About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places (including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though) are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....

thanks

Alex

alexbartman wrote:
About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and
it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the
manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places
(including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though)
are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have
any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should
I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....


We put the B&Q gloss black in our kitchen last year. We moved this year,
and we're not putting gloss laminate in the new kitchen. *Everything*
scratches it.

If you go into B&Q and have a look, you can see the scratching on their
test pieces of worktop. I'd argue that a kitchen is a far harsher
environment than a B&Q kitchen display area where the worktop *isn't* in
constant use, with chopping boards and what not being moved around.

If you drop anything pointy on it, it will dent. And show it, because
it's gloss.

The laminate in our current kitchen is matt. The kitchen is over 20
years old, and the laminate is doing just fine. In fact the whole
kitchen is holding up well, so it's a shame to rip it out really. But
the tomato red floor-to-ceiling tiles, fluorescent lighting over
suspended ceiling, etc just aren't our thing....

We're thinking about wood, with granite in the sink area. Haven't price
it up yet though...

Ben

alexbartman wrote:

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and

Yep, we put in the B&Q black gloss worktop and it does show every
scratch - even if you are *very* careful, which most people won't be in
a working kitchen

Does look really nice when first installed though

Lee

"alexbartman" wrote in message
...

About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and
it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the
manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places
(including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though)
are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have
any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should
I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....

One difference is the way the front edge is formed. For example the Magnet ones
have a drip rail/edge.

I got put off Corian when the salesman mentioned that one of his customers had
decided to replace their car instead. Ten times the price for something that
could be damaged by a hot pan/oven dish!

--

Michael Chare

Michael Chare wrote:
"alexbartman" wrote in message
...

About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and
it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the
manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places
(including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though)
are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have
any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should
I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....

One difference is the way the front edge is formed. For example the Magnet ones
have a drip rail/edge.

Easy to add with a router, remember to seal it with varnish afterwards.

MBQ

Depending on your budget I found a place local to us that imports
granite from CHina and India. This is emmeninatly more affordable at
around £100-£150 per linear meter.

"alexbartman" wrote in message
...

About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and
it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the
manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places
(including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though)
are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have
any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should
I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....


Axiom do an etch finish which is half way between gloss and matt. Mine will
be fitted soon, so in 6 months I will be able to say if its any good or not

Regards Jeff

alexbartman wrote:
About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

I want to use a high gloss black finish - but have been warned about
the tendency that it will show every single scratch and blemish - and
it is a working kitchen after all....
I have two linked questions.....is there a major difference between the
manufacturers of Laminate worktops - the prices from several places
(including B&Q who are just about the cheapest - not by much though)
are roughly the same - what should I look for? And does anyone have
any experience of installing the high gloss laminate finishes - should
I steer clear - any advice/recommendations gratefully received....

thanks

Alex

I'd suggest steering clear of gloss laminate finishes regardless of the
colour. They don't wear well and personally I think they look cheap
(sorry to all those that have them ;-)). If you want that look then go
for the real thing - granite.

On Fri, 9 Dec 2005 09:17:12 +0000, alexbartman wrote:

About to embark on my rennovation of the kitchen. Have got estimates
for laminate, Corian (and similar) and granite worktops......the only
remotely affordable medium is Laminate.

Try these guys: http://www.marbleshop.co.uk/ (phone, don't email)

They have just templated and fitted about 7m of granite in my kitchen
for £2000, it looks fantastic.

No connection, just a very happy customer.

--
Nigel M

Nigel Molesworth wrote:

Try these guys: http://www.marbleshop.co.uk/ (phone, don't email)

They have just templated and fitted about 7m of granite in my kitchen
for £2000, it looks fantastic.

No connection, just a very happy customer.

We got quotes from on-line suppliers for granite then went to a local
granite specialist fitter and he was happy to match the same price for cash.

Magnet quote was around 5K ours was done for around 2.5K

It is bloody excellent !

:¬)


--
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