Worktop Express Information Guides

“Do you offer bespoke laminate worktops or only custom solid wood worktops?”

Our latest ‘Question of the Week’ was raised by Paul in Felixstowe, who is interested in ordering bespoke laminate worktops.

QUESTION:

“I have seen that you offer bespoke solid wood worktops but would like to know if you are also able to make customisations to your laminate worktops?”

ANSWER:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for sending in your query and taking an interest in our bespoke worktop services. We recently launched a worktop cutting service for our range of laminate worktops, which saves our customers the time and hassle of having laminate worktops cut on site, and ensures that your surfaces are cut with absolute precision.

Not only can our skilled team cut your laminate worktops to size, but we are also able to customise your new laminate work surface with a variety of other bespoke amendments (including cut-outs for hobs, cut-outs for overmounted sinks, and matching tap holes). We also offer a professional edging strip application service and can provide you with the facility to join two worktops together with a mason’s mitre joint.

Our bespoke laminate worktops can be customised and delivered in just three to five working days, and ordering is simple. Get in touch with our worktop fabrication team by emailing fabrication@worktop-express.co.uk, or calling us on 0345 22 22 644.

Don’t hesitate to contact us once again if you need any further assistance.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

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Our wide range of laminate worktops includes a variety of designs intended to suit any kitchen – whether modern or traditional in style.

Many of our laminate worktops come with either a 3mm or 6mm post-formed edge, giving them a softer appearance and a rounded hard-wearing edge that resists impact damage and is generally considered to be more appropriate for a family-friendly environment.

We are often asked for laminate worktops with square edges, however, as this finish is increasingly popular in contemporary kitchens.

Our Range of Square Edge Laminate Worktops

Whilst we do not currently offer all of our laminate worktops in the square-edged style, three very distinct designs are available with this angular finish. Each option suits a range of kitchen themes.

Grey Oak

Our grey oak laminate worktops have a wood-effect look with a textured finish that is suitable for both modern and classic kitchen designs. The square edge profile gives this 38mm-thick surface a realistic appearance that is particularly well suited to kitchens with vintage flair.

These square-edged antique oak worktops are available as standard surfaces with depths of 600mm, or in 900mm depths with two finished edges. The 900mm-deep option would be ideal for a kitchen breakfast bar.

Black Gloss – Constellation

If you are looking for a contemporary alternative to stone worktops, consider our black gloss laminate worktops. These highly-reflective surfaces look similar to black granite, but offer the versatility and low cost of a laminate surface.

The square edge profile gives these worktops a defined appearance that looks superb when combined with modern cabinets and other kitchen accessories.

Cypress Cinnamon

These cypress cinnamon laminate worktops have a unique wood-effect design and a realistic, textured surface that replicates the look of exotic timbers such as zebrano.

A square edge profile imbues these wood-effect worktops with a clean-cut, contemporary feel – whether utilised in a standard 600mm-deep formation, or as a 900mm-deep kitchen island surface.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that the maximum length of our edging strip application is currently limited to 1m, we are not able to offer a square edge profile for the other laminates in our collection.

An alternative option would be to choose one of the solid wood worktops in our expansive range. These are all available with square edges as standard, though they can be customised to feature a wide variety of edge profiles, should you prefer a different finish.

“Are Worktop Upstands or Tiles Better for Using with Solid Wood Worktops?”

Our chosen ‘Question of the Week’ was this week emailed in by Anjit in Wolverhampton, who is planning a kitchen refurbishment, but wants to know whether we recommend using upstands instead of tiles alongside solid wood worktops.

QUESTION:

“I have planned my kitchen carefully and intended to use tiles above the worktops, but I notice that on your website you recommend the use of a matching upstand. Why is this?”

ANSWER:

Hi Anjit,

Thank you for sending in your query. We are happy to help clear this up for you and ensure you make the right decision for your kitchen refurbishment.

The choice between tiling all the way down to your new wooden work surface or fitting matching worktop upstands does partly come down to personal preference, though upstands are highly recommended for a number of reasons:

• Worktop upstands are ideal for hiding the necessary expansion gap which is required between a worktop and an adjacent wall. We recommend that this expansion gap is three to five millimetres, which may not be hidden neatly by all tiles.
• Upstands are a perfect choice for walls that are not perfectly straight, helping to hide any irregularities that may be more obvious on a tiled wall.
• Our matching upstands help to blend the worktop seamlessly into the kitchen by extending the edge of the timber beyond the surface and onto the wall.
• Solid wood upstands provide an extra measure of protection by acting as a ‘barrier’ to help prevent moisture from building up behind your kitchen worktops.
• Our wooden upstands are made from the same high-quality timber as our wooden worktops, making them a slick and visually appealing choice.

The only part of a kitchen in which we would not recommend using upstands is behind gas or electric hobs. Being in such close proximity to a heat source can cause the natural hardwood to warp or crack. In this location we would recommend tiles or a splashback to reflect heat and protect the wall instead.

If you would like to learn more about installing an upstand, we recommend reading our ‘How to Install Upstands for Matching Solid Wood Kitchen Work Surfaces’ information guide.

To see many of our wooden upstands installed alongside matching worktops, why not visit one of the Worktop Express showrooms? We have a number of showrooms located across the UK, each of which is home to a plethora of demonstration kitchens.

Don’t hesitate to contact us again if you need any further assistance.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

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The practicalities of urban living mean that modern kitchens are becoming increasingly compact; as such it is extremely important to maximise the space available by choosing the right design, theme and materials.

Wooden worktops are a perfect choice for adding character to any contemporary kitchen, giving natural colour, texture and a unique aesthetic to small interiors.

In this information guide, we look at the elements recommended to create a big look in a little kitchen:

Use Wooden Worktops to Create Contrast

Kitchens with a bold, clean theme often feel more spacious than those with an overly-complicated aesthetic. To achieve a high-contrast look using our solid wood worktops, we recommend that dark surfaces such as our black oak or wenge worktops are used against bright white painted cabinetry and contemporary stainless steel fixtures to create a modern ambience in a smaller space.

Work With Natural Light

Dark spaces often feel claustrophobic, so – if natural light is limited – you may want to consider using lighter worktops to reflect brightness around the kitchen.

Consider some of our light-coloured choices such as maple, bamboo or ash worktops to help illuminate your kitchen. These timbers are all light in colour but also very hard-wearing, making them ideal choices in a busy, compact kitchen.

Maple is perhaps the most reflective wood surface in our collection, whilst ash has a distinctive grain pattern and is a lighter alternative to oak. Bamboo surfaces are also bright, incredibly sustainable, and naturally water-resistant.

Make Your Kitchen a Multi-Use Space

Though wood worktops can be used to create fantastic food preparation areas, they also make ideal surfaces for breakfast bars. A breakfast bar provides space to eat, drink, socialise or even work, and is a compact alternative to a traditional dining table.

To help create a well-supported breakfast bar, we sell a range of breakfast bar legs that suit a variety of kitchen themes. One leg should be used to support each metre of unsupported worktop.

Use Floating Shelves for a Compact Storage Solution

It is important to make the best use of any available wall space in smaller kitchens. Our solid wood floating shelves come in a range of lengths and a variety of timbers, and we can also cut them to size to suit the space available.

Each shelf is made from the same high-quality timber as our worktops, and comes with a number of hidden stainless steel brackets that give it the ‘floating’ effect.

Visit a Worktop Express Showroom for More Inspiration

If you wish to create a perfect small kitchen featuring our solid wood worktops and are looking for more inspiration, why not visit one of the Worktop Express Showrooms? Our showrooms are situated at convenient locations across the country, with a number of demonstration kitchens – and worktops – on display at each one. Each showroom also has worktop samples for visitors to take away.

“What is the best wood to use for kitchen surfaces in my modern home?”

Today’s ‘Question of the Week’ was sent in by Thomas in Lampeter, who is looking for suggestions for a solid wood kitchen surface to complement his newly-refurbished contemporary home.

QUESTION:

“We are close to completing the refurbishment of our cottage in Lampeter, which has been brought right up to date with modern fixtures and fittings. We have now moved onto the kitchen and would like a modern wood worktop – what would you suggest?”

ANSWER:

Hi Thomas,

Thank you for getting in touch. Your cottage refurbishment sounds like an exciting project and we are glad to hear you are considering our solid wood worktops as the surface of choice for your new kitchen.

Most wooden worktops are compatible with modern kitchens, but different styles of worktops can suit a range of kitchen designs and themes. The most popular choices in contemporary settings tend to be the more uniform or more unusual surfaces in our collection.

The following timbers are highly sought-after choices for a modern interior:

Full Stave Ash Worktops

Ash is a great alternative to oak and in this full-stave form is perfect for modern kitchens with a Scandinavian influence. The delicate linear grain looks superb when combined with bright whites and stainless steel or chrome accessories.

Deluxe Wenge Worktops

Wenge is the darkest worktop in our collection, and is considered by many as one of the most luxurious. It’s a perfect choice in modern kitchens with a high-contrast theme.

The Deluxe construction contains extra-wide staves that show off more of the timber’s distinctive grain patterning: a particularly dramatic choice for contemporary settings.

Zebrano Worktops

We couldn’t compile a list of suggestions for a modern kitchen without the inclusion of our zebrano worktops. These surfaces are gold in colour with a brown zebra-like stripe pattern – a totally unique look that is a real talking point for contemporary kitchens.

As well as being a stand-out choice, zebrano is incredibly dense and hard-wearing, too.

Bamboo Worktops

In a contemporary setting, you may also want to consider a solid timber surface that has unrivalled eco-friendly credentials: bamboo worktops.

Unlike our other choices, bamboo is a grass rather than a hardwood but grows incredibly quickly whilst offering the same resilient characteristics of more conventional timbers.

These are just some of the worktops in our collection that we believe suit a modern setting. You can learn more about choosing the ideal surface in our ‘Best Solid Wood Worktops for Modern Kitchens’ information guide.

Any of these worktops can be seen at our worktop showrooms which are located across the country. Alternatively, we recommend that you order worktop samples to take a closer look at your favourites in the natural light of your own home.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

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