Replacing wooden worktops 40mm with quartz nightmare

[breastfeedingdrivingmecrazy]

We have moved into a house which has wooden worktops, and despite them only having been in for a year (previous owners put them in), and regular (ish) maintenance they look awful.

We want to replace them with something quartz-esque, but they are 40mm thick and it feels impossible to get anything but laminate in that thickness.

Anyone had (and solved) this problem? I am so confused by all the info online!

why do you think the new worktop needs to be the same thickness as the old one?

I have the same question as PigletJohn - can't see why the new worktop needs to be the same depth as the old wooden one?

If it's because there's a gap left between where the new worktop stops and where tiling starts perhaps you could fill it in with an upstand or mosaic tiles or even painted wood.

I much prefer a slim worktop.

If you take the old ones off you can have whatever thickness new ones you want. You can also get worktops that slide over existing. No idea how good they are but another option perhaps.

wpuld you not consider sanding them back and putting a better oil on them. Our worktops where grim when we moved in and then we further trashed them for a few years. Sanded them back two years ago and used Osmo oil and they have been like new since. They must be around 20 years old.

Sorry should have said we have tiles that start exactly 40mm above. Super annoying! Thank you for the suggestions so far.

They could probably use some kind of trim to fill a gap between worktop and tiles.

Just get an upstand - like a bit more of the worktop material that is vertical at the back, and fills in the gap.

But agree with PPs that your wood could be sanded and redone and look great, and last along time, unless it's crap quality. I've had wooden worktops for years and they've stayed lovely. Just chose wood again for my new place.

We have had the problem many times. Depending on whether your kitchen lends itself to it, you can buy 8mm strip and tack it to top of your kitchen cabinets. It works better on some types of kitchen than others. If you have a painted kitchen then touch up paint the strip after, if you have white or oak you can buy strip in the corresponding material, done neatly you will never notice the strip. . If you keep a good worktop overhang of around 25mm you can't even see that area unless you lie on the kitchen floor. The 2mm gap ensures the worktop slides under the tiles with a small gap that's easy to obtain a neat seal with the tiles.

Alternatively, most quartz fabricators will make a 20/ 20 top. 40mm worktops fabricated from two 20mm sections. Found this page on the net but there are many more. www.countertopservicestx.com/edges/

Good luck.

another solution would be to take bottom row of tiles off then insert upstand jnto the gap between new worktop and tiles above - you just cut along the grout line with a multi tool and chip them off from the bottom once worktop removed