"rolsonDesign" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm building a built-in office unit which is L shape. The computer
workstation will be in the corner (I'll have to build a corner piece).

I would like to know first what kinds of materials make good
computer/office desktops/kid homework surfaces?

Any suggestions out there are most welcome.

Also...How would a professional attach a desktop to the wall and
cabinets below to really make it look nice?

The two basic requirements are that it be smooth enough to not catch the
pencil point and stiff enough to not flex in use.

The big question is whether you're looking for something minimal or trying
to make a nice piece of furniture. If you're looking for minimal a piece of
3/4" Baltic Birch plywood or Appleply with a few coats of polyurethane (sand
smooth between coats) should do fine. For less effort and a bit more money
phenolic-faced 3/4" ply would also do nicely (Woodcraft carries it 2' x 4').

If you're looking to make something nice, any of the fine-grained hardwoods
(maple, walnut, cherry, etc) should do nicely. I'd avoid oak--the open
grain structure means more work to get a suface that won't break pencils.
MDF or birch ply with a laminate top would also do well as would solid
surface countertop.

Attaching to cabinets one generally screws through the cabinet frame or uses
proprietary clips of one kind or another. Attaching to the wall depends on
the location and what the purpose of the attachment is--if it's in a corner
and the desktop is to be supported entirely by the wall attachment a couple
of cleats screwed into the studs should do fine, if it's not in a corner and
is to be supported only by the wall then I'd use heavy-duty shelf brackets
screwed into the studs. If it sits on top of cabinets then it doesn't
really need to be attached to the wall.

You might want to read "Making Kitchen Cabinets" by Paul Levine and
"Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets" by Jim Tolpin (look at both, they
cover alternative approaches). 20 bucks should get you both if your local
library doesn't have them. The techniques apply equally well to making a
desk for the kids.