Kitchen Worktops

[puffernutter]

A change from Kangoos....

In the next 10 days I'm due to start refitting the kitchen. We have the units, but are debating the worktop. Laminate is most possible; it has drawbacks, but needs far less maintenance than real wood (that needs oiling, can get burnt, dinged etc.) Tiles have been ruled out by the bad experience of others, but based on what I did in my workshop (in that I covered a timber worktop with steel sheet to give a hard wearing surface) my wife was wondering about the feasibility of using a sheet timber base and a stainlees steel sheet as a cover.

Is there a particular type I need for kitchens (food preparation). Are there any pros/cons. I've looked at kitchen suppliers and it's a horrendous price (£270/linear metre). I was thinking of just having 3/4 marine ply with a stainless steel sheet on the top and a 90deg bend (1" deep) at the front to give a nice edge. Not sure how I would fix it down, but I'm sure there is a way!

What is the maximum length a supplier could bend (I'd be looking at around 3.5 - 4m)

Any thoughts?

Cheers

Peter

 

[Wendelspanswick]

We toyed with the idea of a stainless worktop but after looking in to it the 'cons'* put us off and we went for granite.

*Scroll down halfway.
http://countertopinvestigator.com/stainless-countertops/

 

[T0rnado69]

that would depend on the size of the press brake or what they use to bend stuff is.

ive heard stainless steel appliances and splashbacks are a nightmare to keep clean.

i know my mates stainless steel range cooker is a nightmare to keep clean.

 

[tlovatt]

I used a solid work surface and put Rustins Plastic Coat on it

http://www.rustins.eu/Details.asp?ProductID=857

You need to follow the instructions to the letter but you end up with a very durable finish, you can pour water or solvents on it or put hot pans down and it does not bother it (although hot things can burn the wood under the coating). Surface still looks as good today as when I put the kitchen in 6 years ago.

You can also get a Fiddes product - an acid catalyst Lacquer that dries very quickly and takes less work to put on but is not quite as durable.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Part of the problem with stainless is if you get a mark on it you can't use a green pad on it as it shows up against the rest of the worktop.

 

[Turbo]

Stainless steel is a nightmare to keep - you'll see every finger mark on it. You need to 'feed' it with baby oil to keep it shiny! Granite/slate it very similar. TBH laminate is probably the best of the lot and the cheapest.

 

[Dee J]

Planed slate (dark grey), left matt/unsealed is the best worktop I've come across yet. Heat proof, stainproof and wipe clean. Any scratches seem to wipe out /blend . But the stainless worktop in the utility room marks really easily and even rusts in small spots depending on what's been left on it (mind you it is cheapo Ikea). YMMV

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

The best thing for cleaning stainless kitchen stuff is methylated spirits. Thats cleaning as in fingerprints.

 

[puffernutter]

Laminate has been ordered! Thanks for all the advice. A great group of people here!

Cheers

Peter

 

[roofman]

I paid over 2K for just the Granite tops in my refurbed kitchen about 4 years ago..still as good as new but iff ever again i need new tops then ime going to cast concrete in situ and get it pollished.Looks the dogs ears when done iff you add an exotic stone mix with the concrete and costs only pennies

 

[johnakay]

I'm saying nowt

 

[roofman]

I'm saying nowt

why

 

[johnakay]

let put it this way the guy didn't do a very good job.
and I wasn't supposed to do any thing but ended up helping him and finished the work off myself with my son.
to say I was p*ss*d off is an understatement.

 

[roofman]

let put it this way the guy didn't do a very good job.
and I wasn't supposed to do any thing but ended up helping him and finished the work off myself with my son.
to say I was p*ss*d off is an understatement.

gotcha

 

[Kent]

Anyone who wants a trade account at Howdens can pretty much have one. The disounts only relate back to the std retail of a supply only kitchen at the given quality, the real kick is if your fitting a lot of them as there is a back end volume bonus. The whole idea is builder says " I will get you a kitchen at trade and just pay me for the fitting" while doing that kitchen extension etc.