Your worktops are arguably the most important part of your kitchen, both practically and aesthetically. Visually, they take up a large part of the overall space. Any mistakes in the fit or imperfections will be obvious, so it’s worth taking the time to get it absolutely right.
Here’s our key dos and don’ts for fitting kitchen worktops perfectly:
DO use a professional fitter
Fitting worktops is tricky and skilled work, so it’s not something an enthusiastic DIY-er should tackle. There are difficult corner joints, angles and awkward wall gaps to work around, which require expertise as well as specialist equipment.
If you try it yourself and it goes wrong, and your expensive new worktops could be ruined. So, even though we may be biased, our number one tip will always be to hire a professional kitchen fitter or joiner.
DO double check your measurements
Before any cuts are made, it’s a smart idea to measure once more. Then perhaps one more time, just to be safe. Once the cut is made, there’s no going back, so it needs be spot-on. You could even whip out a cool gadget like a digital laser measure to make sure your measurements are super accurate.
DON’T put worktop joints near sink cut-outs
You should leave at least 100mm (or more, preferably) between worktop joints and the cut-outs for sinks or appliances. Any closer, and you won’t have enough support or strength within the worktop. There’s also the risk of water from the sink entering and warping the joint.
If you’re having a cut-out made for the hob, make sure you put heat insulation tape around the inner edges to protect the material.
DO make sure your base units are level
If you want your worktops to be straight, the units underneath need to be perfectly level. Check yours with a spirit level before your countertop is installed, and make any necessary adjustments.
DON’T overcomplicate joints
The easiest way to join two pieces of worktop in a corner is with a mitre or a butt joint, the latter of which offers a little more strength. It could be a mistake to try anything too complicated or unusual, as the chances of something going wrong are higher. If you’ve got an awkward corner or angle, speak to your kitchen fitter to come up with a solution.
DO check joints carefully before cutting your worktops to length
Remember – there’s no going back once your worktops are cut. A whole 2-3m length may be ruined if you cut too early. This is why it’s always worth checking that the joints fit perfectly and that all other details are right before cutting to length.
You should also be consistent with the measurement of the overhang. This is how far the worktop projects over the front edge of the base unit. Aim for around 10-20mm, and make it the same all the way round. Again, speak to your fitter for advice on what will look best.
If your head is spinning with all the rules to remember, don’t worry. Get in touch with A&J Kitchen Fitters and we’ll walk you through the process. We have 20+ years of experience, so you can be sure of a perfect fit and a stunning finish.
Here’s our key dos and don’ts for fitting kitchen worktops perfectly:
DO use a professional fitter
Fitting worktops is tricky and skilled work, so it’s not something an enthusiastic DIY-er should tackle. There are difficult corner joints, angles and awkward wall gaps to work around, which require expertise as well as specialist equipment.
If you try it yourself and it goes wrong, and your expensive new worktops could be ruined. So, even though we may be biased, our number one tip will always be to hire a professional kitchen fitter or joiner.
DO double check your measurements
Before any cuts are made, it’s a smart idea to measure once more. Then perhaps one more time, just to be safe. Once the cut is made, there’s no going back, so it needs be spot-on. You could even whip out a cool gadget like a digital laser measure to make sure your measurements are super accurate.
DON’T put worktop joints near sink cut-outs
You should leave at least 100mm (or more, preferably) between worktop joints and the cut-outs for sinks or appliances. Any closer, and you won’t have enough support or strength within the worktop. There’s also the risk of water from the sink entering and warping the joint.
If you’re having a cut-out made for the hob, make sure you put heat insulation tape around the inner edges to protect the material.
DO make sure your base units are level
If you want your worktops to be straight, the units underneath need to be perfectly level. Check yours with a spirit level before your countertop is installed, and make any necessary adjustments.
DON’T overcomplicate joints
The easiest way to join two pieces of worktop in a corner is with a mitre or a butt joint, the latter of which offers a little more strength. It could be a mistake to try anything too complicated or unusual, as the chances of something going wrong are higher. If you’ve got an awkward corner or angle, speak to your kitchen fitter to come up with a solution.
DO check joints carefully before cutting your worktops to length
Remember – there’s no going back once your worktops are cut. A whole 2-3m length may be ruined if you cut too early. This is why it’s always worth checking that the joints fit perfectly and that all other details are right before cutting to length.
You should also be consistent with the measurement of the overhang. This is how far the worktop projects over the front edge of the base unit. Aim for around 10-20mm, and make it the same all the way round. Again, speak to your fitter for advice on what will look best.
If your head is spinning with all the rules to remember, don’t worry. Get in touch with A&J Kitchen Fitters and we’ll walk you through the process. We have 20+ years of experience, so you can be sure of a perfect fit and a stunning finish.
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