I know this is bad work, but what can be done to make it look good?

And123 · Post by **And123** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 2:14 pm

I recently had our kitchen worktops replaced. The carpenter used those metal strips at the corner joints which are raised and not flush with the surface and they look super ugly, especially with all that thick and non smooth silicon around all the edges of the joints and sink.
Is it possible to joint the worktops without using those metal strips? I should also mention that both corner joints are both very close to the left and right of the sink.
The worktop is laminate 38mm with square edge.
I am in South London. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:17 pm

Have you taken this up with the kitchen fitters?

And123 · Post by **And123** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:49 pm

Neelix wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 3:17 pm Have you taken this up with the kitchen fitters?

Well this is their attempt at fixing the issue. At first they did not use metal joints but "sealed the joints". Within one week the worktop got swollen and had them back to fix the issue - I provided at my cost a piece of worktop which they used to replace the damaged one. I came home to and saw this hot mess.

Even the metal joints that they have used are not the right ones as they are not designed to joint quare edge to square edge tops and because one side has radius they have been raised and are not flush with the top. My concern is that these guys are not competent enough to make this look good.

fin · Post by **fin** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:14 pm

whoever you employed to do the work is no kitchen fitter or carpenter. It is simple enough to use a router and a worktop jig to get a perfect joint on a worktop. a days work in most cases. maybe more if having to refit sinks etc. it is not at all difficult.

random vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLQeh9pMlw

i noticed that the worktops look to be square edge worktops. you can also butt join these. you certainly do not need those joining strips at all.

the sealant on the sink is atrocious also.

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 8:39 pm

I'd echo everything Fin Says. Why would you even use bacteria strips on square worktops??

That sealant isn't even silicone by the looks of it

Gadget · Post by **Gadget** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:22 pm

Have you parted with any money yet?

fin · Post by **fin** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:29 pm

they dont even look like those bacteria strips razor. its all weird.

heres a link to my own insta. ive just uploaded a few photos of a kitchen i did a year back. these worktops are a kinda solid surface thing.... square edge tops. however the joining method would be not entirely dis similar..... for the solid surfaces here i had to do a fair bit of sanding. for laminate tops such as yours its a case of routering the tie bolts and if necessary the join itself using a jig. then just minor tweaking it as you tighten the bolts. not difficult at all.

https://www.instagram.com/paulfinnonjoinery/

fin · Post by **fin** » Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:30 pm

i was actually particularly pleased with that join as it was the very first time id attempted that join and fitting that type of work top. i was beyond rediculously nervous given each length was about £500 to buy. join was absolutely perfect

And123 · Post by **And123** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 12:14 pm

Gadget wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 9:22 pm Have you parted with any money yet?

unfortunately they have received full payment. They are willing to come back and discuss ways to fix it but I am afraid that they are not competent enough to make it look good.

And123 · Post by **And123** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 12:23 pm

fin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 7:14 pm whoever you employed to do the work is no kitchen fitter or carpenter. It is simple enough to use a router and a worktop jig to get a perfect joint on a worktop. a days work in most cases. maybe more if having to refit sinks etc. it is not at all difficult.

random vid

i noticed that the worktops look to be square edge worktops. you can also butt join these. you certainly do not need those joining strips at all.

the sealant on the sink is atrocious also.

The worktops do actually have square edge. They said butt joints would not work because there's not enough material from the side of the sink.

I also don't understand why he would put silicon around the sink on the worktop.

And123 · Post by **And123** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 12:25 pm

fin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:29 pm they dont even look like those bacteria strips razor. its all weird.

heres a link to my own insta. ive just uploaded a few photos of a kitchen i did a year back. these worktops are a kinda solid surface thing.... square edge tops. however the joining method would be not entirely dis similar..... for the solid surfaces here i had to do a fair bit of sanding. for laminate tops such as yours its a case of routering the tie bolts and if necessary the join itself using a jig. then just minor tweaking it as you tighten the bolts. not difficult at all.

[/quote
fin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:29 pm they dont even look like those bacteria strips razor. its all weird.

heres a link to my own insta. ive just uploaded a few photos of a kitchen i did a year back. these worktops are a kinda solid surface thing.... square edge tops. however the joining method would be not entirely dis similar..... for the solid surfaces here i had to do a fair bit of sanding. for laminate tops such as yours its a case of routering the tie bolts and if necessary the join itself using a jig. then just minor tweaking it as you tighten the bolts. not difficult at all.

They look really nice and neat. That's exactly I'd want mine. I really feel stuck right now.

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 1:41 pm

fin wrote: ↑Fri Aug 12, 2022 11:29 pm they dont even look like those bacteria strips razor. its all weird.

heres a link to my own insta. ive just uploaded a few photos of a kitchen i did a year back. these worktops are a kinda solid surface thing.... square edge tops. however the joining method would be not entirely dis similar..... for the solid surfaces here i had to do a fair bit of sanding. for laminate tops such as yours its a case of routering the tie bolts and if necessary the join itself using a jig. then just minor tweaking it as you tighten the bolts. not difficult at all.

<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://www.instagram.com/paulfinnonjoinery</span>/

Just followed you. Beautiful work even if there was a dewilt in one of the pics lol

Do those suction clamps you used actually pull the joint together or just hold it in place?

fin · Post by **fin** » Sat Aug 13, 2022 11:33 pm

so i used the clamps to pull it together... initial leveling up of the tops before the joining adhesive was applied. then back them off. apply the glue and wind them back together. they are a chinese copy of probably much more expensive seam setters (i beleive thats the name of them anyway) i got the pair for about the £150-£180 sort of mark. they almost exactly match the tools used on the minerva instalation video so i was happy to use them.

cheers for the follow. i wonder if maybe its worthwhile to have a section on here with regular posters insta accounts on so others can see standards of work that can be achieved

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Aug 14, 2022 12:33 am

my thoughts
the joining strips have a web off say 42mm and the worktop is perhaps 35mm so they have been very lazy so without trimming the the edge to match it won't sit flush but purely a guess??

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:35 am

My view is the joints were poorly cut and the bodger used the strips to cover the eff up. I think you may have to live with it until you can afford to replace it properly.

DWD