Alternative materials for kitchen worktop?

I'm wanting to replace a beech worktop in our kitchen which is past its best, particularly where it's been wet, like around the Belfast sink (exposed edges of worktop around the sink, which is mounted beneath the worktop).

Looking in the Google archives for advice, it seems that laminated chipboard worktops are a Bad Idea for that style of sink, because of the ease of water getting into the chipboard. And even if we replaced the sink with one which is mounted from above the worktop, from past experience I have doubts about how long the worktop would last before getting damaged elsewhere.

Other materials I've looked at are Corian (expensive), and marble (only slightly less expensive). And we don't want another solid wood worktop.

Are there any other solutions, priced somewhere between the cheap-and- nasty and the how-bloody-much options?

David

Reply to
David McNeish
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Could you plate the edges of the existing worktop with stainless steel to make it last a bit longer ?

Reply to
BigWallop

Possibly in the how bloody much range, but these people (and others, but these are the people who actually own the quarry) do slate worktops

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(click on worktops down the left, and then gallery at the top right)

Prices inevitably depend on how thick you want it

Brian

Reply to
bigbria

Why not refinsh the rest of the worktops and replace the offending article with a more suitable timber such as teak or iroko? Or do I mean aforomosia? Or teak or iroko or afrormosia?

If you want a hand with that, post us some piccies\diagrammes.

Reply to
Michael Mcneil

Fair enough.

About 20 years is a reasonable timescale with sensible use.

Tiled is an option, but not my choice. IME laminate worktops are the best solution. They are extremely tough and hard-wearing, a lot more scratch resistant that most of the alternatives, and very reasonably priced. Buy good quality laminate worktops - pay around £100-£150 for a

4m length.
Reply to
Grunff

Granite?

Reply to
Simon

Concrete? Becoming popular across the pond I believe

Paul Mc Cann

Reply to
Paul Mc Cann

Could you faux marble the 'crete with a monolithic top layer of white cement and atristic streaking with brick dust??

Regards, NT

Reply to
N. Thornton

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book called "Concrete Countertops: Design, Forms and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bathroom" . I bought it for my sister last year as she kept asking about how to cast concrete counter tops. A very informative read if the OP wants to consider that route.

Reply to
Simon

You're dead right about this! I took extra special care to seal the cut edges around the aperture for my Ikea ceramic sink. I first applied a copious amount of white silicone sealant to the sawn faces of the cut-out in the chipboard, really pushing it into the surface with a putty knife, then I applied the mastic sealant strip that came with the sink and pushed the sink in firmly.

Nevertheless, over the last year since the sink was installed, water has obviously managed to get into the chipboard somehow, as the worktop is already showing signs of warping and the melamine surface lifting.

MM

Reply to
Mike Mitchell

What happens to concrete (or marble) if you spill acid on it, like vinegar, citric fruit juice, etc.

Like Grunff(?) said modern laminate worktops are pretty tough and hard wearing for most purposes but won't stand up to being around a belfast sink. Refinish the existing worktop and possibly replace the section around the sink, though you may find it will clean up.

I can't decide if it's better to apply some really tough varnish to the area around the sink or to leave it natural or just oiled. Once the finish gets damaged any mositure will be trapped and go manky. With a natural or oiled wood it'll dry out.

Granite would be suitable but that may well fall into the "How much!" category and is HEAVY additional or upgraded suppurt maybe required.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

The only answer I can think of to insetting a Belfast sink into a laminate worktop would be to have the worktop specially made using 'Formica' applied to marine ply core with edges surrounding the sink finished with the same Formica or possibly a water resistant hard wood such as teak with the laminate overshooting the hardwood lipping.

The best answer would be to forget the bloody Belfast sink which is only a style accessory similar the fog lamps on cars.

Are kitchens a working environment anymore or merely a means of arousing envy amongst frineds ?

Paul Mc Cann

Reply to
Paul Mc Cann

Until my parents decided to pay for our granite, we were going to have Iroko. This wood is absolutely ideal for worktops and Belfast sinks, as it is naturally water resistant, unlike many other hardwoods. It was the typical wood used for laboratory counter tops. Indeed, my school's labs had a wood that looked remarkably similar. It will last much better than the Beech.

Shop around, you can get lengths of Iroko quite cheap on the Internet.

Christian,

Reply to
Christian McArdle

I'm sure it is possible to seal the edge with the right varnish (I'd try Rustins 2 part floor varnish) but it still looks awful, and who wants jigsawn chipboard exposed and highlighted?

Isn't everything the latter?

Reply to
stuart noble
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"Designer" kitchens are solely the latter.

Reply to
Huge

Glass mate - its the only way to go !

Steve...

Reply to
SteveRoche

So? Is that any reason why people should not fit one if they like them? You could write off just about anything as a "style accessory". Kelloggs Crunchy Nut has this ridiculous and entirely unnecessary addition of nuts and honey, obviously a melange for consumers with more money than sense. Why can't people just eat bog-standard cornflakes without sugar and be thankful?

MM

Reply to
Mike Mitchell

missed the start of this thread but I presume the OP was asking for suggestions for, er, alternative materials for kitchen worktops :-)

Some folks I know have theirs made of polished concrete (they hired a concrete polishing machine to do it).

Must say I think it looks pretty sh*te, but I guess it's rugged ;-)

Reply to
John Stumbles

Hi,

I can quite see the attraction of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes but not that of a Belfast sink, just why are they so desirable? I would prefer 2 round sink bowls myself (and two bowls of Crunchy Nut too!)

cheers, Pete.

Reply to
Pete C

I have a large one in the utility room and it's very useful because of the size for all sorts of things ranging from hand washing of clothes through to stacking pans before they go in the dishwasher, etc. etc. It's undermounted beneath a granite worktop with machined drainage grooves. Works very well.

I then have separate undermounted sinks in the kitchen as well which are smaller and geared more towards food preparation.

.andy

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Reply to
Andy Hall

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