Guide to kitchen worktops

katejo

IM wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.

As a random baseline number, I've been on to http://www.diy-kitchens.com/ and proced up a worktop from them.

I need a U-shaped worktop - three sections of 1400, 2900 and 1400, with cut-outs for a hob and a sink.

Opting for one of their cheapest quartz styles, it was coming out to £1,700 including fitting.

I don't know if this is good, bad or indifferent - but any clues what I'd be looking at for other options?

That sounds pretty expensive for a worktop. i would be scared to do anything in the kitchen with that! My laminate cost between £400 and £500 not including fitting. Kitchen also U shaped and medium size.

cddc

IM wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.

As a random baseline number, I've been on to http://www.diy-kitchens.com/ and proced up a worktop from them.

I need a U-shaped worktop - three sections of 1400, 2900 and 1400, with cut-outs for a hob and a sink.

Opting for one of their cheapest quartz styles, it was coming out to £1,700 including fitting.

I don't know if this is good, bad or indifferent - but any clues what I'd be looking at for other options?

that sounds good...but take a plan to a local fabricator to get a more accurate price..

Have quartz myself now..and though not cheap, I would thoroughly recommend it.

Agree with others on their laminate comments, Duropal or a similar German brand is the way to go if going down that route. The usual Axiom/WilsonArt that most of the major players sell is average quality at best.

caringa

iris wrote: »

We have just had 3 Quartz worktops fitted (one with a 1.1/2 under fitted stainless steel sink)


I am really pleased with them.


I was put off Granite because of it being porous.


We chose black with sparkly bits and I love it.

No sign of our granite of 5 years being porous

jamski07

caringa wrote: »

No sign of our granite of 5 years being porous

I dont have experience as to how porous it is, but apparently it is. I think for any normal every day use it's fine, but my wife uses dyes for baking and they stain pretty much everything. So the solid surface seemed like the way to go. Not worth the risk!

iris

IM wrote: »

Thanks for the replies so far.

As a random baseline number, I've been on to http://www.diy-kitchens.com/ and proced up a worktop from them.

I need a U-shaped worktop - three sections of 1400, 2900 and 1400, with cut-outs for a hob and a sink.

Opting for one of their cheapest quartz styles, it was coming out to £1,700 including fitting.

I don't know if this is good, bad or indifferent - but any clues what I'd be looking at for other options?

Are you sure about the price?


I have tried and it comes out at a lot more. There is VAT to add on and also a £500 charge for templating and fitting and don't forget rounded corners and edging and perhaps upstands.


We paid £3300 for 3 similar sized worktops. This included cut-outs for under-sink and tap and grooves, also cut out for hob. One section had an upstand and also rounded corners and pencil edging. They also supplied a Frank 1.1/2 bowl sink with all wastes.


This price included making templates, fitting and VAT. HTH

jenfa

Hi we are looking at kitchens at the moment too and were looking at laminate because granite we feel would be too cold, corian probably too expensive as we want to put our money into appliances and we were worried with some about staining as we drink black coffee and use lots of soy sauce about the stone. I also am having enough trouble progressing kitchens due to the stress and mess so don't want to wait for templating.

We were in John Lewis Oxford Street on Sunday and we were asking them, the problem for us with laminate is that one section of worktop is likely to be 4.8m straight with cut outs for hob and sink and with any worktop it will need to be joined and I don't want flour or pastry to be getting in the gap. One of the ways round this is to look at Maia which is one up from laminate but cheaper than granite, quartz, wood and corian. Essentially it is chips like laminate but wrapped in acrylic, you buy lengths of it and either join or cut on site so no templating. When you join you put a resin over the top and polish out the join it can also be fixed with resin if you damage it. It also comes in different thicknesses which is useful for us as our window sills are slightly lower.

Prices are:
for 28mm and dependant on which you choose

3.6m £627 or £798
1.8m £372 or £478
upstands come in different heights and you can get sinks etc
900x760 hob splashback £331 or £349
joining kits on top I would think
the Maia website is quite good

JL said their laminates come in from £86 per metre but again only set lengths.

Hope this helps

ryder72

Laminate Worktop in 5.4m lengths are available from select suppliers. The problem is not so much the length but the logistics of transportation and handling.

I would not recommend Maia. Its really not fit for purpose. Save up for Corian or get the laminate worktop cut cleverly so that the joins arent on your working areas if at all possible.

Ianwzzz

jamski07 wrote: »

We have Maia which is like a solid surface and I personally love it. It's totally non porous so wont stain unlike wood and even granite. It does mark but can re repaired easily and even chips can be fixed. Virtually seam free when fitted well too. Corian is a good product too. We got ours from Homebase but they price matched online prices which was great!

We have Maia and hate it. It is black and shows every scratch. It can be repaired easily yourself but within a few days there are loads of scratches again.

jamski07

Ianwzzz wrote: »

We have Maia and hate it. It is black and shows every scratch. It can be repaired easily yourself but within a few days there are loads of scratches again.

Yeah the darker the colour the more scratches you will see. We have 'Mocha', a browny colour and they really don't show that badly.

jenfa

ryder72 wrote: »

Laminate Worktop in 5.4m lengths are available from select suppliers. The problem is not so much the length but the logistics of transportation and handling.

I would not recommend Maia. Its really not fit for purpose. Save up for Corian or get the laminate worktop cut cleverly so that the joins arent on your working areas if at all possible.

We have Corian in our bathroom and I certainly wouldn't go for it again, we are in a hard water area and I find that it leaves yellow stains on the white basin, we want a china white sink like we have now that we can bleach and replace on its own without changing all the worktop, but that is just us.

Everywhere we have been to says that for health and safety reasons there would need to be a joint, practically even though we have a large house I don't think that length would get through the door and round the doorways to the kitchen! but thanks for letting me know.