Kitchen Worktops

Quickblood

My parents did the kitchen up cheaply around a decade ago and it's begun to fall apart a bit in places so it needs a bit of a revamp. We've always had laminate worktops and eventually water gets in somewhere and they fall apart over time so time to buy something a little better.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how much granite will cost but I suspect it's out of our price range. I'm considering Bamboo or oak but with maintenance I'm a little put off so I think composite stone is the best choice.
I thought there were solid but looking on Youtube it looks like the stone covers the chipboard. I assume they're worth it and the water won't get to the chipboard?

I'm also wondering if it's sensible to undermount a sink with these and how do you choose between them GetaCore, Encore, Apollo Magna, Maia, Smartstone etc. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

PheoUK

Why / where is the water getting in?

Quickblood

Right now at the back near the taps but the laminate is also chipped off at the front so it could potentially get in there too.

cyclonebri1

PheoUK wrote: »

Why / where is the water getting in?

Even the best quality German laminates will suffer from this eventually, usually at the front of the sink where the bottom edge meets the underside. The slightest defect in seals under the sink edge and hob edges will result in the same. Ours were quality, they lasted 13 years.

Op, the answer is to get prices for granite or quartz and compare them to the stuff you are considering, there may not be that much difference and I know which I'd go with.

BJV

We did our kitchen last year and we loved the sound of natural granite or solid oak. But the more I looked into it I decided not too. Granite needs looking after and we with kids two cats and a dog there would of been finger marks everywhere. Oak is beautiful but will need sanding and oiling every so often. We went for an oak laminate and wow they have come on in the last few years. Looks like a beautiful piece of solid oak but more hardwearing and easier to clean.


18 months after the kitchen was fitted and still looks as good as new even after the battering it gets from our family.


P.s It was also cheaper. Even if the price was the same I would still go for it. Just make sure that it is fitted correctly and sealed.

DirectDebacle

Replace with laminate on a ten year old kitchen unless of course it is a non chipboard bespoke quality kitchen.

A properly fitted and cared for quality laminate will last at least as long as your chipboard kitchen and be the best value for money.

doodle-bug_2

When we fitted our new laminate worktops, we spent a few hours sealing the raw edges with clear silicone (especially around the sink cut-out) before fitting. We have done this twice now and the only reason we had to replace the first one was that it became damaged when we replaced a cupboard because of a water leak that damaged the back of the cabinet.

Would recommend this even though it takes a few hours to do (and you end up with a hugely messy finger that looks like a lolly because of the silicone!) Tried using a tool to put it on, but nothing works like using your finger!

Quickblood

I can't see laminate being an option given the way the last worktop disintegrated, although it's cheap and I'm sure would last if time was taken to seal it Mum wants something solid and as it's not a whole new kitchen so there's bit of money to spend on worktops and doors.

I'll get some quotes and keep an open mind but composite stone with a double bowl undermount sink looks great and I've gotta push hard to get that.

PheoUK

DIY-Kitchens has an online estimator for Quartz, I found that quite useful.

katejo

Quickblood wrote: »

I can't see laminate being an option given the way the last worktop disintegrated, although it's cheap and I'm sure would last if time was taken to seal it Mum wants something solid and as it's not a whole new kitchen so there's bit of money to spend on worktops and doors.

I'll get some quotes and keep an open mind but composite stone with a double bowl undermount sink looks great and I've gotta push hard to get that.

I had Duropal laminate done in my new kitchen 2 years ago and it is still in excellent condition.

Joanthebone

I will be needing a new kitchen soon and my son, who has his own bespoke kitchen company has told me not to touch gloss laminate (I had one before which blew up because damp got into a joint) ordinary laminate, wood, or granite... he only recommends a composite stone to his customers.