Black gloss kitchen worktops....NEVER AGAIN

Steph998

Just before Christmas we decided to spruce our kitchen up a bit - we were quite happy with the layout, doors etc, but we thought we would take off the old matt laminate work surfaces.

I loved the look of the black gloss worktops in B&Q, I thought they would look stylish and modern with the colour of our doors and the paint we had picked.

Anyway...we have got quite a lot of downlight in our kitchen...and oh dear, what a mistake! The tops constantly look smeared, dirty and even the slightest bit of dust or crumbs show up and get caught round the hob etc. In order to keep it looking even half decent - and even then I am still not happy - I have to clean it with a wet cloth, then polish it up with a dry kitchen towel - every five mins it seems. I am NOT obsessive...honestly, but it looks awful, and I wish I had stuck with matt.

Anyone else have the same problem?

Kirri

I nearly went for gloss as I preferred the look but had read they scratch a lot easier, have you found that as well??

Steph998

Yes! I am so careful too - no scourers, or creams etc..but they are covered in a maze of tiny scratches from (I'm guessing) the bottom of plates etc, normal usage.

I am so fed up with it we are seriously thinking of just biting the bullet and ripping them off and re-doing in matt.. OH doesn't bother so much but it bugs me every time I come in the kitchen.. and I should love it!

I loved the look too....so shiny and clean looking in the showroom. I can assure you to live with it....it's not.

You made the right choice.

I hope this stops somone else from making the same mistake...if you want black and shiny, go for marble or granite! There is NO cheap option.

debs2327

i said the same thing when i got my black gloss work tops they are too hard to keep shiny , i used window cleaner to polish them with a micro cloth it made it easier x couldnt wait to change them hope it helps hun x

CKdesigner

Gloss laminate worktops do show scratches more than the mat finish. However, if you do want gloss laminate I think the make to go for is Duropal.

superstylin

I have a similar problem with black polished porcelain tiles on my kitchen floor. They show every bit of dust and dirt and seem to scratch pretty easily. Ruddy nightmare. Now my kitchen looks constantly dirty, because I really haven't got the time or inclination to brush/mop the floor every day!

yummymummy888888

I saw someone clean these on tv. You use fairy liquid with a sponge to remove the grease, then scraped off with a window cleaning sqeegie. aparantly thats the only way to get them smear free:D

TomsMom

I saw a neighbour's black glossy worktop that was covered in scratches very soon after it had been installed. Put me off glossy altogether. I'm sticking to matt for my new kitchen.

looby-loo_2

It must be so disappointing

beaney50

Had black granite in my last kitchen and found it quite hard to keep looking good when the sun was shining but was really good to put hot pans on. When it was polished with microfibre cloths, however, it was amazing.
This time I have much more worktop so expensewise I cannot justify granite. I chose flashblack laminate from duropal which has a square profile and I am really pleased with it. We are still working and it is much more "accomodating" to dust/dirt etc. When all the work is finished it will be SO much easier to maintain then the granite.

27col

Even if you had kept your old matt finish the marks would have been exactly the same.
So the problem is not that the shiny surface gets more marked, it is just that the same marks are not so apparent on the matt surface.