Joining Worktops

[thomp1983]

Hi all,

I've got some new laminate worktops and wondered what is best to put between the joins, I've sealed all the exposed edges with neat pva.

The corner has a masons mitre joint and there are 2 butt joins aswell, they are all routed out underneath and I've got the fittings for them I just wondered what I should use between the joints, clear silicon or is there something better?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Colorfil

 

[conny]

And don't squeeze them up too tight!

 

[Dereekoo]

And don't squeeze them up too tight!

What's definition of too tight and why not?

 

[thomp1983]

Can't seem to find colorfil to match the worktops we have, there sherwood oak and the company we got them from doesn't list a colorfil for these worktops

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Natural wood always has variation in colour. If you can't find a match pick a colour in a similar hue (e.g. similar redness or blueness,etc), and darker rather than lighter, and it should be fairly unobtrusive - because there should be almost no gap at all which is properly pulled together. Don't select based on names as they are often misleading

 

[conny]

What's definition of too tight and why not?

Because like natural wood they can expand and contract. If you tighten too much the mating surfaces will push upwards and you will feel a ridge develop. I would tighten to where you feel the resistance of the edges butting up and then give it no more than an extra quarter of a turn. If a gap develops after a while you can always nip it up a bit more, but if a ridge develops because you overtighten to begin with you will not be able to press the ridge back down.