Damaged finish on new kitchen worktop

[keiron99]

We've just had a new kitchen installed in our extension. The worktop is a speckled black laminate (Duropal). After just a few days I'm already regretting a dark colour - it's impossible to clean as it shows every smear from every wipe and every crumb.

More worryingly, there appear to be areas where the finish is "dull" (even though it's not a gloss finish), an effect like I'd expect you'd get if it were rubbed with wire wool. I have tried good old elbow grease and a few kitchen cleaners (Mr Muscle, Bar keepers Friend etc) to no avail. I also tried some EvoStick glue remover, thinking it may be some kind of residue, but still no joy.

Does anyone have any tips before I either accuse the fitter (who was a disgrace) of damaging it, or challenge the supplier suggesting it may have a manufacturing fault?

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Send the manufacturer or place of purchase an email/snail mail for a rep of the firm to make a visit to your home,informing them your not happy with the worktop and how its performing in the cleaning side. You cant blame the fitter as the surface his not down to his (alledged)incompetance.

[Guy King]

The message from "The3rd Earl Of Derby" contains these words:

Unless the fitter made a mess of it and used something like Vim to get rid of the mark.

[Stuart Noble]

I'd try white spirit or, failing that, meths. Wipe on with clean tissue and see if anything is coming off. A lot of cleaning products contain chalk or phosphates, both of which can leave a haze on coloured surfaces. Anything that removes contact adhesive will probably have a strong solvent, which may attack the surface.

[Phil Anthropist]

The supplier is likely to say that it wasn't damaged when it left their premises, I would be astounded if they said otherwise. I don't know what the fitter will say but he is unlikely to admit to causing damage. Without any evidence of who caused the damage you may need to cut your losses and arrange replacement with a lighter colour that doesn't smear or show crumbs.

[keiron99]

Thanks all. I've tried all the above, except meths. My feeling is that it was the fitter. He's made an awful job. I told him off one night for scratching the top - there are some deep gouges - which he caused by putting his electric cutting machinary directly on the work surface. Would you believe, he used it as his workbench, unprotected. I have a feeling he may have tried, and spectacularly failed, to remove some of the scratches.

Replacing it is waaay beyond our means. Now if only there was a way to restore the "glaze"...which I don't suppose there is?

It has rather taken the shine off our new kitchen (can't believe I'm joking about it!)

[Guy King]

The message from [e-mail] contains these words:

What's the option? The cat's probably learned not to hang around for a kicking!

[Matty F]

Brasso will polish out fine scratches. I have used 400 grade wet-and-dry sandpaper lubricated with water, to get rid of deep scratches. But you'd have to be careful not to cut right through the patterned layer on top of the laminate, as it will be a different colour underneath.

[Andy Hall]

Have you paid? All of it? Did you pay by credit card?

If you haven't, then the discussion is with the supplier of the worktop and perhaps the fitter.

If you have, then it is with them plus the credit card company.

You've paid for a pristine new worktop and should not have to be messing around to achieve what should have been delivered in the first place.

I would suggest writing to both parties (letter by special delivery requiring signature) and say that the result is unacceptable and ask what they propose to do. There is no need to make accusations. Certainly it would be unwise to say that you have attempted to clean it.

[Andy Hall]

This is unacceptable. You should not have to do any of it. If you are certain that the fitter did some of the damage, take some good quality photos and forward them to him with a covering letter asking how he proposes to address the problem.

Tell him that if that involves replacement of the worktop, then that is what he will have to do at his cost. Also, I suggest that you don't allow it to drag on. Put a time limit of 14 days for a response and indicate that you will take further action if the matter isn't addressed.

If nothing is forthcoming then the action would be to withhold payment until he does fix the problem. If you have already paid, then the next action after non-performance would be to obtain an estimate for the replacement of the worktop and send that to him indicating that there will be a court action if necessary. That does not have to be a complicated or expensive procedure either if the amount is under £5000.

[dingbat]

Duropal's quite decent, so it should be fixable. Which finish did you get? The High Gloss or the Semi Matt ? The matt is tougher, but if you ever do scratch it it's a nightmare to try and match the sheen again. The gloss will buff out well from almost any damage, if you go at it correctly. Treat it as a car paint job and rub it out with something like T-cut (Brasso is a bit soft). If it's really bad, then you might want a powered polisher and some proper compounds - talk to a car paint place.

First of all though, get the fitter to 'fess up to what he did to it. Name and shame too please - far too many careless crap kitchen fitters in the business.

[simonsmith.uk]

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