Compact laminate

GDB2222

I remember that we paid extra for 40mm worktops, as they looked more fashionable. Now, people are paying extra for 12mm!

Doozergirl

I've used the 12mm on a bar in a rugby club because it's supposed to be indestructible.  It certainly did some damage to the blades we bought to cut it.  

At that sort of price point think I prefer the Maia/Minerva/Mirostone type product as the joins are virtually invisible.   We had some in our last house and did take a couple of chips out of the underside of the tops above the dishwasher, probably whacking it accidentally with pans, but it wasn't really noticeable.  

It's easier to work with than the compacted laminate.  The laminate does have quite a look about it, you might just need to be careful on a very long run, but I was working on a bar.  Not many kitchens have huge unbroken runs that use more than one top in a section.  

It's a good product. 

bargainhunter121

I did ask about the Maia worktop but he only seems to do the Duropal. £700 to upgrade from the 40mm too much? Should I just make do with the 40mm for the price difference? Other laminates (40mm) we’ve had previously have been damaged in some way, score marks, colour fading etc. 

 It’s an extension we’re doing involving a new bathroom and slightly bigger 3rd bedroom too so we’re trying to be cost  effective, as much as there do seem to be some benefits to the compact as well as the preferred look. I think I’m just afraid of committing and then having extra Costs somewhere else. So far our shower will cost us more than anticipated for example.

Jeepers_Creepers

If durability & longevity are important factors, then I think 'tops like Maia win for a few reasons; the corner joins are more resilient and watertight as the stuff used to bond them is, I think, a setting resin, and the surface layer is much thicker - 3mm or more. This means there's a 3mm layer that's sealed seamlessly tight to prevent moisture getting in, whereas a laminate worktop has only it's one-and-a-bit mm layer which is usually 'sealed' using silicone?

If you allow water to pool on a laminate top's mason's mitre, it will almost certainly fail.

The other nice factor about the Maia and its ilk is that the thick layer can be sanded and buffed, restoring it to new if scratched. If it's deeply chipped, you can fill it in and - here's the important bit - sand it completely flat and buff it to blend it in. You obviously cannot do that with laminate - it'll simply damage it more.

And Maia looks like a solid marble top - seamless.

You could always consider getting someone in to do just the tops, if you can source the Maia for a reasonable price? You need someone competent for this, someone who knows what's involved. It must be biscuited, must be level on top (or you'll be sanding it too much afterwards), must be done following the instructions closely. It's quite DIYable, but just must be done properly.

Are there cheaper versions of the Maia-type tops these days?

Swasterix

There was a recent thread on this here...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77677415#Comment_77677415

I had the Wilsonart Zenith worktop in my last house. Really liked it. Wish I’d gotten it in my current house instead of oak. For specifics read the thread above. 

Only you can decide if it’s worth the money. 

bargainhunter121

Our kitchen guy is leaving round samples today for a topshape worktop, any opinions on these compared to duropal?