By Martin Hart on Fri 06 March 2020
Spring brings fresh air and lots of inspiration. When a client wants to give a new look to their kitchen without spending lots of money on it, how about changing its work tops? There are several materials to choose from, such as wood or stone, and they all come in a wide range of colours and textures.
The kitchen is often the most frequented room in the house - the one in which all its members gather, and probably one of the first spaces friends get familiarised with. This means it's an important room for any home owner, something like their family's business card, and one they'll want you to take particular care with.
Because the kitchen worktop has to withstand constant use and is one of the most noticeable aspects of the room, it's important to make sure you fit it right, every time.
Where to begin?
Fitting a worktop requires a bit of strategy so you don't spoil the work you've already done while finishing the rest. If the kitchen in question has an ‘L' or ‘U' shape make sure you start with the centre or back of the worktop.
Curved-edge workshop jig
It's worth purchasing an aperture jig to make sure you cut perfect joints in round edges. Practise first on some off-cuts so you can make your cuts with confidence!
Mason's mitre
Use it instead of a full mitre to get an attractive finish and avoid wastage of material. If your worktop is very deep, you might as well trim the depth at the same time.
Coloured jointing
You can use this while you tighten the clamps to control how flush the edges are - you just need to touch them. Clean the excess away with the solvent supplied with the jointing. You can also use it to mask any small chips and scratches - nobody is perfect, but in the end appearance is what counts!
Sanitary silicone
Worktops get wet all the time, so you have to make sure they will be resistant enough. Something that works very well is applying some flexible sanitary silicone around all the joints - especially those close to the sink and where the work top meets the wall.
Always double-check!
We know it can be boring but always check, double check, and triple check your measurements. In that way, you'll avoid most kinds of mistakes and your worktops will always be flawless.
If you want to help your clients make their kitchens look as good as new by changing their worktops, we can help you by offering a wide catalogue of worktop fittings. If you want any advice on jigs or how oils can give worktops a fresh appearance, feel free to contact our expert team and we'll be pleased to help.