You might be considering replacing your laminate worktops if they’re looking a little worse for wear, but you mightn’t want to splash out on a new worktop right now. Well, there is a much more affordable option – repairing the chips or cracks yourself.
Laminate worktops are a low-cost option for your kitchen or other worktop surfaces that are chosen for their variety of design and their low-maintenance nature. Despite being a relatively hard-wearing choice, over time wear and tear does tend to occur and you may develop chips in your worktops.
So whether you’ve had a mishap and taken a chunk out of your laminate surface, or you’ve simply started to notice a few scratches and chips appear over time, you’ll be glad to know that you can repair your laminate worktops easily yourself without the need of hiring a professional.
This guide takes you through what materials you need and the steps you need to take to repair your laminate worktop yourself.
Laminate worktop repair – How to repair your work surfaces yourself
What materials do you need?
- Unlike solid wood worktops, your laminate surface cannot be sanded back. Repairs are made by filling the cracks or chips in with a paste. You can find laminate worktop repair paste online or in hardware stores.
TIP: We recommend finding your laminate worktop repair paste in person as you’ll be able to choose a more accurate colour match for your laminate surface. Brands like ColorFill offer a wide range of colours and effects for you to choose from. Just make sure that you choose an effect that is appropriate for your surface. For example, some will be high-gloss or have a particular texture. Even if your chips or scratches are small, the affected areas may become even more noticeable if you use a paste that isn’t the right fit for the job.
- A steel spatula is a useful took for applying the paste. If you don’t have one of these, any kind of spatula should do the trick.
Step 1:
The affected area will need to be clean for the paste to adhere properly. Make sure there is no grease or dust on the surface, including right inside the crack or chip.
Step 2:
Use your spatula to carefully apply the laminate worktop repair paste into the chips or cracks. Take some time to really pack the paste in, little by little.
Step 3:
You need to make sure the paste is flush with the laminate worktop. So, use your spatula to press the product in and smooth it out so that it is level with the laminate surface surrounding it.
Step 4:
Take a clean damp cloth and remove any excess product from the surrounding area. Make sure to clean your application tool properly too.
TIP: It will take around 24 hours for the laminate worktop repair paste to dry fully, or even longer if you’ve used a considerable amount of the product. So, make sure you don’t touch the effected area until it’s completely set.
Laminate worktop repair – Should you consider professional repairs?
If your laminate worktops have been badly damaged, either with burns or large areas affected by wear and tear, you might want to consider getting a professional to do the repairs. This will still be a much more affordable option compared to replacing the entire surface. Werestoresurfaces.co.uk offer a laminate surface restoration service that will get your laminate kitchen worktop looking brand new again, without having to fork out a fortune.