End Panels for Kitchen Units

leveller2911

Terryfromcucina wrote: »

That's hilarious... Maintained.. Repairable...

Was the salesman one of Alan's apprentices? They should be that is quite frankly ridiculous and also completely untrue.

By Maintained do you mean regularly resanded and reoiled, as opposed to simply wiped clean - which is the equivalent process for ALL other type of worktop except the high maintenance solid wood versions.

By Repaired did you actually believe that one too - oh yeah they can be repaired alright, though 1 x 'new one' is the part number you will need for the repair.

Nice post and a really helpful one too, obviously your the fountain of knowledge regarding worktops.It would have just been nice if you actually posted advice and not just taken the pi$$......... Funnt that all of your previous posts are along the same line.......;)

FWIW Wood worktops need maintaining but at least they can be re-sanded and re-oiled and look like new, you can't do that with laminate.

Terryfromcucina

leveller2911 wrote: »

Nice post and a really helpful one too, obviously your the fountain of knowledge regarding worktops.It would have just been nice if you actually posted advice and not just taken the pi$$......... Funnt that all of your previous posts are along the same line.......;)

FWIW Wood worktops need maintaining but at least they can be re-sanded and re-oiled and look like new, you can't do that with laminate.

Apologies for appearing cryptic in my advice;

Aspirational worksurfaces are for those with aspirational lifestyles with aspirational tools, aspirational skills, access to materials and free time. Don't ever have solid tops in your kitchen you will regret it, they turn black around a belfast, the staves ( fingers of wood bonded under pressure to form most butchers block style solid wood worktops ) open up above your dishwasher - there is no magic fix for this, for most it's an uncomfortable lesson learnt - the lesson being that when people who see this all the time tell you this it is true.

For the rest of the normal folk laminate is a man made economical, fit for purpose, time honoured and hygenic solution to kitchen worktops, if Granite is beyond your means.

leveller2911

Terryfromcucina wrote: »

Apologies for appearing cryptic in my advice;

Don't ever have solid tops in your kitchen you will regret it, they turn black around a belfast, the staves ( fingers of wood bonded under pressure to form most butchers block style solid wood worktops ) open up above your dishwasher - there is no magic fix for this, for most it's an uncomfortable lesson learnt - the lesson being that when people who see this all the time tell you this it is true.

For the rest of the normal folk laminate is a man made economical, fit for purpose, time honoured and hygenic solution to kitchen worktops, if Granite is beyond your means.

Its true that some species of timber are less durable around sinks (Beech,Ash,Maple) but others are excellant (Iroko,Black Walnut) and some are fine as long as they are maintained properly (Oak,Sapele) but to tar all timbers with the same brush is a very sweeping statement.
I have seen many laminate worktops fail especially around mitred joints,even when bolted,biscuited and glued.I've seen them expand and fall apart,edges easily damaged and if the joints between worktops are not exactly level,flush they wear through the to layer exposing the white base of the laminate.

Laminates are cheaper and do a job but they are far from perfect,in fact there is no perfect worktop.....;)

Granite is nice, but some is very poor and has hairline cracks you don't see until they get worse over a period of time and granite doesn't forgive you, drop a glass or plate and its toast.

Like I said the "perfect" worktop still eludes us all.