My husband just made a top for my ironing board and the height at its highest is great for cutting, My 18 cutting mat fits there. Now dont laugh, I needed a place for my sewing machine that would be even with the surface. So after many ideas, I pulled out the middle leaf of the dining room table and he built a shelf there so my machine is even with the table. I had a plastic quilting board and it slides on to the machine and covers the back area of th machine. When I want to put the machine away, just pull the leaf back into place and your table is again ready for eating. No marks to the top side and so far is working great. -- J