I am setting up a home office at the moment in a 3m wide room and like the idea of having a desk "float" from one side of the room to the other. I am basing on this guide.
For my desk I'm going to buy a 3000mm x 720mm x 40mm beech kitchen worktop (so all one piece). I'll be using 2×4 to make a solid frame attached to the studs like this. But I really don't like the L-brackets.
I am hoping there is some way to support such a long, heavy piece of wood without using brackets. I was thinking of mounting a couple of metal support beams to the sides and running them all the way along, but I can't seem to find a sturdy thin bit of metal that would work. I've also seen the brackets that can be mounted along the studs inside the wall so the support would be the only thing visible, but I'd rather not cut holes in my wall for a weekend project!
Thanks!
Best Answer
A solid wood plank 40mm (1-9/16") thick probably isn't stiff enough to span that distance (just under 10' for the Yanks) without substantial bounce. It'll be strong enough, but you would get seasick working on it and it would sag over time and with heavy loads.
Now, if you made it thicker, say 55-60mm, and you beveled the front edge to give the illusion of a thinner surface, you'd have something workable. You could support it solely on the rim cleats you describe and have a fairly stiff top.
The alternative is to go with your 40mm thick dimension and bolt several steel angles to the underside, back just far enough that they aren't conspicuous. I'd suggest a 50mm angle. Start with two and add more if needed. Steel is fairly flexible itself, so quantity is in question. These would not need to rest on the wall cleats to serve their purpose if they're securely fastened to the top. They could end just short for convenience.