Archive for August, 2010

Learn How To Fit Kitchen Worktops The Right Way

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Are you searching for the answer to the question, “how to fit kitchen worktops”? Cut your search short and pay attention to a few of the following things to know how to fit kitchen worktops. These things will help you complete everything in the most efficient way.

First of all, you should make sure you have all types of tools in place. You won’t be able to complete this entire fitting task if you have to run to fetch certain tools in the middle of your fitting work. So, first of all, you should make a list of what you need to remodel your kitchen.

Here, it is essential to mention that you should hire a professional if you want granite or other such types of worktops to be fitted in your kitchen. The reason is that these worktops require special type of cutting and you won’t be able to get right cutting equipment to do it on your own.

When fitting a kitchen worktop, you should keep another important thing into perspective. This thing is about installing wooden worktops. For these worktops, you should make sure you take specific precautions for lifting them up. Many people try to drag these pieces, but that’s not the right thing to do. And, if you think you are in no position to arrange some lifting equipment, stay away from handling things on your own. In this case, you will always be better off hiring a professional kitchen fitter.

The fact of the matter is that there are many people who want to learn how to fit kitchen worktop, but not all of them finally become able to do it in the right way. The reason is that people just pay attention to the basic procedure of fitting worktops and never pay attention to specific things. You should not commit this mistake if you really want to learn how to fit kitchen worktop in the perfect way.

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Which Kitchen Worktop Suits You? Consider These Pros and Cons

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

The type of worktop you choose will depend firstly on personal taste and then what your budget will allow. The common choice for most people, mainly because of their low cost, is a 40mm laminate worktop. The other advantage is low maintenance – just a wipe with a damp cloth will keep them clean.

There is a wide choice of designs and colours available from imitation wood to imitation granite. Another advantage over natural work surfaces is the ability to absorb low impact when placing a cup or plate down without chipping the bottoms or being very noisy.

There are a few disadvantages which, if taken into consideration, will not detract from an otherwise good work surface.

The first is the fact that the bull nose or rounded nose is only available in straight runs. Any angled corners or radius ends have to be machined flat and a flat piece of laminate glued in place.

The other thing to be aware of is that any joint or cut in the surface is a potential problem area waiting to happen. If puddles of water are left on a joint over time the chipboard will swell causing the laminate to lift. If an electric kettle is placed over a joint the heat from below will affect the joint. No hot surfaces such as hot pans from a hob can be placed directly onto the work surface as this will also lead to blistering.

So with care, laminate worktops are a good choice in a standard kitchen.

However, if the design of the kitchen has a Belfast sink for example, then a laminate worktop, around the sink area, is out of the question.

The next option is a wooden worktop made up of many strips of wood glued together to give the correct depth, usually around 620mm.

Wooden surfaces may be cut and shaped to suit the shape of the base units so that if a hob unit protrudes forward as a feature or radius corners are needed they can all be done and then the front edge can be profiled with a router as well as the ends along the end grain. This is a big advantage over laminate and, unlike a granite top, the fitter can fit wooden worktops, so there is no delay in fitting the tops.

The wooden tops need 3 coats of oil on the top and underneath. To achieve this I start to oil the underside of all wooden tops the first day I arrive to fit the kitchen.

As the oil takes 12 hours to dry I give them further coats on day 2 and day 3. By day 4 I can begin cutting and machining the tops. When all the worktops are fitted and sanded the tops are given 3 coats of oil over the following 3 days with a light sand between coats.

Once the kitchen is in use the worktops will need occasional oiling. This will depend on the amount of use they have had so it could be once a month or twice a year. It will be down to the customer how much they want to look after their work surface.

I know past customers who have never oiled their tops since I installed them and several years later ring me to ask how to remove the staining around the sink area. This staining is very hard to get rid of and depending on how bad it is will determine how much wood needs to be removed by either sanding or planing and sanding.

I usually recommend a heavy sanding then 3 coats of oil over the following 3 days.

If you choose granite worktops they are measured and installed by the granite company you choose. When all of the base units are in place the granite installer will usually create templates of the layout out of 4mm to 6mm hard board or MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard).

All overhangs, curves, sink profiles etc are cut very accurately so that the templates can be taken back to the workshop and transferred onto suitable pieces of granite so that little or no work needs to be carried out in the kitchen to make it all fit correctly.

The joints are filled with a 2 pack resin, appropriately coloured to minimise the visual impact of the joints.

After installation the granite is cleaned with a spirit to remove traces of grease, dust, finger marks etc and then coated with a sealer to prevent or minimise any accidental staining.

All types of worktops have their own advantages and disadvantages of price, durability , exclusivity and maintenance.

It all boils down to 1. What you like, 2. If you can afford what you like, and 3. Whether you are willing to put in the time to look after your ideal choice of top.

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Kitchen Fitting – How it Can Transform Your Home

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Thinking of replacing your kitchen? You should! It can transform your home dramatically. Whether you want to replace the cupboard doors or the entire kitchen on a small or large scale, I’m sure you will be able to find something in your price range, whether your on a small budget or there’s no limit to the funds.

A new kitchen can add a considerable amount of value to your home especially if you have shopped around for the best products and used your common sense to get the best out of the space you have. There are so many designs available on the market you will be spoilt for choice, You can mix an match designs to suit what you like. You want your kitchen to stand out an be noticed so don’t be scared or abstract colours or designs.

Spending a lot of time thinking about the appliances you want to incorporate into the kitchen can have a dramatic effect, You want to consider whether or not they will be integrated, Built in or simply just sat in place under the worktop. Do you want all silver appliances all white a mixture of colours there are lots to choose from, Getting the wrong ones can make your expensive new kitchen look out of place but getting the right ones can make it spectacular.

Don’t be afraid of incorporating some lights into your kitchen maybe sum down lights or some up lighters under the cupboards some small lights in the plinth hanging lights above the table, You can create fantastic shades pattens and designs if you incorporate coloured lights behind glass doors into recesses and around islands.

There’s so much that you could do to create a truly amazing kitchen with all the different products available on the market you could truly hit the jackpot and add allot of value to the home, For any body looking to buy a new home the kitchen is one of the main rooms they want to be done nicely it could be the deciding factor for the sale.

Look over several different designs an models before deciding try mixing different styles together to create a one of a kind kitchen an not just an of the shelf model, Pay sum attention to where you want sockets switches an outlets you wont want cables from appliances running along the worktop in plain sight. Do you have enough room in the centre of the kitchen for an island, Some hidden storage space some accessories to make your kitchen be all it can be.

Last but not least make sure you choose the right people to fit the kitchen ask if you can see some of the work they have done or if thy have references you can check, You wouldn’t want to go through all the trouble of designing the perfect kitchen for somebody to fit it badly.

If you want an experienced kitchen fitter to help you in London, then call Capital Fitters today.

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Stainless Steel Countertop – The Modern Choice

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Besides being a beautiful addition to your kitchen, the stainless steel countertop is stain resistant, heat proof and very hygienic. The stainless countertop is made of sixteen gauge type 304 steel and has an edge that will keep liquids from running onto the floor. A stainless steel kitchen will always maintain its style and is the preferred material for kitchen countertops by professional cooks and any cook that takes the task of cooking with a serous outlook.

Because of its strength, steel has always been considered ideal for food preparation. Kitchen designers today are adding warm wood hues and painted tiles in combination with steel. Stainless steel countertops are made away from their installation site from a template and mounted to plywood. They are then reinforced with soundproof coating. Various lengths of the countertops can be built from just one sheet of metal, without seams. However, the longest sheet of metal is generally available in ten feet lengths. If the countertop needs to be seamed, the seam is made in the center of the sink area. A hairline seam can be sealed with silicone under the joint before the countertop is installed. When the countertop is welded and finished the seam will be invisible.

The reflective quality of the stainless steel countertop adds to its beauty by reflecting both natural and artificial light and drawing together the colors of the kitchen’s décor. Although the stainless steel countertop is strong it is subject to scratches. It is recommended that when cutting or chopping a cutting board is used.

Stainless steel countertop maintenance is easy. All you need is detergent and water to clean it. You do have to avoid spilling some things like ketchup, salad dressing and other vinegary items on the countertop as they will leave a white mark. You can remove this white stain with a very soft scotchbrite pad.

A study was made by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management regarding sanitation using six different countertop materials. The countertops were contaminated with E-coli and then washed with detergent and water. The stainless steel countertop eliminated the largest percent of E-coli cleaned from its surface.

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Save on Kitchen Remodel With Refacement Or Refinishing

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

You just moved into your new house that you picked at a bargain basement price. The reason for the wonderful price is that it needs a some work particularly in the kitchen. Just remodeling the kitchen alone can cost a small fortune let alone the rest of the home. What is a person to do if you only have a small amount of cash and want the biggest bang for you buck?

One of the most expensive pieces of a kitchen remodel are the cabinets. They have to look nice as they are very prominent but a complete tear out for new cabinets is expensive in labor and materials. Fortunately, there are two much less costly options if you are willing to take on a do-it-yourself project. And don’t worry – neither one takes super powers in order to complete them!

The more expensive of the two options is refacing your cabinets. With refacement, you purchase a kit of veneer and new doors. Several manufactures sell the kits so it is likely you will find a finish that appeals to you. The basic process is quite simple – remove all the doors, apply the new plywood finish to the cabinet ends, cover the front of the cabinets around where the doors would be with veneer, and install new doors and hardware. Once this is done your cabinets look brand new with a slightly different style! Plus you will have saved about 80% on the cost of a complete reinstall.

Things to keep in mind: Be sure to clean the cabinets before applying the new veneer. It might not stick very well if it is not cleaned. Also, be precise and sure before making any cuts. The job will only turn out as good as your cutting skills so pays to make sure you are cutting in a stable environment and not just “free handing it”.

The second and even cheaper alternative is refinishing. With this option you retain all of your cabinetry but you simply strip it and repaint or stain them. It can be more work than refacement as you have to address every single surface and repainting is time consuming. However, it is much cheaper than even refacement since your only costs are painting or staining supplies and perhaps new hardware for a slightly different look. If you are really tight on funds but have the time, this is a great way to get a new look.

Now there is no excuse not to improve the look of your kitchen. If you spouse protests over costs, you can educate them on alternatives and you can both be happy!

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Posted in Kitchen Fitters London | 2 Comments »