Kitchen Bench Tops

karenestelle on 02/07/2016 - 19:27
Last edited 03/07/2016 - 00:45 by 1 other user

Hi All,

My husband fitted a Kaboodle Kitchen from Bunnings just over ten years ago. We had the benchtops replaced under warranty. We had a hard time getting someone to cut the benchtops so my husband could install them. Unfortunately the person who cut it stuffed up and the benchtops are useless. We were happy enough with Laminex or similar product as we wanted to keep the price down but nobody will measure, cut and install for us We don't want to waste ore money so we've come up with a few products from Bunnings and Masters which they will measure, cut and install for us. The three products we are looking at are Essentialstone and Think Benchtop from Bunnings and Caeserstone from Masters. I am wondering if anyone has had experience they are willing to share with me about any of these products. I am very interested in learning about how easy they are to clean and keep stain free from normal kitchen cooking and whether they have scratched easily. Thank you in anticipation of your answers.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • serpserpserp on 02/07/2016 - 21:05
    -3

    Get Granite top benches. It is what every yank swears by.

  • youbeokay on 02/07/2016 - 23:55

    Typo

  • netbies on 03/07/2016 - 06:36

    Is caeserstone the same one offered by The Good Guys? If yes, then you can possibly go to one of the TGG shops which has the demo kitchen setup to get a feel how the bench top is like.

    Cheers,

  • Geewhizz on 03/07/2016 - 08:14

    Who was it that stuffed up the cutting of your benchtop, someone who can claim it on insurance?

    • karenestelle on 04/07/2016 - 08:51

      It was a guy who operates a small business from his home. My husband says there's no point in contacting him as he can't fix the mistake and he'll just get the job done from start to finish this tume. Laminate would be fine but nobody will do the job.

  • slugsandsnails on 03/07/2016 - 14:11
    +1

    I have Essastone tops which are essentially the same as Caesarstone and they look brilliant and are pretty durable/stain/heat resistant. The downside is that it can chip easily on the edges if you are not careful. There should be heaps of stonemasons who can supply, cut and install stone tops. The composite stone tops are extremely heavy. Took 5 BIG guys to do carry our large piece in and they were really struggling! Highly recommend going with a 40mm edge finish, looks way better than a thinner top.

    I wouldn't bipass a Laminex style top either. Heaps of really nice designs available now and pretty durable vs the cost of stone/stone composite.

  • buzymum20 on 03/07/2016 - 15:11

    I know our timeshare units have caesarstone and some we stay in have damages after only 4 years and I think a heat mark on one we stayed in earlier this year. And most of the people say they don't cook there and dine out. I like the look of caesarstone, but the damages put me off it. I went for a laminate in my own kitchen and it has worn really well after 4 years and I cook a lot. Even saw a laminate which looked just like caesarstone a few months ago at a place we stayed and it was only after I used that I realised it was laminate and not caesarstone.

  • Daniel Plainview on 05/07/2016 - 11:50

    FWIW perhaps consider resurrecting the current benchtops you have with these very well regarded products:
    http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/tra…

    I"ve been considering them for a while, had a good chat with the paint expert at my local Masters and he said he's been getting 'absolutely magic' reviews on them back from people who are elated with the results.

    IIRC the epoxy finish is essentially the same as Caesarstone (which is resin imbedded with particles) - but costs you a lot less and also saves you on labour and the PITA that would go with getting the new benchtops installed.

    Not sure what the issues with the current ones are BUT if you can use this product with them to make them acceptable it might be worth considering. :-)

  • adhin on 06/07/2016 - 01:21

    Bunnings will measure, and supply, cut to measure 38mm laminate benchtops that are easy to diy install.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-services/in-home/kitchen-des…

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-services/in-home/custom-benc…

    All the best.

  • jellykingdom on 13/07/2016 - 11:11

    Not sure where you are, but I found some smaller kitchen shops in the industrial areas were fantastic. You pick what you want, you give them the measurements of the walls and they cut to suit. Then you install. I only did this for a laminate benchtop but I'm sure they would do teh install as well if you asked.

    They have all the professional equipment for cutting, then will cut out the sink etc for you if you need

    http://www.paradise-kitchens.com.au/benchtops
    These were the guys I used for the benchtop, but there are dozens of little groups that do the job really professionally. It was CHEAP AS PISS as well - only like $350 for a 3.6m piece of standard laminate benchtop, then $20 for the proper mason's mitre L-join and the holes for the connector bolts (which you buy from Bunnings).

    …NO i'm not affiliated with these guys, I was just really happy with their workmanship and it was a major bargain

  • karenestelle on 23/07/2016 - 18:18

    Thanks jellyykingdom. Paradise Kitchens will do the job and at a reasonable price. They have been very helpful and professional so I'm confident they'll complete the job to our satisfaction

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