Worktop Express Information Guides

‘Do you sell matching solid wood kitchen cabinets?’

Our final ‘Question of the Week’ this October comes from Sally in Nottingham, who likes the look of our wooden worktops, but is also after some matching solid wood kitchen cabinets.

QUESTION:

“I am just about to place an order with your company for a set of oak solid wood worktops, but I would first like to know whether you also sell solid wood kitchen cabinets to complement the worktops?”

ANSWER:

Hi Sally,

Thanks for taking the time to get in touch with us.

Whilst Worktop Express does not sell kitchen cabinets directly, we can point you towards our sister supplier: SolidWoodKitchenCabinets.co.uk. You may not know this, but we have a ‘twin’ showroom in Gloucestershire, allowing customers to view our worktops alongside their cabinetry within a variety of stunning full kitchen displays.

After the success of Worktop Express, which was launched in 2009, our founders (timber specialists) began to ponder the idea of supplying solid oak cabinets, matching frontals and other kitchen accessories direct to the public. This concept sprang from feedback our founders received from customers who were buying Worktop Express® worktops: it was hard to find cabinets of a similar outstanding quality but for a truly affordable price. As such, the Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets website was launched in 2011.

Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets now offers a very extensive range of solid oak kitchen cabinets, which (apart from the rear panel) are made entirely from 18mm oak panels – not the cheap composites that are used by many other kitchen retailers. Complementary oak doors are available in two distinct styles, which can be ordered in either a natural sanded or lacquered finish, or painted in a range of colours from world-renowned paint experts, Farrow & Ball.

No matter what size or shape your kitchen, cabinets from SolidWoodKitchenCabinets.co.uk can be mixed and matched in order to create a kitchen that not only fits in with your kitchen shape, but with your lifestyle, too. They also stock a wide range of accessories, such as wirework, handles & knobs, and a range of splashbacks.

Indeed, there’s no better time to pay our sister supplier a visit, as they’re currently holding their Autumn Sale! This sale runs until November 9^th and offers 10% off all cabinets and associated products. Head over to their Current Offers page to find out how to make the saving when placing an order.

All of the cabinets and accessories in our showroom are provided by Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, so if you happen to be visiting Gloucestershire, then why not pay us a visit. Alternatively, a similar ‘twin’ showroom will be opening very shortly in Harlow (just north of London).

Feel free to get in touch if you have any further queries,

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express

‘How long do wooden real wood kitchen worktops last?’

This week our ‘Question of the Week’ comes from Alina in Evesham, who is interested in ordering wooden real wood kitchen worktops, but wants to know how many years of service these will provide.

QUESTION:

“I would like to order wooden worktops sometime soon, but I wanted to know how long they will last?”

ANSWER:

Hi Alina,

Thanks for sending in your question – it’s one that is difficult to provide a definitive answer for, as each kitchen environmental is entirely unique. Though our wood worktops are the finest quality in the UK, the amount of maintenance that you undertake, how well your worktops are installed, and the atmosphere in which they reside can all have an impact on longevity.

The good news, however, is that your worktops should last many, many years with minimal fuss! Here are some points to consider:

We mentioned installation and maintenance. Now, unless you are buying worktops from us that are subject to some bespoke fabrication, all of our worktops are provided in a smooth finish, without any protective coating. As such, worktops should be oiled before and after installation to aid this process (even those that are subject to fabrication or our pre-oiling service will require an application of oil for protection immediately after installation).

In order for the worktop to last, it is very important to ensure that – particularly during the first year after installation – this oiling programme continues. We advise regularly re-oiling worktops using Rustins Danish Oil; once a week for the first six weeks and at least four times a year after that should do the trick nicely. To assist in maintaining your worktops correctly and efficiently, we sell a great value DIY Worktop Aftercare Kit for just £10. For a full guide to oiling, read our Oiling Worktops Nutshell Guide.

Because of the organic nature of the material, the method of installation can also dictate how well your solid wood worktops will perform over time. Installation is simple and easy for a DIYer – never fear! – but do be sure to read our Installation and Aftercare guide prior to beginning the process, and be sure to store your worktops correctly if necessary, too. The most important points to bear in mind from the outset are that you must install your worktops with the correct stretcher plates and with an adequate gap between the worktop and the adjacent wall (recommended 3-5mm), or areas could potentially crack over time as the wood expands and contracts with changes in kitchen temperature. These brackets can be purchased along with some other handy accessories in our Worktop Installation Kit for just £15.

Over the years, once a wooden worktop has built up a sufficient layer of protection, it will require less maintenance, and will be more resilient to water damage and staining, though we would still recommend re-oiling from time to time to maintain the timber’s lustre and colour.

If you have any further questions regarding our real wood kitchen worktops, don’t hesitate to contact us.

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express

‘What do you do with offcuts from bespoke timber worktops?’

Our latest ‘Question of the Week’ comes from Jack in Redditch, who is about to order a set of bespoke timber worktops from us, and would like to know what happens to any worktop offcuts that are created during fabrication.

QUESTION:

“I am planning to order a few oak worktops from yourselves, which are subject to some bespoke cut outs and alterations. I was curious to know what will happen to the offcuts – will I get to keep them?”

ANSWER:

Hi Jack,

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch – we hope you will be really pleased with the bespoke oak worktops when they arrive.

We’re happy to tell you that you will also be receiving all large offcuts from your bespoke fabricated worktops with the order, which you may do with as you please. The offcuts will be written on your quotation and also indicated on your fabrication diagram.

Offcuts can be used to make fantastic book-ends, door stops or whatever your imagination and wood-working skills allow. If you would prefer – and the size of your offcuts allows – your oak worktop offcuts can be turned into chopping boards, tablet stands, solid wood shelves or even cutlery drawer inserts for an additional fabrication and / or oiling surcharge.

It would be very easy for us to take the larger offcuts and use them for our own products, but we believe that all wood that is usable should be delivered to our customers. The exception to this rule is any very small offcuts that are created and would otherwise be considered ‘scrap'; we use these offcuts and wood shavings to fuel our fabrication warehouse’s wood-burning heater, as this is a far more environmentally friendly source of fuel than gas or electric heating for such a large space.

We take wastage and our environmental practices very seriously – which is why your wood worktops have been constructed from high-quality oak sourced in sustainable, well managed European forests. If you would like to read more information about our environmental credentials, read our Environmental Policies page, along with our EUTR Nutshell Guide which details our full compliances with the EU Timber Regulation.

If you have any further queries, feel free to get in touch again.

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express