Howdens corner unit problem with worktop finish

[bandai1972]

Hi there, I wonder if you can help, this may be fine but just wasn't quite expecting the worktop to look like this once it was installed, think I was expecting it to look like it does in the Howdens catalogue and worried that this isn't quite right.

Basically we ordered our kitchen with Howdens and went for a corner unit to end the run of cupboards as it looked modern and thought it would compliment the kitchen. We were asked which worktop we wanted and went to have a look with the Howdens man and picked a bullnose curved laminate one. To cut a long story short, the carpenter has fitted the worktop today but had to cut the laminate and then has attached the edging strip on and has had to blend it in with the other bit of worktop creating this join which to me sticks out a lot and like I said isn't what we were expecting.

Is this normal to have this? Or could it be done a different way? Thanks in advance!

[speed]

hard to tell from the pics is the edging flush or stepped on the join?

[big-all]

i would have it with the arc finishing about an inch in front off where its so you have a bit more seperation
when you transfer from the bull nose to the curve

[royaloakcarpentry]

That is NO carpenter that did that. Kitchen basher at best. That is horrendously finished by an incompetent sausage fingered buffoon!

The laminate strip has to be cut to the profile left by the router and let into the worktop slightly. Piece of piddle for any qualified experienced carpenter/joiner to do.

Just done one on a breakfast bar where the curve comes from the wall to the front. Haven't got any pics of it yet as I won't do any silicone work until the client has decorated and thus the kitchen is finished. Shame, as I could have whacked it on here for you to see how it should be done.

I shall check my camera to doubly make sure I didn't take any pics. Was a few weeks ago when I finished for them to decorate and so my memory (at 44) could be letting me down (yet again).

I will check now, while I remember pmsl

Actually that looks like a square edge top. He could have just squared off the laminate and run the strip up to it, instead of leaving the profile which the router has left.

[bandai1972]

Thanks everyone your advise is so much appreciated.

Should we just say thanks but we are not happy with the finish and get someone else?

[bandai1972]

Hi Just been looking at the howdens quote and we have got 38 mm bullnose rad smoke worktop with 1.4 mm edging strip??

[fin]

ive taken a picture of the corner of the breakfast bar in my kitchen. i fitted it about 5 years back. its obv a different radius but will hopefully give you some idea as to what it should look like.... if it doesnt its because the lens on my phones camera is scratched to buggery lol...

[bandai1972]

Hi thanks for that Fin, that really helps, it definitely isn't right and we are going to get someone else to do it as the other guy said that is the best he can do, thankyou

[Job and Knock]

That's a curved end unit, so I don't think the Howdens guy wasn't really correct when he specified a post-formed edge worktop. I also feel that the fitter was wrong to do it that way. As Howdens worktops are generally a bit wider than the norm (616 or 625mm from memory, can't remember which) I'd have sawn/routed off the bullnose edge making it a square edge and applied edging strip(s) along the front and round the returm to the wall. The only downside to doing it that way is that the edging strips are often only 2.4 or 3 metres long so there may need to be a visible vertical joint at the front and you also lose about 8 to 10mm off the depth of the finished worktop.

Just my 2p worth!

[darrenba]

It's a lot easier with solid wood worktop

[chip32]

ill stick up for your joiner, matching in edging strip on a corner radius like that is impossible to do. even the instruction manual on my trend worktop jig states this:

http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/trend/con ... BkZg%3D%3D

Page 17

If im doing a corner radius i tend to just use the masons profile (which is what Fin's photo looks like) it hits the post formed edge at more of an angle so easier to file down your edging strip. This however would not work on yours as you want it to follow curve of the unit.

My advise would be get a plastic surgeon to take a look, be advised though they are expensive

[royaloakcarpentry]

Took pics, now the client has decorated, of the one which I did a few weeks back.

As Chip32 says, they are not ideal worktops to be doing this detailing to but it can be done. I wouldn't advise it but if the client wants the client wants lol.