Kitchen Worktops

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Can you just change work tops without too much hassle? Has anyone done this? Looking for ideas on how much it will cost (in money and disruption).

The worktops I have are chipboard (or something) and I'm thinking of a darker wood. Granite won't go with the cupboards but I don't want to change them.

Yes - it's quite straightforward, I've done it a few times. The problem could be if the splashback is tiled - you tend to lose a few tiles when you pull the old worktop out or you have to trim the tiles to allow the new worktop in. If you have a built-in hob, then you need a Gas Safe plumber to reconnect it after you have done your work.

Thanks. Do you mind me asking if it was costly?

We're getting a new built in hob so would need to do that anyway. If the whole area behind the worktop is tiled would you expect much breakage.

Not asking in real life as I want the information before suggesting it to DH.
:)

If the tiles were put on after the worktop, and come right down to it, you can expect all the bottom row to come off and quite a few to break. If there is a gap filled with sealant use a sealant remover and cut it before moving the worktop. You can get plastic sealing strip like round a bath to avoid the tiles being stuck to the worktop.

You may find it easy and cheap enough to change each time you redecorate.

I found mine tended to come away rather than break (but when that happened, we were changing the wortops because they were rotten at the back so it was quite easy to jiggle them out). If the worktop is in good condition, then yes, you may lose a few.

It shouldn't take a joiner more than a day to fit a worktop assuming say, one corner join and a couple of cut-outs for sink and hob. So whatever the day rate is around you should be the labour cost. I have changed the worktop myself when it was a straight run with no corner to cut in - it's not a desperately difficult job if you have a decent saw and a jigsaw.