Kitchen worktops

[theboyfold]

Just being measured up for a new kitchen and it turns out we need a length of worktop over 3m which is all Wickes can offer.

Does anybody know of a decent value place to get worktops in longer lengths, I think 4m would be perfect as the run will be about 3.65m

Also, any thoughts on bamboo worktops? Do they need as much work as a solid walnut / oak worktop? We liked the idea of wood but don't like the thought of having to sand and oil it. I know it's not a huge amount of work, but I just know it's going to become a chore!

[rich0411]

I have always been told when ever quoting for Bamboo that you have to leave a 10mm expansion gap at the back and at the joints as it apparently moves a fair bit? I have no idea into the truth of this but its always what we have been told to tell our customers when ever the subjet of Bamboo comes up.

Any decent place who sells kitchens or just worktops should have 3.6m worktops or 4m worktops I am quite shocked Wickes dont do these? Although that maybe because your looking at Solid Wood? You may have to go more specialist to get anything longer than 3m in solid wood. I know we dont do any of the shelf. Only longer lengths in laminate style.

I work for Magnet btw.

Any more questions feel free to ask.

Hope this helps

[theboyfold]

Rich, thanks for that, we are looking at laminate actually. We started off looking at wood, but don't fancy the idea of the up keep.

A simple search shows that loads of people do worktops in 4m lengths, which will do the job. However, it's hard to know what's what without seeing them...

[rich0411]

Regarding Laminte most of your regular kitchen showrooms i.e. Wickes Magnet B&Q etc will buy most of thier worktops from Formica or similar so you should be getting pretty similar stuff where ever you go, obviously you have some different qualitys around but some features I would reccommend would be to have a double bullnose on the front edges of the worktop, this stops water sitting on the underneath of the worktop where the laminate does not extend to and also check it has a moisture resistant core.

There are lots of different types around to choose from the traditional rounded edge ones, square edged ones, high defination (where the laminate is much more detailed), mixes of matt and gloss and textured worktops plus many others! They can all vary from £50 - £300 for a 3M length.

Once you have decided on a worktop you like just make sure its fitted right, alot of people pay alot of money for laminate worktops and then moan that the laminate 'blows' but it has never been sealed on the edges properly.

I always reccommend some good varnish around the sink and hob cut outs on the edge, and running some pva where your corner joints are always help, just make sure you get a good seal around the wet stuff in your kitchen with your obvious stuff like silicone sealant (good quality) and Colorfill and you shouldnt have any issues.

I ALWAYS stear people away from gloss laminate worktops especially darker types just beacause you can see any sort or mark on them and can often look tatty after not very long compared with the matte finish which seems to be much easier on the eye and does not show up the marks as easy.

Solid wood do look very nice but yes you do have the upkeep as in it would probably need sanding down and re oiling every 12months, depends how much heavy use its going to get and how well you look after it I suppose.

Edited by rich0411 on Wednesday 30th June 21:48

[jonnylayze]

rich0411 said:

I ALWAYS stear people away from gloss laminate worktops especially darker types just beacause you can see any sort or mark on them and can often look tatty after not very long compared with the matte finish which seems to be much easier on the eye and does not show up the marks as easy.

Edited by rich0411 on Wednesday 30th June 21:48

What he said - I think the 'glossy' look is great if all you want your new kitchen to do is sell your house. If you're going to live with it longer term, get a textured worktop. They are much more resistant to dirty marks and scratches (I've had both)

[theboyfold]

We are planning to stay here a little while, so no glossy stuff. We've been warned off that already.

Who are decent retailers of worktops, John Porter look quite good, but I've never heard of them.

[rich0411]

Never heard of them personally, have they got a local showroom for you to go and have a look in though?

I have gloss at the minute thinking oh I know what NOT to do and how to look after them so they should still look great, oh how I was wrong!

I have seen good things of these half gloss half matte textured worktops that are out now though.

[Guffy]

theboyfold said:

Rich, We started off looking at wood, but don't fancy the idea of the up keep.

I find upkeep easy.. had solid walnut fitted 18 months ago and have oiled it once, took me 15 mins, looks great IMO.

[mrsxllifts]

Commers in Bordon did have 4.1m worktops in stock, if thats not to far to go?

Worth a call before just to make sure though!



Wickes do a 3.6m worktop depending on how close you measuring is.

Edited by mrsxllifts on Thursday 1st July 09:44

[squicky]

I bought my 4m (40cm thick) length beech worktop from a seller on ebay (Quick look shows them to be available for about £150 delivered.) Although I do have to oil it every so often (maybe been 9 months since I last did it) it was definitely worth it vs the alternatives - I don't see it as a nuisance and I like the look of it still after 2 years.

[Harry Flashman]

Right.If you want solid wood, use these guys. Very reasonable, top quality, and extraordinarily helpful/talkative on the phone. I used them for 6m of Zebrano wood. I think the guy I dealt with is called Will - ask for him. They send samples etc. It was either Wenge or Zebrano for me - in the end I went for Zebrano. Delivery was quick and painless too.

www.worktop-express.co.uk

It looks absolutely fantastic. Yes, I oil it every few months but that takes all of about 20 minutes (for the first couple of mopnths I oiled it every 2 weeks). And did I mention how fantastic it looks? Better even than stone worktops - it gets comments whenever people come over.

It has collected a couple of minor dents, but strangely this adds to the appeal. And mine gets heavy use, frequently left with liquid standing on it etc when I disappear for the weekend after hosting some monstrous party on a Friday night and have to get out of the house and leave the cleaner to deal with it on Monday!

Magnet wanted four times the price for a similar workop.

Incidentally, I had to join lengths, but the quality was so good and my fitter copmpetent that it looks seamless. He joined it under the hob so that the majority of the join is hidden.

[Simpo Two]

Harry Flashman said:

Incidentally, I had to join lengths, but the quality was so good and my fitter copmpetent that it looks seamless. He joined it under the hob so that the majority of the join is hidden.

Neat idea - the small section of joint showing, if done very well, would look like the normal stave joint and so invisible.

[theboyfold]

Harry Flashman said:

Stuff

Funny, I looked at that very website last night, but wasn't sure if they were any good or not.

The reason I've gone away from getting wood, no that doesn't sound right changed my mind on a wooden worktop is that if we don't look after it, we'll get annoyed with it and ourselves. Also, through into the mix I have a perfectionist for a wife, so small stains knocks etc are going to bother her... Plus a couple of builders I've spoken to (one being a PHer) have warned me off.

I'll give them a call and see what they say, thanks for the recommendation.

[Harry Flashman]

Simpo Two said:

Harry Flashman said:

Incidentally, I had to join lengths, but the quality was so good and my fitter copmpetent that it looks seamless. He joined it under the hob so that the majority of the join is hidden.

Neat idea - the small section of joint showing, if done very well, would look like the normal stave joint and so invisible.

Exactly what we did. You can't tell there's a join, after sanding and finishing.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 1st July 13:00

[ln1234]

Harry Flashman said:

Right.If you want solid wood, use these guys. Very reasonable, top quality, and extraordinarily helpful/talkative on the phone. I used them for 6m of Zebrano wood. I think the guy I dealt with is called Will - ask for him. They send samples etc. It was either Wenge or Zebrano for me - in the end I went for Zebrano. Delivery was quick and painless too.

www.worktop-express.co.uk

It looks absolutely fantastic. Yes, I oil it every few months but that takes all of about 20 minutes (for the first couple of mopnths I oiled it every 2 weeks). And did I mention how fantastic it looks? Better even than stone worktops - it gets comments whenever people come over.

It has collected a couple of minor dents, but strangely this adds to the appeal. And mine gets heavy use, frequently left with liquid standing on it etc when I disappear for the weekend after hosting some monstrous party on a Friday night and have to get out of the house and leave the cleaner to deal with it on Monday!

Magnet wanted four times the price for a similar workop.

Incidentally, I had to join lengths, but the quality was so good and my fitter copmpetent that it looks seamless. He joined it under the hob so that the majority of the join is hidden.

I ordered 6m of Black American Walnut worktop from these guys last week based on PH recommendations

[Harry Flashman]

OP - I hear you. If you want a finish that will be perfect forever, wood is not for you. It will collect dents. I don't mind - I have a Victorian place and have kept imperfections like the distressed original floors (lovingly finished and sealed, but deliberately much showing decades of marks & darkening) - so a few marks in the worktop are in keeping with the character of the house. This will not be the same if you live in a glass and steel ultramodern place...stone with its perfect finish will be better for you.

Scratches are easy as can be polished out, The big issue is of course picking up dark water marks from soaking near the taps. This is dealt with by finishing it properly (my whole worktop got 3 coats of Danish oil all over even before going on), and periodically maintaining the oiling (easy job, not messy, not a problem for to do whenever you clear the surface and give it a proper clean as opposed to just a wipe down.

As far as hot pans etc go, either use heatproof mats etc or do what I did - have grooves routed onto the surface. The people who sold me the worktops also sell stainless bar, that fits into these grooves. So when cooking, take the bars out of the drawer and stick them in the grooves, and you have a steel surface that will happily keep the pans away from the wood, Works a treat, and looks cool too.

I nearly went for stone, but love the warmth that the wood gives, and now will only have solid wood in any place I live in.

Edited by Harry Flashman on Thursday 1st July 13:02

[Dunclane]

Or go for Corian which is a man made stone alternative in all sorts of colours and patterns.

[Harry Flashman]

Dunclane said:

Or go for Corian which is a man made stone alternative in all sorts of colours and patterns.

I personally think that this stuff will look very dated in just a few years. Thought about it, and really didn't like it. Engineered stone is a better bet if you want to go down the composite route.

Another thing about solid wood. While it looks stunning if you pick the right timber and finish it properly, stiletto heels will make dents in it. Control your guests. A lesson I have learned well.

[Bonefish Blues]

Harry Flashman said:

Dunclane said:

Or go for Corian which is a man made stone alternative in all sorts of colours and patterns.

I personally think that this stuff will look very dated in just a few years. Thought about it, and really didn't like it. Engineered stone is a better bet if you want to go down the composite route.

Another thing about solid wood. While it looks stunning if you pick the right timber and finish it properly, stiletto heels will make dents in it. Control your guests. A lesson I have learned well.

...or if you do want Corian but baulk at the huge cost take a look at Encore, which is a similar material over a high density core.

A good fitter can make it look seamless and it's c1/3 the price of Corian, so less of a wrench to change when it comes time.

[Simpo Two]

theboyfold said:

The reason I've changed my mind on a wooden worktop is that if we don't look after it, we'll get annoyed with it and ourselves. Also, through into the mix I have a perfectionist for a wife, so small stains knocks etc are going to bother her... Plus a couple of builders I've spoken to (one being a PHer) have warned me off.

But if practicality was all that mattered, we'd all have Nissan Micras...

Have what you want, not what somebody else tells you to have.

Edited by Simpo Two on Thursday 1st July 22:31