Information Guides - Customer Questions

“Do you provide a worktop repair service?”

This week, our customer question has been sent in by Charlie in Weymouth, who would like to know if they can return their worktop to its best after getting slightly damaged.

QUESTION:

“I’m not sure how it happened but my wooden worktop has a couple of dents. Do you offer a worktop repair surface to restore it?”

ANSWER:

Hi Charlie,

We are sorry to hear that your worktop has obtained some dents, but we appreciate you coming to us for advice. Our wooden worktops are very hard-wearing and built to last, and thankfully general signs of wear and tear are usually very easy to remove or repair.

Unfortunately, we do not currently provide a worktop repair service, but it sounds like your dents may be quite small. Wood is a great material to work with because it can move and flex, so it should be quite simple for you to repair this by yourself – we might be able to save you the cost of calling a tradesperson out to fix it.

To remove the dents from your worktop, you will need to spray some water over the dented areas and cover them with a damp cloth. Then, iron the surface but only for a maximum of five seconds at a time – any longer and you will risk burning or damaging the wood further. The combination of moisture and heat should cause the worktop to expand to its original shape, and then you will need to sand the area down and re-oil the surface to finish the process.

If this does not work, you may have to sand down the whole surface to the level of the dent and then apply another coat of oil to the wood. To try to prevent damage happening in future, we would recommend using trivets or our hotrod groove sets to place hot pans onto, and chop food on chopping boards. However, if your worktop gets damaged again, read our guide to repairing minor damage to kitchen worktops or please do not hesitate to contact us with any further questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express

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“How do I choose the correct worktop depth for my cabinets?”

This week, our customer question has been sent in by Stefan in Bishop’s Stortford. Stefan would like to know which size of worktop to pick and which will look best in his new kitchen.

QUESTION:

“I am planning to update my kitchen but I am not sure which size of worktop I need. Can you explain which worktop depth would work best please?”

ANSWER:

Hi Stefan,

Thank you for getting in touch – we are pleased that you have come to us for advice about your new kitchen. It is common for worktops to have an overhang of approximately 30-40mm, but this amount is largely down to personal preference. It is difficult to advise specific measurements as cabinet sizes will vary from different sources.

Our sister site Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets sells base cabinets that all have a standard depth of 570mm, but you can choose between a variety of different measurements to suit your requirements. To cover these, any of our kitchen worktops are sufficiently wide enough to cover the service gap at the back of cabinets, and for an overhang whether you opt for a solid wood, laminate or Earthstone surface.

If your cabinets are an unusual size, or you are considering a breakfast bar or island, we have a selection of worktop depths to fit these needs. Should you be unable to find what you require in our collection, you can take advantage of our bespoke service, allowing your choice of worktop to be made to your specifications.

It looks like you are just up the road from our Harlow showroom, so if you are weighing up a couple of options for your new worktops then we recommend paying us a visit. Alternatively, you can order a sample for just £5 each – they will show you exactly how a worktop will look in your kitchen.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

All the best,

Ben @ Worktop Express

“Which of your high gloss worktops would you recommend for a modern kitchen design?”

This week, our customer question has been sent in by Lorraine in Galashiels. Lorraine would like to know more about the gloss finish worktops in our collection and which will look best in her new kitchen.

QUESTION:

“I am planning a kitchen redesign and would like your advice on which of your high gloss worktops you would recommend for a modern design?”

ANSWER:

Hi Lorraine,

Thank you for getting in touch – we are pleased to hear that you are considering our worktops for your new kitchen and are happy to offer our advice to help you select the best option for your home.

You have specified that you are considering one of our high gloss worktops for your contemporary look, and without knowing the colour scheme you have selected it is difficult to offer advice on which of our worktops will work best. Luckily, a lot of the worktops in our collection with a gloss surface finish are neutral shades that will work in any colour scheme.

One of the most popular worktops in our range is our black sparkle Andromeda which features speckles of glitter and iridescent flakes, creating an eye-catching centrepiece. We also have white sparkle Andromeda and grey sparkle Andromeda in our collection, providing a variety of options to suit a number of settings. Black and white Andromeda surfaces are available with a square edge profile, for a contemporary angular look.

Our black gloss Constellation worktops feature a stone effect décor with a square edge profile. These glossy work surfaces are a more subtle option than our attention-grabbing Andromeda surfaces, but offer a versatile choice that works well in a number of settings. Our glass effect worktops in white glass and mint glass use a high-gloss finish to imitate the look of glass surfaces.

If you are struggling to choose from the available options, we would recommend purchasing one of our laminate worktop sample packs or visiting one of our showrooms to assist you in making your decision. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries!

All the best,

Stephanie @ Worktop Express

“What tools do I need for cutting kitchen worktop?”

Our customer question this week comes from Niall in Kendal, who would like to know what he needs to cut one of our kitchen worktops.

QUESTION:

“I am interested in having new worktops but I am not sure which size I require yet. Are there any specialist tools required for cutting kitchen worktop to size?”

ANSWER:

Hi Niall,

Thanks for getting in touch – we are pleased that you are interested in purchasing your new kitchen worktops from us. We are very proud of the work surfaces in our collection as we work hard to ensure we stock the highest quality products – and we sell almost everything you need to fit them into your kitchen too.

You mention that you do not yet know what sizes you need – if possible, you should measure where your worktops will go, and then you can use our online bespoke worktop tool to create the correct size for the space available. You can also specify cut-outs for sinks, hobs and taps, along with extras such as drainage grooves for the perfect worktop for your kitchen space.

If you do need to resize the worktop when you receive it or would simply prefer to make alterations on-site, we recommend purchasing one of our router jigs which acts like a template to provide guidelines for cuts. For this approach, a router cutter is also required, and we sell one for general cutting and a ballnosed version for creating drainage grooves and cut-outs for our hotrod sets.

When cutting kitchen worktop lengths to size, it is best to mark up the area you will be cutting and turn the worktop upside down. Our installation and aftercare guides provide a more detailed rundown of how to get the best out of your worktop.

Please contact us again if there is anything else we can help you with.

All the best,

Stephanie @ Worktop Express

“Are any worktop sizes available for delivery immediately?”

The first customer question for 2018 has been sent in from Ekon in South London, who would like to know more about the sizes of worktop we keep in stock.

QUESTION:

“I have been let down by my kitchen supplier and now need a worktop urgently. Are any worktop sizes available for delivery immediately?”

ANSWER:

Hi Ekon,

We are sorry to hear you have been let down by an alternative supplier, but are happy that you have found us. We are incredibly proud of our fast delivery, and this is made possible by our in-house 2Man service. Our wooden worktops are manufactured by us, and removing the middle-man is another way in which we are able to provide a superior service. The warehouses we have at our Gloucestershire location also hold a range of laminate and Earthstone worktops, and for this reason, we are able to offer next-day delivery for orders placed before 12 noon.

The worktop sizes we have listed on our website will be shown as ‘in stock’ and available to order, and anything that is unavailable will not be orderable online. We do not have any limitations on the sizes we are able to deliver on our own fleet of transport from the sizes we supply, as we have a variety of vehicles to suit our requirements for carrying various sizes and weights of worktop.

If you would prefer to check with a member of our sales team before making your purchase, please do not hesitate to call us on 0345 22 22 644 – we would be happy to discuss your delivery date with you when you make your payment. Alternatively, if you do wish to purchase online, you are able to select the delivery date when you go through the checkout process.

Please let us know if there is anything else we can help you with,

All the best,

Stephanie @ Worktop Express