'd run the batten across the middle of the underneath, but you'd then be catching it with your knees when you're sitting at the desk, so just running it along the back edge should do the trick.  Not sure if that makes sense !

Yep I think so! Basically like this https://imgur.com/a/03PIWNR (via this reddit thread).

Emmia said:

How would it look more cluttered if you had the desks in the same arrangement as a single piece, just split?

Sadly for different reasons:

• 2 x desks are either too wide or too small
• 2 x desks mean 4 legs
• the ones that fit the profile and that we like cost more than a large Karlby worktop + legs

ashe

moneysaver1978 said:

CliveOfIndia said:

The simplest way to stop sagging on any length of wood is to just fix a batten along the underneath of the back edge, if you see what I mean.  A length of wood, say 2 or 3 inches deep and and inch or so wide, screwed & glued to the underneath to strengthen it, kind of like putting a "back" on a cupboard but it's only a couple of inches deep, no need to go all the way to the floor.

I guess ideally you'd run the batten across the middle of the underneath, but you'd then be catching it with your knees when you're sitting at the desk, so just running it along the back edge should do the trick.  Not sure if that makes sense !

Yep I think so! Basically like this https://imgur.com/a/03PIWNR (via this reddit thread).

Emmia said:

How would it look more cluttered if you had the desks in the same arrangement as a single piece, just split?

Sadly for different reasons:

• 2 x desks are either too wide or too small
• 2 x desks mean 4 legs
• the ones that fit the profile and that we like cost more than a large Karlby worktop + legs

The issues with that for me would be the height unless you're both quite short. I'd easily be bashing my knees against those railings, I've got some of the Ikea cable baskets to hold power strips and wires etc but they're right at the back 

Emmia

moneysaver1978 said:

CliveOfIndia said:

The simplest way to stop sagging on any length of wood is to just fix a batten along the underneath of the back edge, if you see what I mean.  A length of wood, say 2 or 3 inches deep and and inch or so wide, screwed & glued to the underneath to strengthen it, kind of like putting a "back" on a cupboard but it's only a couple of inches deep, no need to go all the way to the floor.

I guess ideally you'd run the batten across the middle of the underneath, but you'd then be catching it with your knees when you're sitting at the desk, so just running it along the back edge should do the trick.  Not sure if that makes sense !

Yep I think so! Basically like this https://imgur.com/a/03PIWNR (via this reddit thread).

Emmia said:

How would it look more cluttered if you had the desks in the same arrangement as a single piece, just split?

Sadly for different reasons:

• 2 x desks are either too wide or too small
• 2 x desks mean 4 legs
• the ones that fit the profile and that we like cost more than a large Karlby worktop + legs

If you chop the Karlby in half, the two pieces together are the same length as a single piece, and shouldn't cost you more - you would need 4 legs though.