worktop - pls help me decide

Dublin_Mom

We are getting a big job done on the house and one of the new items will be a kitchen. I am nervous of spending all this money on fancy extension, nice windows, flooring etc, and then having it all ruined by a cheap kitchen...have done the rounds of kitchen places are narrowed it down to Timbercraft and a guy in Deansgrange industrial park who seems a bit of a one man band (and makes me a bit nervous as a result)

Still conflicted though betwen solid wood and vinyl wrap. Solid wood has to be better, right? Then the worktop, would love granite but that would really blow the budget. Solid wood also expensive and I believe it is work to keep it looking good.

I know there are loads of threads on this, but just wanted peoples opinions. My SIL gave some advise which I think is good, spend money on everything you touch in the kitchen, ie worktop and handles. So does it really matter if its a vinyl wrap door - ie will it look cheap? And does a laminate worktop also look really cheap?

Bannasidhe

Just in process of getting a new kitchen in and although money is tight I couldn't bear the thought of a laminate worktop again (had one for 7 years).
I was looking at solid wood (don't like granite as I find it cold and it damages knives - someone always uses a knife on it) but I was horrified at the prices and thought I would have to go for the laminate.

Finally (i.e. last Friday) I managed to source solid oak worktops - 44 mm thick and wider than the average by 5o mm - I got 3 x 3m for 793 euro.
I don't want to name the supplier here in case that is against the forum charter but they are in Dublin and Cork - if you want their details PM me.

They are installed now and just awaiting the final finish/rounding edged and I am delighted with them.

This will give you an idea of how they look (they have had one coat of Rustin's worktop oil in this photo)


Edit - forgot to mention my original unit doors were vinyl wrap - eventually (about 4-5 year) steam from kettle etc caused the wrap to begin to lift - new kitchen has solid wooden doors.

Also check out ebay for sinks/taps - we got both off ebay for a fraction of the price here (e.g. sink cost under 50 euro incl pp and taps were under 80 incl pp and they are brass with chrome plating) - you can just make them out in the picture.

Dublin_Mom

Hi, I have just PMed you.
Kitchen looks great!

Bannasidhe

Message sent - and to Paddy.
Had a look at worktop suppliers website and they are in Sligo too in case anyone is interested in that area.

OH's mother has also gotten a new kitchen and she has same taps as us but her's cost 150 euro as opposed to our 76.

Do look on ebay for sinks and taps as they really are a fraction of the cost.

paddy147

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Message sent - and to Paddy.
Had a look at worktop suppliers website and they are in Sligo too in case anyone is interested in that area.

OH's mother has also gotten a new kitchen and she has same taps as us but her's cost 150 euro as opposed to our 76.

Do look on ebay for sinks and taps as they really are a fraction of the cost.

Is there much maintance work with solid wood worktops??

How often would you re-oil them?

Looks lovely btw and thanks for the PM.:)

Bannasidhe

paddy147 wrote: »

Is there much maintance work with solid wood worktops??

How often would you re-oil them?

Looks lovely btw and thanks for the PM.:)

I am using Rustin's worktop oil which is non-solvent, certified food safe, made from natural oils.
To re-oil just wipe them down with white spirits and re-coat.

No idea how often they need re-oiling as this is my first time with solid wood (previously had laminate) but my sister used the same product on her stairs when she had a new one put in 3 years ago and they are still looking great with no need to re-oil yet.

Pinky123

Solid wood wtop
Pros: it's beautiful , it gives a real warmth to the kitchen especially if you decide to go for a coloured kitchen as opposed to timber, if you do scorch it or damage it you can sand it back and refinish
Cons: I does require more maintenance than other tops. You need to make sure it is very well oiled (mine was oiled about 6 times on both sides before it was fitted and then again when installed). Once installed you will need to keep it oiled, especially around sink, cooker and your main prep area. I need to oil mine every 6 to 8 weeks to keep it in good nic. Try not to use very abrasive wtop cleaners as they will strip back the oil and make more work for you.

Granite Wtop
Pros: it's very hard wearing, you can get some fantastic detail on the edging, it's opulent, heat resistant.
Cons: expensive, you can stain it and there is no remedy, you can also chip it especially if you go for an undermount sink. If you do choose granite then I always recommend staying away from the absolute black as every bit of dust and water streak can be seen on it. It can blunt knives but I would generally use a chopping board for prep.


Hope this helps, if you do choose the solid wood route you could always have a granite prep area recessed into the wood, attached pic shows.

I would always say not to compromise on the quality of your kitchen in order to have granite/wood tops. Worktop is the easiest component of your kitchen to change so always try to get that best kitchen you can within your budget.

Vinyl Wrap vs solid wood

It all depends on the colour/finish you are hoping to have, if you are getting a colour then a good quality vinyl wrap is perfect and easy to maintain. If you are looking for a wood finish then solid or veneer is really the way to go. The only timber finish in vinyl that I have seen looking really well is walnut, with oak and beech etc you can always tell its vinyl.

Cork24

granite Worktop, can crack due to Heat..

so you will need a Chop board or a Glass Board to place hot plates on it,

Soild Wood, you be talking at lest over 9k but then it would last a life time if it was looked after,

MDF Kitchens last about 10 years if looked after as well,

jos28

I hope to be shopping for a new kitchen within the next year and I have been looking at worktops in friends and family's kitchen. Love the look of granite but many people have had problems with chips and staining. My cousin recently had a fab kitchen installed and used a composite worktop similar to these.
http://www.dostone.co.uk/composite_worktops.html

It looks amazing and was a fraction of the cost of granite

paddy147

jos28 wrote: »

I hope to be shopping for a new kitchen within the next year and I have been looking at worktops in friends and family's kitchen. Love the look of granite but many people have had problems with chips and staining. My cousin recently had a fab kitchen installed and used a composite worktop similar to these.
http://www.dostone.co.uk/composite_worktops.html

It looks amazing and was a fraction of the cost of granite

That looks like Silstone.

Its a composite stone layer bonded onto a piece of wood below.

jos28

paddy147 wrote: »

That looks like Silstone.

Its a composite stone layer bonded onto a piece of wood below.

Doesn't sound so impressive now Paddy. I can't imagine it would be too durable.

paddy147

jos28 wrote: »

Doesn't sound so impressive now Paddy. I can't imagine it would be too durable.

Tough as fcuk,from what Ive heard about it.:)

firlodge

I'm with Paddy on this - brilliant product!

jos28

Don't want to hijack OP's thread but I will definitely be adding composite worktop to my shopping list. Cheers !