Hey everyone! I'm trying to create a window seat with built-in storage. I won't have time to build everything from scratch, so I plan to get a 20'' tall base cabinet from a ready-to-assemble company, put it together, and then add a top. The window seat will measure 86'' wide and 18'' deep, and I'm considering using either 1'' cherry or 1.5'' plywood for the top.
My concern is about potential sagging since the top will be supported on all sides. I'm not sure how to apply the Sagulator tool correctly; it seems to suggest that an 86'' span fails but an 18'' span works. If a single 86'' wide cabinet isn't sturdy enough, I could buy two 43'' cabinets, but that would be more costly and disrupt the visual aesthetic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I’d definitely recommend going for that 1.5'' plywood. It’ll provide stronger support for the longer span. If you do opt for a single cabinet and are worried about sag, adding support in the middle with some brackets isn't a bad idea, even though it might change the clean look a bit. Two cabinets could work too, but yeah, the aesthetics could suffer a bit. Maybe try to balance the cost with what looks good. Hope that helps!
It sounds like you're on the right track! If the cabinet only has pull-out drawers and no vertical dividers across the 86'' span, it might indeed sag over time. Using a thicker top like the 1.5'' plywood could help with stability, as it’s less likely to sag compared to the 1'' cherry. You could also consider adding some extra support underneath the top, like brackets or even a few small wooden supports placed strategically to prevent sagging. Just make sure they don't interfere with the drawers! Good luck!