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Worktop Express Information Guides

information guidesThere's no such thing as too much information - not where Worktop Express® are concerned! That's why we've decided to launch this helpful information section, designed especially for our customers and chock-full of handy hints on measuring your radius corners, why and when to choose certain products (from end caps to edge profiles) and lots more.

And if you have any suggestions for an information guide, please don't hesitate to contact us: we're going to be updating this section regularly and are always on the lookout for new ideas.

Enjoy!

If you would like to view all the information guides in a particular category, please use the following links:

For a full list of the Worktop Express® information guides, please click here.

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Recent Information Guides from Worktop Express®

“Do you work with any worktop suppliers in my area?” Question of the Week 28.07.17

Worktop Question of the Week

“Do you work with any worktop suppliers in my area?”

We were recently contacted by Mia in Durham, who is looking for new worktops but is not located particularly close to any of our showrooms. She asked whether we work with any other worktop suppliers in her area.

QUESTION:

“I really want wooden worktops but can’t get to any of your showrooms easily. I’m told that you offer great quality worktops and so I wondered if any worktop suppliers near me might stock your products.”

ANSWER:

Hi Mia,

We are delighted to hear that you have been recommended our wood worktops. Unfortunately we do not yet have a showroom in the far north east of England, though it is likely we will make plans to open one at some point in the future.

Our products are available through other kitchen fitters and worktop suppliers, though we would always recommend that you purchase worktops directly from us in order to get your worktops for the best price whilst benefiting from our 2Man next-day worktop delivery and highly-rated customer service.

If you can’t make it to one of our kitchen showrooms, I would suggest you order one or more of our worktop samples to take a closer look at any of the worktops in our collection before placing your order.

Our samples are cut from current worktop stock, and are sanded and pre-oiled on one side to give you an accurate representation of the finished product. These samples are priced at just £5 including fast courier delivery, a cost that can be refunded if you go on to purchase a worktop from us.

You can also take a closer look at many of the wooden worktops in our collection by viewing our wood worktop image gallery.

To find out more about ordering worktops directly from us, please read the following information guide: ‘How to Order Kitchen Worktops Online in Five Easy Steps’.

If you have any further queries about our worktops, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us again via live chat, email or telephone.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

Do you have a question that you would like us to answer? Ask us now on FacebookTwitterG+, or send us a message.

Filed under: Customer Questions by Worktop Express Admin
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Get the Look: Modern Marble Kitchen Designs

Marble has been a popular material of choice in kitchens for many years, and white marble specifically has never gone out of style. Whilst we do not sell a range of real marble stone worktops, we do sell an incredibly high quality alternative: our Calcutta marble laminate worktops.

This AEON™ Enhanced Performance Laminate is the perfect choice for modern marble kitchen designs, offering a realistic imitation of natural stone that is considerably easier to work with, whilst being up to five times more scuff, scratch and wear-resistant than standard laminate worktops.

Not only are our marble laminate worktops highly-affordable and easy to work with, their manufacture is a lot more environmentally friendly than real white Italian marble.

If you are looking for some inspiring modern marble kitchen designs, read through the following tips to help you ‘get the look’:

White marble can be used alongside vibrant hues to create a striking kitchen design.

Use Colour in Modern Marble Kitchen Designs

White marble worktops are often used in kitchens with a fairly stark white-on-white aesthetic, and whilst this is still a very popular choice in modern marble kitchen designs, adding colour can be a stylish way to help accentuate the light colour of our white marble worktops.

If painting contemporary kitchen cabinet doors, consider punchy greys, vibrant greens and deep blues to help the white stand out.

In pastel colour schemes, vibrant colour can also be incorporated by including bright accessories and appliances.

Matching white marble accessories can help to blend your new worktop into modern marble kitchen designs.

Add a Touch of Marble to Your Walls

If you want to incorporate more modern marble kitchen designs into your interior, consider complementary accessories such as our matching marble laminate upstands or marble splashbacks. Upstands help to protect the wall surrounding your marble work surface, whilst giving continuity beyond the worktop.

Matching splashbacks have an even bigger impact on the overall look of a kitchen. Our splashbacks are made using the same high-grade laminate attached to a thin sheet of MDF. This can then be attached to the wall adjacent to your worktops in order to cover the space between them and any wall-mounted cabinets.

Using Gold or other high-shine metals to create contemporary luxury look in modern marble kitchen designs.

Use Chrome, Stainless Steel, Copper or Gold for Added Luxury

Using luxurious metals alongside white marble worktops creates a beautifully contemporary look that’s very ‘on trend’.

Currently gold and copper kitchen accessories are in high demand, whilst chrome and stainless steel have remained popular choices for both small appliances and larger items such as ovens and fridges.

If using high-shine metals in a kitchen, we recommend sticking to one type of material for consistency. Consider cabinet door handles and knobs in a matching finish for a cohesive look throughout your kitchen.

There are many other ways to use marble in a modern kitchen. We recommend looking on Pinterest for more inspiration. Alternatively, take a look at our Customer Kitchens Gallery for more kitchen design ideas.

Filed under: General by Worktop Express Admin
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“Do I need a moisture barrier on Earthstone worktops?” Question of the Week 22.07.17

Worktop Question of the Week

“Do I need a moisture barrier on Earthstone worktops?”

We recently started selling a range of Earthstone worktops and have already had questions sent in by customers who are keen to know more about the items available. Today’s ‘Question of the Week’ comes from Lewis in Northampton, who wanted to know if he needs to order a moisture barrier when ordering Earthstone worktops.

QUESTION:

“I’m planning on ordering some of your Earthstone worktops and I wanted to know whether you recommend using a moisture barrier like you do for solid wood worktops.”

ANSWER:

Hi Lewis,

Thanks for your question and for taking an interest in our Earthstone worktops.

This new range of acrylic surfaces is a great choice for anyone looking to replicate the look of a natural stone worktop. They are much easier to customise and install than real stone, and can be joined together to create an elegant seamless look.

All Earthstone worktops come with a moisture-resistant barrier on the underside of the surface, which helps to protect the particleboard core from moisture ingress.

This allows the surfaces to be used above “wet” appliances such as fridges, freezers and washing machines without the need for additional protection.

Of course, if you want to add additional protection, or want to protect the worktops from an appliance that might radiate a lot of heat, our reflective moisture barriers can still be easily affixed to the underside of an Earthstone worktop.

The thick acrylic top of these work surfaces is non-porous, making them resistant to mould, mildew and bacterial growth. This inherent quality makes Earthstone a perfect choice for kitchens, utility rooms and almost any other environment.

To find out more about Earthstone worktops, I recommend you read through our dedicated guide: ‘All About Earthstone Worktops’.

If you have any other queries, don’t hesitate to contact us or visit one of the Worktop Express showrooms.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

Do you have a question that you would like us to answer? Ask us now on FacebookTwitterG+, or send us a message.

Filed under: Customer Questions by Worktop Express Admin
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“What tools do I need for fitting a kitchen worktop?” Question of the Week 15.07.17

Worktop Question of the Week

“What tools do I need for fitting a kitchen worktop?”

Our most recent ‘Question of the Week’ was sent in by Ollie in Weymouth, who emailed in to ask what kind of tools he would need when fitting a worktop.

QUESTION:

“I’m about to order a wood worktop from you and before I do, I want to know whether there are any specialist tools required for fitting a kitchen worktop, or whether it can be completed with relatively basic DIY tools.”

ANSWER:

Hi Ollie,

Thanks for your question, and for choosing Worktop Express as the supplier of your new kitchen worktops.

If no major alterations are required for your new surface, fitting is a relatively straightforward task. We recommend that the worktop is fitted to your kitchen cabinets using slotted angle brackets which simply screw directly into the worktop and the cabinet below.

If you are planning on cutting worktops to size, you will need to consider the appropriate tools, including a circular saw and / or electric router. You can read more about cutting worktops in our dedicated information guide: ‘How to Cut Wood Worktops for Kitchens to Size’.

Other customisations, including the addition of a profile edge or apertures for kitchen sinks and hobs can also be cut using an electric router. Other customisations can be made easier using one of our worktop jigs, which are a template that helps – amongst other amendments – when cutting worktop connector bolt recesses. Find out more about using jigs by reading our ‘Using Router Jigs to Customise a Wood Worksurface’ information guide.

Lastly, I would recommend that you read our ‘Installing Our Wooden Worksurfaces’ Nutshell information guide, which covers everything else you might need to know about installing our worktops. Many of the details covered in this guide, and those above, also apply to laminate worktops.

If you need any further assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us again.

Kind regards,

Ben @ Worktop Express

Do you have a question that you would like us to answer? Ask us now on FacebookTwitterG+, or send us a message.

Filed under: Customer Questions by Worktop Express Admin
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Buying and Installing Kitchen Taps for Solid Wood Worktops: A Nutshell Guide

Having chosen the right worktops to suit your new kitchen, deciding upon which kitchen taps might best suit your requirements will demand some careful consideration – there are a vast array of types on the market, and our collection includes some of the most popular styles. In this guide, we will go over the most common taps found in kitchens; we’ll give insight into some of the terminology; and we’ll also give tips on how to install taps easily next to your sink on a wooden worktop.

Types of taps

Pillar taps

Pillar taps

Pillar taps are commonly used in utility rooms, or in kitchens where getting the hot and cold water pressures to equalise is not possible. They come in both traditional and modern styles to suit a variety of kitchen themes.
WEX Telesto Kitchen Sink Tap

Mono bloc mixer

Probably the most common type of mixer tap, we offer a wide variety of mono bloc mixer taps in both contemporary and traditional styles that are suitable for both high and low pressure systems. They suit a standard 35mm hole that can be easily drilled into solid wood worktops. We have a wide variety of mono block mixer taps from WEX and Reginox in our range of kitchen taps.
WEX Cetus Chrome TapWEX Cetus Chrome Kitchen Mixer Tap just £65
WEX Delta Chrome TapWEX Delta Chrome Tap just £115
Reginox Elbe Kitchen TapReginox Elbe Kitchen Tap just £60
Reginox Genesis White and Chrome Mixer TapReginox Genesis White & Chrome Mixer Tap just £90
Reginox Hudson Chrome Kitchen TapReginox Hudson Chrome Kitchen Tap just £95
Single lever mixer

Single lever mixer

This type of single-lever tap has become very popular, as you can easily turn the water flow on or off and mix the hot and cold water together in one simple action. These taps are usually designed with modern kitchens in mind.
Rangemaster Belfast Mixer Tap (TBL1CM)

Bridge mixer

A bridge mixer tap is similar to the mono bloc tap, but accommodates sinks or worktops with two separate holes.  Whilst you may require this for practical reasons, it can also be chosen for aesthetic preferences, too. If a bridge tap suits your requirements, take a look at the following taps in our range:
Deck-mounted mixer

Deck-mounted mixer

This type of tap has been common in British kitchens since the 1970s, and, though less fashionable in modern kitchens, can still be found. They still work well on high and low pressure systems, but will require a hole drilled in the surface for each water feed. You can read more about deck mounted taps in a ‘Question of the Week‘ posted in August 2016.
Wall-mounted mixer

Wall-mounted mixer

As a stylish alternative to a standard mixer tap, a wall-mounted mixer can be ideal if you have a narrower worktop, or a convenient wall placed behind your sink area. These are available in either modern or traditional variants, so could suit any kitchen setting.
Pull-out spray mixer

Pull-out spray mixer

This unique type of mixer tap has become popular in recent years, as the tap head has a retractable extension which allows you to use as a spray to clean dinnerware and food more easily. Requires high water pressure, but is otherwise perfect for an up-to-date kitchen with other mod cons. Pull-out mixers are also available as a separate tap fixture.
Filter taps

Filter taps

This type of tap has become especially popular for kitchens in hard water areas. The tap incorporates a filter that removes fine particulates and chemicals to provide much more pleasant drinking water. Often fitted as a secondary tap alongside a standard mixer.
Three-way mixer

Three-way mixer

Sometimes known as a ‘Triflow’ mixer tap, three-way mixers include normal hot and cold water feeds, but also incorporate a filtered cold water feed. This is a much tidier design than having separate taps and is available in both modern and traditional designs.
Boiling water taps

Boiling water taps

If waiting for the kettle to boil seems like wasted time, then a boiling water tap might be an ideal addition for your new kitchen. Most require a holding tank below the sink and a reasonable water pressure, but provide 100˚c water on demand that’s perfect for hot drinks, and also speeds up cooking and washing up. Most boiling water taps currently come in a modern design.
Did you know we also sell a large range of kitchen sinks? Our collection includes a variety of ceramic and stainless steel options; head to our kitchen sinks page to see our full range.

Installing taps

Installing taps
Before you install your new kitchen tap, don’t forget to turn any isolation valves, and / or the main water valve. If you don’t already have isolation valves fitted it may be a good idea to install them at the same time to carry out future maintenance. After drilling, almost all taps will attach by simply pushing their base into the hole and screwing a washer onto the underside. Some taps are provided with rubber washers or spacers to ensure a tight fit on the worktop. Once the tap has been firmly affixed to the worktop, the hot and cold water feeds can be screwed into the base of the tap. If you haven’t already got them in place, it’s recommended to use flexible ‘easy fit’ hoses rather than having fixed copper piping. Remember to use PTFE or Teflon tape between any threaded connector joins to ensure a good, water-tight seal. For more detailed installation instructions, check the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the tap.

Our fabrication services

If you are buying your wooden worktops from Worktop Express®, we can pre-drill your worktops with holes of just the right size to suit whichever tap(s) you may have chosen. Prices start at just £7.50 per hole, and can be positioned as required to match your sink. For further details, visit our bespoke cutting service page. And finally… Looking for further inspiration? Visit one of our kitchen showrooms today, all of which exhibit many of the taps and sinks in our collection. One of our showroom managers can happily talk you through the range, as well as other taps available from us.

SEE MORE TAPS IN OUR RANGE:

Reginox Miami Kitchen TapReginox Miami Kitchen Tap just £30
WEX Volans Chrome Kitchen Mixer TapWEX Volans Chrome Kitchen Mixer Tap just £65
WEX Telesto Kitchen Mixer TapWEX Telesto Kitchen Sink Tap just £90
Rangemaster Chrome Bridge Tap Rangemaster Chrome Bridge Tap just £100
Rangemaster Belfast Mixer Tap Rangemaster Belfast Mixer Tap just £230

Please note:This guide was originally posted on 21st January 2015 and has been updated to include additional information. The most recent update was on 19th January 2018.

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