I have a customer who wants to use this type of work surface from howdens. It’s 38 mm square edge. I’m not familiar with the product so I’m looking for anyone who’s fitted or used this stuff as I’m worried that it will wick moisture on the underside edge and swell.
What I’m saying is, it doesn’t look like its made in a way that will prevent this and I’d rather not fit it if I’m gonna get called back in a year because it’s swollen and delaminating near the sink.

Seal the underside with PVA glue?

PVA glue is water soluble.

Not once it dries….

I’ve fitted a few of these worktops this year and haven’t had any problems so far.

I’ve also fitted quite few and no issues. I guess it’s down to how the customers look after it mainly. Is it the one with the encapsulated ends? If so they can be a bit of a PITA to fit/trim but nothing to difficult to deal with.

No different than any other formica worktop….

singlecrack – Member
No different than any other formica worktop….

Can you clarify your comment please because standard work tops have a rolled edge which wraps underneath the surface and square edge finishes flush with the bottom edge. At least howdens do. That’s not the same as far as I can see. And that is the point on the work top I’m concerned with. Drips that aren’t wiped away could potentially wick into the chipboard between it and the Formica face.? Drips on a standard rolled edge will sit there until dry if not wiped away.

Our kitchen has this very worktop.

It’s been in just over 1 year, the bottom is slightly rougher round the sink which I assume is due to water ingress – it’s not super noticeable straight away, but it is there. We (me and Father in Law) fitted it, so I’m not going to go running back to the builder, and I don’t think that if I was generally aware of that sort of thing then I wouldn’t have seen it – my wife hasn’t noticed it yet, and she’s really fussy.

Can’t you just varnish the underside first ?

The back edges & sink inset on mine must have 5 or 6 thick coats of it.
It’s not square edged though.

Takisawa2 it’s common/good practice to seal the edges of cuts for inset sinks and hobs. Most fitters use silicone to do this because it helps to prevent spills from soaking into core material. I’ve not seen varnish used but I suppose it’ll do a similar job!

Warn the customer then let them decide.

They chip a lot more easily, I’ve replaced 2 sets because of chips on the edges. Not sure what brand they were as i didn’t fit the originals

Ive got one had for nearly a year no swelling yet, hob sink etc was sealed with silicone stuff, seems fine

All the ones I’ve fitted have either had the formica roll back around for 20mm or so …the ones that didn’t had the usual water resistant coating on the bottom . wouldnt have thought they would sell something they would have lots of comebacks on …