Kitchen work surfaces: best installation advice - Grand Designs magazine
Raised view of kitchen looking down on the solid surface and copper work surfaces

Kitchen work surfaces: best installation advice

Ensure your surfaces are properly fitted and maintained with this expert advice.

By Becca Green | 5 November 2020

Choosing your kitchen work surfaces is a major part of designing a new scheme. They make up a good proportion of your overall budget. So, it’s essential to ensure the surfaces are properly fitted and maintained. Zoe Marshall-McKay, head designer of Elgar Kitchens offers her installation and aftercare tips.

Looking down on a kitchen island with wraparound worksurface

Matt finish solid surface that wraps around an island. Photo: Fiona Walker-Arnott

A perfect alignment

Kitchen work surfaces installation happens once the base units are level and securely in place. Days or weeks prior to this, a template is taken which allows the surfaces to be cut precisely to size. So, having the base units level and secure is key. This prevents movement in the cabinets once a heavy surface is in place. It also reduces stress on materials such as granite or quartz, and prevents bowing in timber or solid surfaces.

Choosing your kitchen work surfaces is a major part of designing a new scheme. They make up a good proportion of your overall budget. So, it’s essential to ensure the surfaces are properly fitted and maintained. Zoe Marshall-McKay, head designer of Elgar Kitchens offers her installation and aftercare tips.

Looking down on a kitchen island with wraparound worksurface

Matt finish solid surface that wraps around an island. Photo: Fiona Walker-Arnott

A perfect alignment

Kitchen work surfaces installation happens once the base units are level and securely in place. Days or weeks prior to this, a template is taken which allows the surfaces to be cut precisely to size. So, having the base units level and secure is key. This prevents movement in the cabinets once a heavy surface is in place. It also reduces stress on materials such as granite or quartz, and prevents bowing in timber or solid surfaces.

Template or not

A template will be created for most solid surface, some glass, quartz, granite and porcelain surfaces. The exception is solid surfaces such as Maia or Minerva, which are similar to Corian, Hi-Macs or Staron. They can be templated by a trained fabricator on site. This is because the sections are joined together in a way that blends away any visible joints. Cut-on-site quartz, such as Bushboard’s M-Stone and Mirostone, are fitted in much the same way but you will see joins of around 1mm between the slabs. These are filled with colour-match resin.

Open-plan country kitchen with timber work surfaces

A rustic country kitchen with timber work surfaces. Photo: Jefferson Smith

Affordable kitchen work surfaces

Laminate and timber work surfaces are most often cut to fit on site. Similarly, stainless steel and copper installations can happen on site, if they are a standard size and shape. Anything bespoke comes at a higher price point and will most likely require installation off site.

Protection order

To a certain degree, kitchen work surfaces are heat, scratch and stain-resistant. But it is still a good idea to protect them from damage with chopping boards and pan stands. If bleach, lemon or wine spills happen, clean it up as soon as possible. If left to sit on the surface for any length of time, staining may occur.

Long-term care

There is plenty you can do if your work surface needs a refresh after several years of use. Gently sand back solid timber in preparation for refinishing with Danish oil. Buff solid surfaces using a slightly abrasive cleaner. But do carry out a patch test first. With quartz and granite, make sure they are properly sealed in the first place. If staining does occur, you may need to apply a suitable poultice to draw out the mark. But take advice from your supplier before taking a DIY approach.

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