I am going to change my worksurface as part of a kitchen revamp. I have a kitchen fitter who said that he can fit the work top for me all I have to do is choose it. Hmmmm.

My cabinets are a dark grey colour and I thought a wood might warm it up and I want to install an underhung sink. Can anyone tell me how easy it is to look after a wooden worksurface? Do they stain or dent? Do you have to dry them all the time. I have a husband who doesn't treat things very carefully and small children. Is it going to get trashed? Are some woods better for heavy duty wear then others. I like Maple.

If wood is not going to be suitable what do you suggest. I would love Corian but it is very pricey. I like stone but am looking for a light and plain surface. Anyone had a composite stone worksurface? Are they pricey.

Any comments gratefully recieved.

Thanks.

I'll comment on colour....

Avoid beige speckle - you can't see whether it is mucky or not. If you end up going for a formica/corian etc, I would go for some kind of grey. Maybe wood does not fail this test.

Hi, I have a friend who had a wooden worktop fitted. She has two children, and a husband (he is quite meticulous around the house). She tried her best to care for the `tops, however they did eventually become marked and dented over a period of time. She had to take the view that maybe a well worn look was ok. but I know that she was not happy.Mahogany I think is the hardest wood but then it is very dark.

Good luck with your choice, I suggest you go to wood suppliers and ask for as much info and advice as you can get .
patpot

Thanks Simon and Patpot,

Considering what you have said Patpot I think it is a no go for us. My husband has said he is going to put a hot pan on it be accident at some point. I also noted my use of the worktop this evening and I am a messy cook. I just leave wet pots and stuff everywhere. Do you think that a new laminate worktop would look naff? Any tips on what colours to choose to look stylish?

Any ideas on the composite stone?

Charlotte

I have had wooden work tops (beech) for over a year now and they look fab! I have had a couple of splillages and I don't do that much cooking. I have just cleaned them up. In honesty I won't mind when they get a bit worn and dented. I understand you maintain with Swedish oil (I think). I may be eating my words in a couple of years, who knows....

quote:

Originally posted by rizwani:
I have had wooden work tops (beech) for over a year now and they look fab! I have had a couple of splillages and I don't do that much cooking. I have just cleaned them up. In honesty I won't mind when they get a bit worn and dented. I understand you maintain with Swedish oil (I think). I may be eating my words in a couple of years, who knows....

Danish Oil actually but what's a mile over a bridge?

The best place to get it is IKEA at £55 per length you won't do better.


lee

that's the country I was looking for!
Mine is from Howdens, can't remember how much.

Hi again, maybe you could try a hot pan on your husband see if he would like it!!!! Seriously though you would need to look after it to maintain it. If you can push the boat out, could you stretch to a granite counter top? they are really stylish and would be great with your grey units. If not there are some good lookalikes around. Shiny is supposedly 'in' at the moment.
Goodluck.
patpot.

I got my quotes back today for a granite worktop and a composite stone one. Both are well over a grand. The composite stone was nearly 2k!!! So I think it is either wood or lamiate. I will check out the Ikea site. I need about 5m in total.

Lee is Danish oil the best way to treat the wood? What about varnising it?

I might buy my husband a mini sander for christmas in case of any burn incidents.

Patpot - The mini sander would be for the worktop not my husbands skin!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CutieCatUk:
Thanks Simon and Patpot,

Considering what you have said Patpot I think it is a no go for us. My husband has said he is going to put a hot pan on it be accident at some point.
QUOTE]


Im sure my hubby is his long lost twin
Frank spencer has got competition lol.

The thing with the shiny work tops, is that you have to buff them up agter you wipe them, too much like hard work for me.

Agree with jinxx about the shiny surfaces. We have one which catches the light and you can see every speck and crumb and smear on it. It's not granite, but that was what I wanted at first (too expensive) but now I think I am glad because it would be even more smeary.

I've noticed there are companies that will put a thin granite worksurface on top of your old worksurface, at a fraction of the price of the solid worktop. Anyone heard of this?

jinx - So glad I am not the only one. I don't think he understands the word careful one bit. He also never listens which drives me nuts. I can explain something to him really calmly (i.e wait for the water to boil then add the pasta) yet he still gets it wrong. And then denies that I ever said anything. Did I mention the scouring pad 'accident' on the brand new stainless steel hob. Finerprints on everydoor. Cat poo trodden into the car on Saturday was a particulary proud moment.

Well lying in the bath this evening I decided that I like the wooden worktop and I am going to get it. As my mother pointed out, the amount of time he cooks or uses the worktop is so minimal that I can probably risk it.

Is your husband at all practical round the house? If not maybe they were seperated at birth.

Reading your post cutie, is making me more sure they were seperated at birth, mine is a flipping nightmare, bull-in-a-china-shop, its like talking to someone who's on 'day release' lol,Im laughing now, but its no joke, as he has to be told 100 times, and it still doesnt sink in, and he's 42, so theres no hope for him.

Cause I am so practical, and I can do 5 things at the same time, and think 100 miles and hour,its very exsaperating (spelling) when I have to do his thinking for him.

The way he's going, I will be on the lookout for hubby no 3, and I think 'lee' might be in the frame (lucky s*d)

Glad you said that cutie, but does the husband have a craggy face? The sander could serve two purposes!! incidentally, talking about husbands helping around the house, mine asks me if I have 'pledged yet'.
patpot.

Yeah Lee sounds too good to be true Jinx, are you married Lee 'cos I like you.
patpot.

Jinx - You sound just like me. I am a major multi tasker and my husband can just about breathe and watch telly at the same time.

Patpot - Husband's face is not too bad but his feet could do with some work. I bet the sander would bring those up a treat.

Lee if you are about could you please post a photo.

I've tried to post a link to a photo but it just came up saying that: "Your post has triggered a keyword and must be passed by a moderator blah blah"....

So I guess they won't allow it.

I even had my clothes on.


lee

shame

quote:

Originally posted by CutieCatUk:
shame

About the clothes, you mean?



lee

If you like the wood, how about going for a wood surface, but with glass on top to protect it?
That way, you can patch up the scratched glass with nail varnish if hubby gets hold of that scourer again, and can replace the whole glass top years down the line when even clear nail varnish won't hide the wear without having to replace the entire work top.

ps. my other half is just as messy. I honestly don't understand how he manages it... it's like I look away for a second and suddenly there's grease & mud everywhere!

Ary.

Lee, maybe it's because you had your clothes on, try getting the kit off, still like you though. Are you Bond - Like ???. You seem awfully handy.
patpot.

quote:

Originally posted by patpot:
Lee, maybe it's because you had your clothes on, try getting the kit off, still like you though. Are you Bond - Like ???. You seem awfully handy.
patpot.

UniBond maybe!

I'll try and cobble a page together so I can put the piccie on it. It might have been the extension of the previous file that it picked up (jay pea gee).
I'm trying to arrange a page so that I can draw sketches of what I'm talking about when words are a bit awkward.

So I'll have another go. I don't think I'm breaking any rules. It's only a rough page mind - bit like me really.


lee

Nope. Anything with a link seem to need passing by the mods.
I don't know why though, people post links all the while don't they?

Does anyone know what is going wrong?

lee