38 is used along countertops where two panels 22 fig2 are joined together in a common plane the two sided framing element 30 has flange extensions 37 protruding from two opposite sides of the tubular shaft 32 the flange extensions 37 are sized and positioned to form ledges on which the peripheral edge of two separate panels 22 fig2 can lay since the two sided framing element 38 has flange extensions 37 along two opposite sides two panels 22 fig2 can be interconnected to opposite sides of the two sided framing element 40 thereby joining the two panels in a common plane the fourth type of framing element 30 shown is an interior right angle framing element 40 the interior right angle framing element 40 is used along corner edges where two panels meet at a right angle the interior right angle framing element 40 has two flange extensions 37 protruding from two adjacent sides of the tubular shaft 32 near a common corner the flange extensions 37 are sized and positioned to create ledges that support the peripheral edge of two separate panels 22 fig2 since the interior right angle framing element 40 has flange extensions 37 along only two adjacent sides two panels 22 fig2 can be interconnected to the interior right angle framing element 40 along perpendicular planes that intersect along the length of the interior right angle framing element 40 the fifth type of framing element 30 shown is an exterior right angle framing element.