Blown Worktop or Just Too Tight?

[budest]

Hi all,

I have feeling that the lifting at this mitre joint on a laminate worktop is due to excessive strain from the bolts below as opposed to be blown from water exposure. But that is only my opinion and I'd like the thoughts of you experts. If I am right in that the bolts are too tight, would loosening them reduce the tension and ease the problem or are we talking about a replacement, either way, to resolve the issue?

PS: It is really hard to show the issue on camera.

 

[robinbanks]

Either that or water is getting into the crack??

 

[chirpychippy]

You can't create this problem by doing the bolts up to tight, if both surfaces to be joined have been routered. You can however accidently lift the laminate surface after bolting and during tapping the worktops to get them to sit flat together.

Your join looks the surfaces aren't flush together. This could also be water ingress, aka a blown joint. In either case it can't be fixed and it's more than likely you will have to replace all of the worktops.

Worktop joints are water resistant not water proof. It can be difficult if not impossible to separate a wotktop joint without damaging both of the worktops.

 

[budest]

You can't create this problem by doing the bolts up to tight, if both surfaces to be joined have been routered. You can however accidently lift the laminate surface after bolting and during tapping the worktops to get them to sit flat together.

Your join looks the surfaces aren't flush together. This could also be water ingress, aka a blown joint. In either case it can't be fixed and it's more than likely you will have to replace all of the worktops.

Worktop joints are water resistant not water proof. It can be difficult if not impossible to separate a wotktop joint without damaging both of the worktops.

Thanks for the info.

it never was a perfectly flush joint tbh, there was always a slight lip and with wiping the surface etc maybe that’s allowed water to penetrate the joint and blow it? Because it was never flush I just assumed the joint was too tight. But what you say makes sense.

The worktops were only done 8 months ago and I note that B&Q are no longer stocking it so for now I will make do unless it gets worse. I assume that by keeping it dry I can delay the inevitable for a while?

 

[chirpychippy]

Thanks for the info.

it never was a perfectly flush joint tbh, there was always a slight lip and with wiping the surface etc maybe that’s allowed water to penetrate the joint and blow it? Because it was never flush I just assumed the joint was too tight. But what you say makes sense.

The worktops were only done 8 months ago and I note that B&Q are no longer stocking it so for now I will make do unless it gets worse. I assume that by keeping it dry I can delay the inevitable for a while?

It might be worth a conversation with the installer. I have to guarantee my workmanship for 12 months.

My joints don't have lips they are always flat and flush, I spend alot of time getting them this way, 15 years, I've never had a call back for a blown joint.

Don't put your kettle near work top joints, move your tea making station away from the joint.

 

[budest]

It might be worth a conversation with the installer. I have to guarantee my workmanship for 12 months.

My joints don't have lips they are always flat and flush, I spend alot of time getting them this way, 15 years, I've never had a call back for a blown joint.

Don't put your kettle near work top joints, move your tea making station away from the joint.

You have me thinking about causation when you mentioned a kettle. I placed a PerfectDraft beer dispenser/cooler over that joint during Christmas and I wondering if the heat from it caused the issue? Just guesswork at this point and not really relevant as the damage is done.

 

[Stuart981]

Were these joints assembled with biscuits? If not then they have probably just moved - nothing to do with bolt tension or water ingress.

 

[budest]

Were these joints assembled with biscuits? If not then they have probably just moved - nothing to do with bolt tension or water ingress.

I *think so* because I recall him mentioning them, but I don't know for sure.

 

[big-all]

the first picture looks like a ski ramp type damage to me suggesting swelling and water ingress
if the damage is only area specific along the joint does the area coincide with the area the machine s you have where placed ??

 

[chirpychippy]

Were these joints assembled with biscuits? If not then they have probably just moved - nothing to do with bolt tension or water ingress.

A passing comment....I've have never used biscuits on laminate worktops. Once the joint is level and the bolts are tight, fixing the worktop through the carcass stops movement in the joint as does using BB Complete Sealant & Adhesive.