Kitchen Worktop Ends, finish?

PeteB_2000

Hiya,

Had a new kitchen worktop installed while I was away but the installer didnt put on the end finish strip on (friend of a friend job who did it cheap and had a real nitghmare by all accounts so dont want to really ask), apparently he didnt put it on as he said they are rubbish, in the past apparently the where ironed on, these ones are suppose to be stuck on and he said they are no good and fall off real easy he suggested gettting a metal strip which screws on from the likes of B&Q, question is are they really this bad and if they arent whats the best thing to stick them on with, if they are really bad then I will just finish it off with a metal strip.

Any comments gratefully apreciated
Pete

jennifernil

Should be fine if you do it properly. Use a good contact adhesive, leave the strip a little oversize if it has not been supplied exact, let it "set" overnight then trim it carefully to fit. They are easily damaged at this point, so you need to be very careful.

Once in place it will be fine.

heatherw_01

I got our worktop replaced not long ago and I was told that the stick on ends are not very good, especially as our worktop ended next to the oven and the heat would just make it come off.

I bought soa metal end for a few pounds and it looks lovely.

PeteB_2000

hiya thanks for the replies, could you recommend a "good contact adhesive" and what and where did you get your "soa metal end"
cheers
Pete

ormus

ive used evostick for the laminate ends. as above, follow the instructions and let it set for 24 hrs before trimming to size.

the metal end trims, can be had from wickes & BQ etc..

brownbake

We just got some of the metal ones from BandQ - £7.50 each - bloody extortion for a bit of metal !!

Tried on Ebay but couldn't find any although there is an internet supplier who does 2 for about £12 delivered.

I think you need the metal ones on the edges of you have a freestanding cooker - well we have anyway.

They just screw in but have to be cut down.

a_star_3

Use an epoxy-resin, its a very high grade bonding agent, can stick cars to walls!

PeteB_2000

thanks eveybody for your help, will try with some epoxy resin first
regards
Pete

dreamypuma

PeteB_2000 wrote: »

he said they are rubbish, in the past apparently the where ironed on, these ones are suppose to be stuck on and he said they are no good and fall off real easy
Pete

Absolute rubbish, what he's not admitting is that he is c**p.

Using a good contact adhesive, like evo-stick, they are fine. You can even buy a small sharp edging tool which will shave the excess trim away. So long as the contact adhesive is applied thin and evenly to both surfaces and trimmed properly they look really smart.

To do the job properly you need patience and pride in your work. Usually the edging strip comes off if the strip hasn't been trimmed back and shaved in properly. Rough edges will get knocked damaged and levered away gradually over time and thats when these strips fail and come away.

If your worktop has a joint (on a corner) what does this look like? Is there a hairline joint visible or was metal joint strip used? If a jointing strip was used, you can bet that he butchered the worktop.

If you can see the underside of the top near a joint check to see how it's jointed.

There is a real art to installing a worktop well, and patience is the key. A worktop sorts out the fitters from the joiners.

I personally would not want a metal strip on the end of any of my tops, particularly if it is in contrast.

It is possible to do yourself, but make sure you do not rush, and have plenty of spare edging strip just in case you get it wrong. A clean work area helps and make sure any excess adhesive is wiped away. Shave in any sharp edges.

I personally wouldn't use Epoxy. Yes it is a fantastic adhesive and as stated able will stick virtually anything forever, but its a bit over the top, and I find it actually swells very slightly a little like foam, but thinner. If you get it wrong with epoxy, I'd be worried that on the edge it would look be more visible.

PeteB_2000

hey thanks DP for the info he has not used any metal strips the the two mated surfaces that I can see, they are one up against the other much the same as the old worktop which was done by the housebuilder and very neat, will look for some of the evo stuff at B&Q tomorrow
regards
Pete

jennifernil

Good post dreamypuma!

The problem with the metal one is that it can trap dirt. Not so bad if it is an end strip, but the metal jointing ones are a right pain!

We used one of them 20 years ago.......never again.