If your kitchen is looking tired and dated, you do not necessarily need to rip it all out and start again. Replacing the kitchen worktops will instantly give your kitchen a major face lift whilst saving you lots of money and hassle.
There are many different types of worktop to choose from including granite, Corian (a composite of minerals and acrylic polymer, from about £400 a square metre), Raustone (similar to Corian, but less pricey), rubberwood (cubes of wood bonded together), stainless steel, Formica, real wood such as oak, beech, walnut, cheery, iroko and basic laminate. Granite, Corian, Raustone and stainless steel should be fitted by professionals.
Wooden kitchen worktops including oak, beech and walnut are the simplest option for those looking for the 'do-it-yourself' option because they are easy to cut compared to laminate, granite and stainless steel.
Oak worktops are the first choice for those looking for strength, durability and classic traditional elegance. Oak's rich colour and fine markings lend grace to any kitchen, maturing over the years to add character and warmth.
Walnut is a dark wood of immense warmth, with a rich grain and strong character. Walnut wood contains natural exotic patterns that set it apart from its contemporaries.
Cherry is an elegant and colourful wood, fast becoming one of the most popular choices for kitchens. Cherry worktops have a subtle autumnal red appearance that darkens gracefully over time to a rich maturity.
Beech is the most popular and versatile of all the hardwoods. The light tone and soft grain produce a bright feel that complements any style of kitchen.
Iroko - The dark hues of this rich African hardwood produce a stunning effect when used in the right kitchen environment. Often called 'African Teak', it is a most durable worktop due to its high resistance to staining.
Plan Ahead
Before you begin on your kitchen worktop project you will need to work out exactly how much new worktop you require to get the job done. If the existing worktop is a good fit then this job is done for you as you can simply use this as the template. If the worktop not to replace an exiting worktop or you require extra then you will need a measuring tape and cardboard to create the template. Even in new build houses, unfortunately corners are rarely at right angles so you will need to check carefully. Remember to order all trims, brackets and fittings when you order your worktop.
Kitchen Worktop Saw Points
If you are cutting laminate, kitchen fitters recommend using a circular saw with the laminate facing down. A jigsaw is fine for cutting out big holes for example, the sink but be aware of it fraying. Many people choose to hire a circular saw from a local hire shop. However, you will require very steady hands to do a professional job. The other crucial thing with laminate worktops is getting the mitered joins just right. These can be cut by a joiner with precision equipment, for a small fee.
Kitchen Worktop Fitting
A spirit level is essential when fixing the worktops with their supporting brackets, timber battens, or KD blocks, used especially in kitchen fitting. Leave a fall of about 2 degrees away from the wall at the back to prevent spills and dirt accumulating. Do any wall tiling work after fitting the worktops, so there is a permanent level edge to work upwards from. Seal any cut laminate surface to stop damp and between joints with a compound. Use silicone sealant between tiles and worktop and put reflective aluminium tape around cooker/hob to protect from radiant heat; use waterproof seal - unless a rubber gasket is supplied - around the sink.
If all this seems a little labour intensive, you might consider getting a professional company to provide the kitchen worktop, cutting and fitting as a package. You can then take advantage of their experience and workmanship to make sure the job in done to the highest standard. The worktop will be cut and finished to your own personal needs which will save you time and inconvenience.
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Monday 12 May 2008
Wooden kitchen worktop choices
Oak Worktops
Oak is the first choice for those looking for strength, durability and classic traditional elegance. Oak's rich colour and fine markings lend grace to any kitchen, maturing over the years to add character & warmth.
Beech Worktops
Beech is the most popular and versatile of all the hardwoods. The light tone and soft grain produce a bright feel that complements any style of kitchen.
Walnut Worktops
Walnut is a dark wood of immense warmth, with a rich grain and strong character. Walnut wood contains natural exotic patterns that set it apart from its contemporaries.
Cherry Worktops
Cherry is an elegant and colourful wood, fast becoming one of the most popular choices for today's kitchens. Cherry worktops have a subtle autumnal red appearance that darkens gracefully over time to a rich maturity.
Iroko Worktops
The dark hues of this rich African hardwood produce a stunning effect when used in the right kitchen environment. Often called 'African Teak', it is a most durable worktop due to its high resistance to staining.
Kitchen Worktops - Which to choose?
Both colour and cost are the main factors when choosing a wooden worktop. Bear in mind however that some woods are more durable than others. You may get the price you want but regret not investing in a tougher top when the battle scars start to appear. Consider what colour your worktop doors and how bright is the room? These two questions both help define if the kitchen worktop should be a light, medium or dark wood. Do you want the wood to be a passive element of the overall project or a focal point requiring lots of character?
What is the best value for money hardwood?
The cheapest kitchen worktop would be a rubber wood. This is an entry-level hardwood for a kitchen Worktop. The best wood by way of character, durability and price would be Rustic Beech. A tough and very well priced worktop that with five coats of oil would create a fine warm and welcome focal point in your kitchen.
How often should I oil my Kitchen hardwood worktops?
Three coats on the flat surface of high grade Danish wood oil will make most kitchen tops thoroughly water repellent and provide a tough durable preparation work surface. Five coats around the edges will further protect these more exposed areas. Further coats on the flat surfaces will only serve to increase protection and enhance the character and the grain of the wood.
The benefit of this is more evident on character woods such as Rustic Beech, Iroko, European Walnut and solid oak. Ongoing maintenance of your worktop can be via three monthly regime or simply by judging the worktop and re-oiling when it looses its sheen effect and become matt in appearance. The areas most vulnerable are usually sunspots where the sun is more focused on a particular area of the worktop. Other areas to look out for are around cooking appliances, at the back above you fridge, at the front above dishwashers and below kettles and toasters.
Oak is the first choice for those looking for strength, durability and classic traditional elegance. Oak's rich colour and fine markings lend grace to any kitchen, maturing over the years to add character & warmth.
Beech Worktops
Beech is the most popular and versatile of all the hardwoods. The light tone and soft grain produce a bright feel that complements any style of kitchen.
Walnut Worktops
Walnut is a dark wood of immense warmth, with a rich grain and strong character. Walnut wood contains natural exotic patterns that set it apart from its contemporaries.
Cherry Worktops
Cherry is an elegant and colourful wood, fast becoming one of the most popular choices for today's kitchens. Cherry worktops have a subtle autumnal red appearance that darkens gracefully over time to a rich maturity.
Iroko Worktops
The dark hues of this rich African hardwood produce a stunning effect when used in the right kitchen environment. Often called 'African Teak', it is a most durable worktop due to its high resistance to staining.
Kitchen Worktops - Which to choose?
Both colour and cost are the main factors when choosing a wooden worktop. Bear in mind however that some woods are more durable than others. You may get the price you want but regret not investing in a tougher top when the battle scars start to appear. Consider what colour your worktop doors and how bright is the room? These two questions both help define if the kitchen worktop should be a light, medium or dark wood. Do you want the wood to be a passive element of the overall project or a focal point requiring lots of character?
What is the best value for money hardwood?
The cheapest kitchen worktop would be a rubber wood. This is an entry-level hardwood for a kitchen Worktop. The best wood by way of character, durability and price would be Rustic Beech. A tough and very well priced worktop that with five coats of oil would create a fine warm and welcome focal point in your kitchen.
How often should I oil my Kitchen hardwood worktops?
Three coats on the flat surface of high grade Danish wood oil will make most kitchen tops thoroughly water repellent and provide a tough durable preparation work surface. Five coats around the edges will further protect these more exposed areas. Further coats on the flat surfaces will only serve to increase protection and enhance the character and the grain of the wood.
The benefit of this is more evident on character woods such as Rustic Beech, Iroko, European Walnut and solid oak. Ongoing maintenance of your worktop can be via three monthly regime or simply by judging the worktop and re-oiling when it looses its sheen effect and become matt in appearance. The areas most vulnerable are usually sunspots where the sun is more focused on a particular area of the worktop. Other areas to look out for are around cooking appliances, at the back above you fridge, at the front above dishwashers and below kettles and toasters.
Average kitchen worktop no cleaner than toilet seat
British home hygiene is so poor that most kitchen worktops contain more bacteria than the average public toilet seat, a study has claimed.
Research by the Hygiene Council revealed that 85 per cent of public toilets were cleaner than domestic food preparation areas. In fact, the average kitchen surface had 10 times more bacteria than the toilet seat.
Only three per cent of Brits believed the home to be the most likely source of infection with hygiene advice for homes being generally ignored, the study found. The report also found that only a third of Brits wash their hands properly after sneezing, handling pets, before eating, before handling food and after using the toilet.
The Hygiene Council was formed to help combat the growing incidence of the spread of infections, such as avian influenza or MRSA. It is made up of some of the world's top experts in areas such as virology, microbiology and infectious disease. More than 10,000 people across 10 countries across the globe took part in the research that focused on basic hygiene principles.
It found that the majority of Brits are not aware that they could encounter more bacteria in their homes than in public places. Only three per cent believed the home to be the most likely source of infection, with hygiene advice for homes being generally ignored.
The Hygiene Council's panel of experts warns that not washing hands at appropriate times can have far-reaching consequences. This is because hands are the primary carrier of various germs and pathogens, including E.coli and Salmonella.
But bacteria can also be found in unlikely places like light switches, door handles, the kitchen chopping board and other frequently-touched surfaces.
Men are the worst offenders, with only 28 per cent sticking to home hygiene routines compared to 42 per cent of women, the report found.
The study also found that most food trays on baby high chairs were unacceptably dirty.
A staggering 60 per cent were found to hold Coliforms - bacteria that indicate a surface has been contaminated by faecal matter, raw meat, soil or unwashed vegetables.
Ironically, in all the homes tested, the floors were cleaner than the high chair trays - with 40 per cent of them clean enough to serve food on.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, member of the UK Hygiene Council, said: "Your home may not be as clean as you think it is. It's not enough to simply remove the visible dirt you can see with the naked eye."
Researchers also tested baby high chairs in homes where there were children under three and found that all of those tested were unacceptably dirty.
Coliforms - which are bacteria that indicate a surface has been contaminated by faecal matter, raw meat, soil or unwashed vegetables - were found on a staggering 60 per cent of the trays.
Ironically, in all the homes tested, the floors were cleaner than the high chair trays - with 40 per cent of them clean enough to serve food on.
"Home hygiene should be regarded as a scientific approach in its own right. Scientific evidence shows that simple and good hygiene practices can reduce the risk of illness and infection at home and in the community, so we must protect ourselves by putting these measures into practice," commented Professor John Oxford, Chairman of the Hygiene Council and Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The Hygiene Council has formed to help combat the growing incidence of the spread of infections, such as avian influenza or MRSA, by providing recommendations on good hygiene to help the public.
The council is made up of some of the world's top experts in areas such as virology, microbiology and infectious disease.
Research by the Hygiene Council revealed that 85 per cent of public toilets were cleaner than domestic food preparation areas. In fact, the average kitchen surface had 10 times more bacteria than the toilet seat.
Only three per cent of Brits believed the home to be the most likely source of infection with hygiene advice for homes being generally ignored, the study found. The report also found that only a third of Brits wash their hands properly after sneezing, handling pets, before eating, before handling food and after using the toilet.
The Hygiene Council was formed to help combat the growing incidence of the spread of infections, such as avian influenza or MRSA. It is made up of some of the world's top experts in areas such as virology, microbiology and infectious disease. More than 10,000 people across 10 countries across the globe took part in the research that focused on basic hygiene principles.
It found that the majority of Brits are not aware that they could encounter more bacteria in their homes than in public places. Only three per cent believed the home to be the most likely source of infection, with hygiene advice for homes being generally ignored.
The Hygiene Council's panel of experts warns that not washing hands at appropriate times can have far-reaching consequences. This is because hands are the primary carrier of various germs and pathogens, including E.coli and Salmonella.
But bacteria can also be found in unlikely places like light switches, door handles, the kitchen chopping board and other frequently-touched surfaces.
Men are the worst offenders, with only 28 per cent sticking to home hygiene routines compared to 42 per cent of women, the report found.
The study also found that most food trays on baby high chairs were unacceptably dirty.
A staggering 60 per cent were found to hold Coliforms - bacteria that indicate a surface has been contaminated by faecal matter, raw meat, soil or unwashed vegetables.
Ironically, in all the homes tested, the floors were cleaner than the high chair trays - with 40 per cent of them clean enough to serve food on.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, member of the UK Hygiene Council, said: "Your home may not be as clean as you think it is. It's not enough to simply remove the visible dirt you can see with the naked eye."
Researchers also tested baby high chairs in homes where there were children under three and found that all of those tested were unacceptably dirty.
Coliforms - which are bacteria that indicate a surface has been contaminated by faecal matter, raw meat, soil or unwashed vegetables - were found on a staggering 60 per cent of the trays.
Ironically, in all the homes tested, the floors were cleaner than the high chair trays - with 40 per cent of them clean enough to serve food on.
"Home hygiene should be regarded as a scientific approach in its own right. Scientific evidence shows that simple and good hygiene practices can reduce the risk of illness and infection at home and in the community, so we must protect ourselves by putting these measures into practice," commented Professor John Oxford, Chairman of the Hygiene Council and Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.
The Hygiene Council has formed to help combat the growing incidence of the spread of infections, such as avian influenza or MRSA, by providing recommendations on good hygiene to help the public.
The council is made up of some of the world's top experts in areas such as virology, microbiology and infectious disease.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)