<h2>Fixed, Reduced-Height Worktops</h2>
<p>Fixed, reduced-height worktops in adapted kitchens are a basic way to make your kitchen more accessible. </p>
<p>Lowered work surfaces allow individuals with mobility challenges to comfortably reach and use kitchen appliances and worktop spaces, promoting greater independence in daily cooking and food preparation tasks. This design also fosters inclusivity, ensuring that people of all abilities can participate in cooking and mealtime activities together.</p>
<p>However, there are some disadvantages to consider when installing fixed, reduced-height worktops in an adapted kitchen. One obvious drawback is that they are not easily adjustable. If you choose to change to height-adjustable worktops in the future, you may need to make alterations to your kitchen's plumbing infrastructure. The plumbing fixtures, such as sinks and faucets, are typically installed at a fixed height corresponding to the lowered worktops. Transitioning to adjustable worktops will require installing flexible hoses and wastes, potentially resulting in added costs and inconvenience. If you would like to benefit from the enhanced accessibility of a fixed, reduced-height worktop, but are looking for a more innovative solution, then continue reading to find out about manual and electric height-adjustable worktops.</p>
<p>The standard installed height for a worktop is typically 800 to 850mm from the floor. For adult users, the minimum required space below the worktop is 700mm. However, installing a shallow bowl kitchen sink with a depth of 120 to 150mm, whether inset or undermounted, can often lead to costly mistakes due to insufficient knee and leg room for most users.</p>
<h2>Worktop Brackets</h2>
<p>Worktop brackets are a cost effective solution to increase accessibility in your kitchen. They are mounted to the wall and then you place your worktop surface on top of it.</p>
<p>The support brackets allow you to manually adjust the height of the worktop to suit your needs. This product is designed for an individual that is not looking to adjust the height of the worktop frequently, but would like the capability to do so if necessary. These brackets serve as reliable supports for various worktops, not only in the kitchen but also in study rooms or commercial areas, again where only occasional adjustments are needed.</p>
<p>One of the key features of these support brackets is their ability to provide infinite height adjustments. This means that users can fine-tune the positioning of their worktops with precision, ensuring the height of the worktop is customised to the exact needs of the individual with a range of 230mm. This adaptability ensures that the brackets can accommodate a wide range of requirements, making them a valuable addition to any kitchen or workspace.</p>
<p><a href="https://independent4life.co.uk/ropox-height-adj-worktop-stationary-bracket-x1-supports-max-load-75kg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purchase Worktop Support Brackets</a></p>
<h2>What is a worktop lift?</h2>
<p>A worktop lift is a mechanical kitchen unit that is either manual or electric. It raises and lowers the worktop to improve accessibility. It is also known as a rise and fall worktop or a height adjustable worktop.</p>
<h2>How would a rise and fall worktop benefit me?</h2>
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<p>A rise and fall worktop can help to adapt your kitchen to make it more accessible. A worktop lift has space below it, unlike standard worktops. This gives wheelchair users knee / leg space, allowing them to sit below the worktop and therefore cook and prepare food comfortably.</p>
<p>Additionally, the user can adjust the height of the worktop. This not only means the worktop can be customised to the perfect height for a sitting user, but also altered to the height required for a standing user, making it the perfect addition to your kitchen.</p>
<p>If you expect wheelchair and non-wheelchair users to both be using the kitchen at the same time, we recommend purchasing multiple smaller worktop units rather than one long length unit. This means you can customise the height of each part of the worktop, allowing both sitting and standing users to cook and use the kitchen together with ease.</p>
<h2>What can I use my worktop lift for?</h2>
<p>A worktop lift has many of the same features you would expect from a standard kitchen worktop. They can be made in varying lengths ranging from 600mm to 2400mm, with the maximum length that can be achieved through the addition of a Plusmodule being 4800mm. There are also corner modules available for 90° or 45° walls.</p>
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<p>These features mean that whatever the shape or size of your kitchen, there is a combination of worktop lift modules that will work for you, and allow you to create a fully height adjustable kitchen.</p>
<p>There are also plenty of accessories that can be added to your worktops:</p>
<ul style="list-style: disc; padding-left: 30px;">
<li>Controls/switches</li>
<li>Drawers and cutlery trays</li>
<li>Hanging cabinets and bins</li>
<li>Cover panels and hose guards</li>
</ul>
<p>The worktop lifts come in depths of 40mm and 103mm. The depth of your rise and fall worktop will determine what accessories are available to you.</p>
<p>If the 40mm (LA) depth is chosen, then the worktop lift will be suitable for hobs and basic worktops. You will only be able to use mini-buttons and the isolation switch to adjust the height and control the hob.</p>
<p>If you opt for the 103mm (HA) depth, then there will be more accessories available to you. This depth is needed to insert shallow bowl sinks and for drawers (note that drawers cannot be located below a cooking hob due to the fire risk). This depth is also suitable for hobs and can be controlled using mini-buttons and the isolation switch. However, unlike the LA, larger paddle buttons can be used on the thicker HA frame.</p>
<p>The average weight limit for the height-adjustable worktops is 100kg evenly distributed.</p>
<p>For heavier worktops and hanging cabinets the Sidelift height-adjustable worktop system has a maximum load of 400 kg.</p>
<h2>What are the types of height adjustable worktops?</h2>
<p>The next thing to consider is which type of worktop lift you should include in your home. There are two types of rise and fall worktops: electric and manual.</p>
<h3>Manual</h3>
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<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; text-align: center; width: 50%;">Advantages</th>
<th style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; text-align: center; width: 50%;">Disadvantages</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000;">
<ul style="list-style: disc; padding-left: 30px;">
<li>Cheaper than electric</li>
<li>Ideal for occasional height adjustment</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td>
<ul style="list-style: disc; padding-left: 30px;">
<li>May require a non-disabled person to adjust height</li>
<li>Must be wall mounted</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>There are two types of manual worktop lifts, but both must be wall mounted.</p>
<p>The first option is a worktop lift with a crank handle that requires rotation by one person with good upper-body strength to adjust the worktop height. </p>
<p>The second option is a gas-assisted worktop lift which can be lifted and lowered by two able people. If you choose to buy cover panels for the legs, then these must be removed prior to adjusting the height, as access is needed to the legs to lift and lower the worktop lift.</p>
<p>A benefit of choosing a manual height-adjustable worktop system is that it is generally cheaper than the equivalent electric version.</p>
<p>Secondly, a manual system is ideal for occasional adjustment, such as in a nursing home or hospital. It means you have the flexibility and option to change the height if you need to in future, but you can set it to the perfect height for you to use the kitchen independently now.</p>
<p><a href="https://independent4life.co.uk/guides/post/manual-worktop-lift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Manual Worktop Lifts</a></p>
<h3>Electric</h3>
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<table style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin-bottom: 20px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-right: 1px solid #000000; text-align: center; width: 50%;">Advantages</th>
<th style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; text-align: center; width: 50%;">Disadvantages</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-right: 1px solid #000000;">
<ul style="list-style: disc; padding-left: 30px;">
<li>Height adjusted easily and quickly with control buttons</li>
<li>Can be floor or wall mounted</li>
<li>Option of hanging cabinets</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td>
<ul style="list-style: disc; padding-left: 30px;">
<li>More expensive than manual</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>If you decide that you are likely to want to adjust the height of your worktops more regularly, then you may appreciate the flexibility of an electric worktop lift. An electric worktop lifting system may be the best option if there are wheelchair and non-wheelchair users living together, or if the wheelchair user has multiple wheelchairs that vary in height.</p>
<p>An electric rise and fall worktop can be floor- or wall-mounted. This means that if you realise that your walls are not strong enough to support the wall-mounted version, you have the choice to floor-mount your worktop lift, the support feet are short and do not impact on the user's space. However, you must ensure that the floor beneath the unit does not have underfloor heating or any other services that may interfere with the assembly of the unit.</p>
<p>The main advantage of an electric worktop lift is that no upper-body strength is required to change the height of the worktop. The height of the worktop is adjusted using buttons on the front facia. There are two sizes of control buttons, and the larger buttons do not require good hand dexterity.</p>
<p>Additionally, with the electric rise and fall worktops, the 400 kg higher load Sidelift can allows you to hang cabinets to the lift, thus replace some of your lost kitchen storage. This makes preparing meals easier as you can store food close to you and grab what you need quickly. There are also waste bins specifically made for the hanging cabinets, meaning that you can easily discard food waste when cooking.</p>
<p><a href="https://independent4life.co.uk/guides/post/electric-worktop-lift" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Read more about Electric Worktop Lifts</a></p>