DIY Kitchen Worktop - need help/opinions!

[boymama55]

Basically my husband insisted his stepdad helped us fit a new worktop and sink as he was confident he would be able to fit it for free over the alternative which was to pay someone £450. I was happy to pay £450 however husband was v.confident that his stepdad could do it with his help and the only compromise I would be making would be having a metal joint strip over a mitre joint which I was happy to have as our old worktop had this and £450 seemed like a lot to spend just for a mitre joint. The worktop is just a cheap (but decent quality) laminate from wickes with matching upstands and ceramic sink. It was fitted last Wednesday and due to various reasons it still isn’t finished. The main one being that the mitre joint strip was cut the wrong way round so I had to reorder as I wanted a white one over silver and only available online.

I’m not v.happy with the way in which the sink has been caulked (quite messy). Although I appreciate that there was an unforeseeable gap between sink and worktop that they had to work with.

also there is quite a large gap between the worktop and cabinet to the side on both sides of the kitchen. And also a chip at the front of one of the worktop ends.

I’ve spoken to the kitchen fitter that I originally got a quote from and he said that it would need refitting or I could try to make do with it for now but agreed that the gap was too big.

Husband thinks I’m being ridiculous and that once the kitchen is finished it will be fine.

Is he right or do you think it is best to get it refitted professionally? It would be £300 to buy replacement worktop and upstands plus an extra £450 for labour. Luckily he said the sink could still be used even though the sides of sink were covered in caulk which I’ve spent all afternoon trying to scrape off 😩

I'd definitely get it sorted professionally. It looks awful and would completely take the shine off getting a lovely new kitchen installed

I think it is salvageable if filled in by a pro, I wouldn't go to the expenditure of buying new worktop. You will need to replace the silicone regularly around the sink anyhow as it goes mouldy.

Sorry to say but Yes it's a mess. I think it could be made to look better though. I would fill the chip with a little bit of filler and hand sand it. I would try some white or silver trim along the edges that look like they've been cut with a knife and fork where the worktop meets the tall housing units. I think when the kitchen's finished it will look better.
The one consolation is that no matter what he claims he can do, you don’t ever, not ever, have to have your partner's stepdad do anything in your house ever again. There is the evidence in your kitchen that he's completely ballsed it up.
I really feel for you. I would be devastated.
P.S please get a professional Tiler/Plasterer to complete the area behind the hob.

I think I'd get it professionally fitted if you can afford it, you want it to last.

It'll annoy you everyday if not neat I think.

I’m honestly so upset 😭

@calligraphee Yes I agree, I don’t think it will ever be as good as if we just get it refitted by a professional no matter how much husband protests.

@KathrynWheel Aww thank you, I’m honestly so upset to be completely honest.

We spent the last of our joint savings on the materials and I would have happily saved a bit more up and waited until the summer to have a professional do the job.

I’ve just said for now that he can just do what he wants as I’m too upset and just feel completely disheartened by the whole situation that I feel done with the whole house now.

probably sounds a little dramatic but we’ve put things on holds for the past 3 years as we currently have 2 toddlers (16 months apart) that are both in nursery 3 days a week as I work full time (my mum has them 2 days) and I was so excited to finally get something actually done other than just painting.

@roses2 the kitchen fitter I spoke to earlier today didn’t think it could salvaged from the photos I sent him. So I either let husband continue to finish or get it redone by a professional - neither option is ideal 🙈🤦🏻‍♀️

@confusedlots yes I agree - I’m just so annoyed at myself for listening to my husband and not getting someone professional to fit it in the first place. I eventually wanted to get all the cupboards professionally wrapped too which will be at least £800 and then we also need to sort the bathroom out at some point too 🙈

We've built a few kitchens ourselves, carcasses and doors. That saved us a lot of money. But we never attempted the work tops and my husband is careful with money. The sink if not watertight will cause the work tops to blow anyway.

Save up and get it all redone.

I would fill the gap with mastic (get the mastic man in if you’re not confident, although it’s pretty easy) and do the same on the chip.

Then live with it for 6 months and then decide if you want to spend £1000 on replacing it.

I have a stupid stone worktop that stains instantly and I hated it from the moment it was installed. I wanted to spend £3k getting it replaced, but decided to wait. 3 years later, I couldn’t care less. I’ve got better things to spend the money on and I don’t notice the issues anymore.

You might still care in 6 months, but if you don’t, happy days

@Scottishwildcat thank you, I wasn’t aware that mastic was a thing so that is good to know. I love the new sink and the worktop but I think the finish completely takes away from it and I know that even with my husbands attempt of finishing it, it just won’t be the same. I could prob lay sort the sink situation but it’s just a time thing to be honest. I’ve already spent an hour trying to remove the caulk and that just on the 2 sides (front and right ) that are easiest to get to. I work full time with 2 toddlers so having to do some of the work to the bodge job is not ideal and not something I signed up to.

I get it, I really do. I’d be furious.

BUT…all you’d be doing is waiting some time to see how you feel about it in a while.

You’re not agreeing to live with it - just see if you care enough to spend all that money after the ‘new kitchen’ shine has worn off.

There are so many things I was cross about when renovating my house - things I’d messed up, or a tradey, or my husband - but a few months later, I don’t even notice them.

And if in 6 months it still bothers you, then you can spend the money to get it all replaced.

Another thing to think about is whether you care more about the edges or the cupboards. Wrapping the cupboards will have a much stronger transformative effect on the kitchen than replacing the worktop.

So why not do that first?

There needn’t be a rush to fix the mistake of the worktops.

And you may decide to keep saving so you can afford nicer worktops in a few years, rather than ‘waste’ a grand replacing the cheap ones.

Good luck whatever you decide!