KITCHENS & BATHROOMS
NOT SET IN STONE A
rise in material costs and a drop in disposable household income, is leaving many homeowners looking to explore the most cost-effective ways
to freshen up their property.
With the continuing economic effects of the pandemic and ever-increasing energy costs, many homeowners will be struggling to put money aside for major renovations that keep up with evolving trends. However, value options shouldn’t mean compromising on design or durability, and merchants should prioritise informing installers of solutions that instead offer comparable alternatives to some of the more established, and often more costly, materials. With home refurbishment costs reported to have rocketed by 40% over the last two years due to issues such as supply chain disruption and rising costs of production, a kitchen refurbishment could now roughly cost £1,500 more than it did it 2020. The impact of this is likely to be homeowners considering quick kitchen updates rather than major overhauls, with a move as simple as changing up kitchen work surfaces capable of adding a new feel to the room. This is where compact laminate has proven itself to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional stone and marble work surfaces. In response to the changing climate, merchants who are well-versed in the benefits of such value alternatives stand to benefit the most.
Comparable Aesthetic That’s according to Elliott Fairlie, Product Manager at Bushboard who says: “Through the process of compressing layers of decorative paper and resin to form a non-porous core, which is then sealed for a watertight finish, compact laminate can offer the look and feel of stone. Thanks to continuous research and development stages throughout its creation, it had been ensured to offer hard wearing durability comparable to its traditional counterpart.”
Fairlie says that compact laminate work surfaces, such as Bushboard’s Zenith range, are amongst the most cost-effective, economical options for kitchen worktops, which don’t stunt creative freedom as they offer a range of designs and finished extendable beyond the stone
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alternative. “Due to its waterproof core and non- porous surface, compact laminate of this ilk can be ideal for use for projects including inset drain grooves and under-mounted sinks. Matching breakfast bars, upstands and splashbacks are also relatively straightforward for an installer to create in order to bring unity in design throughout the room,” he says.
Ease of Installation
Compact laminate offers not only a solid, long-standing surface but also one which is relatively easy to install, which is an important message that Fairlie says merchants need to be highlighting to installers. “While many stone or marble worktops require specialist tools to cut and fit, compact laminate requires no such specialism, with tools most kitchen fitters consider to be everyday items capable of doing the job. However, a piece of technical advice to pass along: care should be taken when cutting and it is strongly recommended to refer to the in-depth installation instructions and video readily available online,” he says. Link-sell opportunities can come when merchants advise their customers to use a 2-part epoxy resin adhesive when bonding worktop segments together. “In the case of Bushboard, a patented colour-matched adhesive called Complete is available, the use of which is required to activate the Zenith 10-year repair and/or replacement guarantee,” Fairlie says. Adopted from marine and aerospace industries, this liquid polyurethane-based formula offers gap filling properties and strong adhesion to
Household incomes are being squeezed beyond belief, and merchants are looking to offer their kitchen customers alternatives which deliver cost-effective kitchen designs as BMJ finds out.
create a watertight seal. Joints can be formed as either a mason mitre or butt joint, while edges can be easily shaped using a router and template to the achieve a desired radius. This can then be followed by using grit sandpaper to smooth down impurities. No oiling or polishing is required to complete the installation process. Fairlie adds that many homeowners are currently looking to get the most value out of their home improvement purchases and compact laminate can prove an invaluable option when it comes to freshening up a kitchen space without the hassle or high price tag that a full kitchen overhaul could bring. “Merchants who are able to focus their efforts on supplying installers with relevant knowledge on how to use such cost- effective alternatives stand to mitigate some of the potential downturn caused by the cost of living crisis,” he says. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net October 2022
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