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Original poster

Run out of money for worktops - do we get laminate??? Help!

63 replies

Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 16:17

We've spent 90k trying to get our house finished and we've run out of money for the Quartz worktops we wanted. I've seen an ordered a sample of b&q veneto laminate, which has the look of the Quartz we want - any thoughts on this?

We plan on staying here for the foreseeable future so it's not a do up and rent out kind of thing, and I'm so worried we are going to buy something that's going to cheapen the whole house. The cabinets are Ikea and I feel like we need to luxe them up a bit with stone! We also have a completely open plan ground floor so the kitchen is the focal point of the house.
My OH wants to go for the laminate for splash back and worktops, and get the Quartz just for the island (it seems to match). I'm so worried it's going to be a big mistake.

Help!

OP posts:
Coughingchildren5 · 30/11/2016 16:20

Sorry this doesn't really answer your question, but can you fit stone work top on IKEA units? I thought they needed quite a bit of strengthening to cope? In your shoes I would compromise for laminate and replace when I could afford it, if I still cared enough. After all, you need a worktop to use the kitchen!

namechangedtoday15 · 30/11/2016 16:24

Have you looked at different brands and different suppliers as I have found a huge variety of prices.

Also, it is worth visiting local suppliers - they often have offcuts which bring the price down considerably. I visited one this weekend and couldn't believe the offcuts available.

Having said that, in our previous kitchen we had an island with quartz and then good quality laminate (Duropal) on the working side of the kitchen. I think the trick is not to match it - dont try to get the laminate to match the quartz as it'll never happen. I think it looked great although I have gone for all quartz this time (as like you, the kitchen is the focal point of an open plan area). If I could, I would probably stretch to quartz and see if you can make a saving by choosing a cheaper brand of quartz, or making savings elsewhere.

Sweetpea302 · 30/11/2016 16:31

Try a company called Mr Marble. We got them to put stone (not marble!) worktops on our IKEA cabinets and it's AMAZING. They're bizarrely cheap (more than laminate, but at least half the price of the next cheapest stone). I was really nervous about it as it all seemed too good to be true, but I absolutely love it now it's fitted. Big open plan room and the kitchen looks super expensive now! The other great thing is that they do all the cutting themselves, so it's usually fitted within a week of order if that's what you want. They're also really helpful on the phone and will send out free samples.

God, I sound like I'm on commission. I'm really not, I just love my kitchen!

c3pu · 30/11/2016 16:36

Have a look on eBay and see if anyone is flogging a used stone worktop cheap?

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 16:41

Thanks for your replies! I've been looking at options for months and am going around in circles with it - quotes I've had are all pretty much the same for what I want Sad. Once this kitchen is done we don't plan on doing it again any time soon so what we have now will be it!
Can anyone recommend cheap brands of Quartz or a good supplier maybe? Latest quote is from MKW Surfaces and other one was from Ashlar Mason. I'm in West London. I've found it hard finding the style I want, it's similar to statuario marble. The quotes are around the 6k mark for island, splash back and worktops.
Dimensions:
Island 20mm: 2400 x 1200x 900(h)
Worktop 20mm 2 x 2100 x 600.
Splashback 2x2100x500 & 1x900x700mm

I'm hoping ikea worktops hold stone....!?
We'd have to credit card the Quartz which I am fine with, but OH is reluctant now he has seen the laminate...
Currently we have delightful mdf to work on Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 16:42

Will check out Mr Marble - thanks for the recommendation!

OP posts:
Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 30/11/2016 16:45

I vaguely remember that granite tops were an orderable option from IKEA when we got our kitchen 5 years ago (we considered it but got laminate in the end to keep costs down)

YelloDraw · 30/11/2016 16:55

I wouldn't go for laminate - if you have spent 90k on the house and it is all open plan laminate will make it look cheap. Sorry.

Depends on your earning capabilities, and how debt stretched you are already - but I would be tempted to CC it and pay it off over the next 6 months.

Sweetpea302 · 30/11/2016 16:57

We never had any problems with our IKEA cabinates holding the weight - and we even fitted them ourselves! Shock (we are not gifted DIYers. People regularly mistake our kitchen for a £30-40k job though, so we must have done something right!

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 17:01

Those are my thoughts YelloDraw, it's a complete waste of money spent if we cheapen it with laminate if it ends up being noticeably laminate. Argh.

If anyone does have b&q laminate and is happy with it/doest think it looks rubbish then please do shout

I've emailed Mister Marble for a quote!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 17:03

Sweetpea do you mind me asking which stone you went for? I've spoken to Mister Marble and they are sending me a sample of something that sounds like it might be similar to what I'm looking for.
Great that you're so happy with your kitchen! Love IKEA :-)

OP posts:
firewithfire · 30/11/2016 17:05

Diy kitchens seem to be about the same price as mr marble

PickAChew · 30/11/2016 17:06

We have 12 year old B&Q laminate - very few scratches, just gone a bit where it gets damp underneath from drips, near the sink.

But our whole house isn't even worth £90K, so we owuldn't ut stone in it, anyhow!

namechangedtoday15 · 30/11/2016 17:06

I would lose the splash back and do something else - upstands?

I see that you're having the island "wrapped" with the quartz going down each side. Could you consider having end panels to match your units and just having the quartz on the top?

I think there is an awful lot of quartz in the design and if you're planning on using a distinctive design such as a marble type finish, you don't need so much (imo) to give the feeling of luxe.

Costacoffeeplease · 30/11/2016 17:10

I wouldn't get laminate, stretch to the stone otherwise you'll never re-do it and it will forever bug you

I have granite, and am in the process of putting a new kitchen in our holiday rental apt. The old worktop was laminate, and the new one will be granite

Fortunately granite is very affordable here (I live in Portugal)

YelloDraw · 30/11/2016 17:18

If anyone does have b&q laminate and is happy with it doest think it looks rubbish then please do shout

There is good quality laminate in my kitchen. It looks nice for sure. But not, you know, stone nice. And there is no way I would put in a new kitchen and not put in stone.

YelloDraw · 30/11/2016 17:20

But as PP said - do upstands not splashback, put in a glass splash back. Don't do the sides of the island - just the top.

Sweetpea302 · 30/11/2016 17:39

We went for "Pure White" Smile

Needmoresleep · 30/11/2016 17:48

If you are looking at laminate and are in West London why not have a look at what Wey Plastics in Garratt Lane Wandsworth offer. I think they are mainly a trade suppliers, but have a showroom, and stock a wide range. My guess is that they will be better and cheaper than a chain like B&Q.

Original poster
Ipanema01 · 30/11/2016 18:29

Thanks for the suggestions all. I suppose I am a bit stuck on what I want and need to compromise on the amount of Quartz to avoid the laminate maybe.

Any thoughts on white subway tiles for the splashback area? I'm not a big fan of glass really and I'd want something super plain if I wasn't going to use the Quartz.
The rest of the house is quite scandi/industrial in style so that's the type of look I like.

I'll also check out DIY Kitchens, thank you.

Sweet pea I bet it looks fab :-)

OP posts:
namechangedtoday15 · 30/11/2016 18:33

Not tiles (at all). Just have upstands with a painted wall behind. Very contemporary and minimalist (although I may be biased - that's what I have).

lukasgrahamfan · 30/11/2016 19:45

Personally I put in a laminate worktop when I first replaced my kitchen [and it's been fine]. That's because I have been unsure if I was staying here or selling the place on. I always knew I could have a quartz overlay if I decide to stay here.
So I will be doing it next year as it looks like I'm staying put. It will fit on top of the existing worktop which will provide the structure and stability for the installation. The company I will use also provides a new sink and hob with the order.

user1471549018 · 30/11/2016 19:46

Have you considered combining quartz worktops for the main kitchen with wood/wood laminate for the island? Something like this.

www.housetohome.co.uk/kitchen/picture/shaker-style-kitchen

It works for most kitchen styles and looks deliberate rather than trying to match quartz and laminate. BTW I have an ikea kitchen with granite and they had to put hidden reinforcements when installing it as they were't strong enough

BananaPie · 30/11/2016 22:05

Not b&q laminate. You can get better quality laminate. Try duropal I think.

JillyTheDependableBoot · 30/11/2016 22:36

Last time we were in Ikea I saw a lovely laminate that looked like sintered porcelain - really fab. Can't find it on the website though #unhelpful

I agree with binning the upstands though, and/or having a different top for the island and not having the worktop down the sides of it.

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