Swapping your old benchtop to a new one is a great way to refresh your existing kitchen space on a budget. Read our guide below to help you consider if your benchtop is suitable to be replaced.
There are a few things that you will need to consider before you start planning for your benchtop swap. As all kitchens are unique, a proper inspection of the space will help determine whether your space is suitable. Read about the common considerations below.
The most suitable type of benchtop for a benchtop swap is an independent laminate or timber top that is screwed from the underside of cabinet support rails into the benchtop. It should not be glued or be a part of the kitchen cabinetry structure. Any benchtop with the substrate screwed from the top cannot be replaced easily. All stone or acrylic benchtops are always glued down. A simple way to see if this applies to you is to look underneath your existing benchtop for a screw head. If you can’t see the screw head then this means your benchtop has been glued to your cabinetry which will make it very difficult to remove.
Stone Benchtops Vs Laminate Benchtops
Replacing your benchtop with the same thickness top will make life a lot easier when it comes time to installing the new benchtop. If the new benchtop is thicker than the old then you would need to notch out the back section of the benchtop which runs along the wall to ensure it fits neatly under the splashback or tiles. The same thickness or smaller top should slide into place easily but you need to make sure the gap isn’t too big so as to not be able to seal it with silicone. benchtops range from 20mm thick laminates to 50mm thick bamboo so there will be a suitable option for most kitchens. Check out our product pages to find a top that’s suitable for you.
Older houses may have moved over time causing your benchtop to warp or become uneven, which could make it difficult to fit the new benchtop. It’s easy to check whether your kitchen has warped by running a spirit level over all of the benchtops.
You will need to consider if you would like to keep your old splashback or whether you will update this as well. If you are wanting to keep your splashback then you will need to evaluate your tiles and how tightly they are laid on top of the benchtop. Thin rows can be at risk of popping out if due care is not taken as can excessive force when trying to remove the top later on.
Kitchen Benchtop Replacement
Once you’ve decided to go ahead, you can move onto selecting colours. Remember to make sure the colour you have selected is the right thickness to replace your existing top.
When it comes time to change over your benchtop, each case will vary so it is important to take it slowly. Here are a few things to remember:
In short, yes, you can replace a kitchen benchtop. The most suitable benchtops for DIY replacement are independent laminate or timber top designs that are screwed in from underneath the cabinet support rails. Keep in mind, any benchtop with the substrate screwed from the top cannot be easily replaced.
How To Renovate Kitchen On A Budget
You can revamp a kitchen bench by simply replacing the benchtop instead of the entire structure. This will ensure that you can breathe new life into your space without undertaking extensive work. The benchtop can visually dominate a kitchen, so if it’s showing its age it can bring down the overall look of the space.
You need to measure to the exact millimetre before ordering a new benchtop, then plan the installation carefully for the best results.
MEASURE YOUR CABINETS carefully, because if they are a different size from the standard 560mm depth, you’ll have to order custom benchtops.
How To Choose The Best Kitchen Benchtop
CHECK THE THICKNESS of the old benchtop. This is particularly important if the splashback rests on the old benchtop and is being left in situ, because if the new benchtop is a different thickness, it will not fit properly.
USE A STRAIGHTEDGE to check the walls are straight and use the 3-4-5 method to check the inside corners are exactly 90º.
Shut off the water supply then disconnect the plumbing. Unclip the sink, prying up the edges to remove it. Inspect the underside of the benchtop and remove all screws securing it. Slice through the silicone along the splashback then lift out the benchtop.
Professional Laminate Benchtop Repair Services
Position the new benchtop and check the back edge fits along the walls. If the walls aren’t straight and there are visible gaps wider than 5mm, apply masking tape to the laminate edge then use a pencil and compass to mark a scribe line onto the tape.
Remove the benchtop and clamp it firmly on a pair of sawhorses. Use a belt sander fitted with an 80 grit belt to carefully sand to the scribe line. Replace the top and check the fit against the walls, making sure the front is parallel with the cabinet faces.
Use the compass or a steel rule to measure the benchtop overhang is at the required distance at the stove and refrigerator openings. If the appliances fit tightly between the cabinets, the capped overhang can be reduced by scribing and sanding the other end.
How To Choose A Kitchen Benchtops?
Apply a continuous bead of clear silicone along the raw edges of the joint then push the pieces together and add the connector bolts. Use a hammer and scrap timber to tap along the joint from above until the surfaces are flush then tighten the bolts fully
Drill pilot holes through the cabinet attachment cleats and secure the top using 30mm x 8g particleboard screws. Hold the top down to keep it from lifting as the screws are secured. TIP If cleats aren’t available, use metal angle brackets and shorter screws.
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Budgeting for a kitchen renovation can be tricky, especially when trying to make room for big ticket items like benchtops. So how much should you budget for a new benchtop? Well that depends on the type of material of course!
Kitchen Benchtop Overlays Are Popular
Typically, the most popular surfaces are stone, granite or marble. These natural materials, however, usually come with a hefty price tag. Marble benchtops have been on trend for years, and luckily its simple look means you may only need to give your cabinetry a paint job to update the kitchen.
With custom kitchens, prices will always differ. Having the benchtop made to fit will affect its price - the kitchen size and height as well as the cut outs will affect the cost of the material while labour might cost you a fraction more if it's difficult to get it through the front door.
In a similar price range to stone, you're looking at $700 right up to $1, 700 per square metre for a new granite benchtop, including installation. Custom cutouts to fit sinks can add another $250 onto the bill.
Kitchen Benchtops Price
Remember the good old days, spent at a beach house, up or down the coast? Chances are you saw a lot of timber in the kitchen.
Only now are we seeing a resurgence of timber benchtops. The natural material coupled with modern finishes has made timber fashionable once again. Unfortunately, it will require a bit more maintenance.
For a typical square slab, including installation and cut outs, the damage is between $550 and $1600 - slightly cheaper than popular stones.
The Ultimate Guide To Kitchen Benchtop Replacement
Anyone familiar with brutalist architecture will know how well concrete can bring a space together. Incredibly minimalist and easily manipulated both in shape and colour, concrete is a relatively safe choice.
Despite the low-cost material, putting together the benchtop is quite labour-intensive. Expect to pay at least four digits for this one - between $1000 and $1800, including installation and any custom fits.
Much like stone and granite, marble has been popular for years. The downside is that maintaining marble is a high-maintenance affair, particularly if you're a heavy-duty cook.
Kitchen Resurfacing For Your Tired Benchtops / Cabinets
Marble is one of the more expensive options where you can pay as little as $800 for a square slab but could be looking at $3000 after installation and custom cutouts.
Consider this stone on a budget. If you don't want to commit to an expensive top or you're on a seriously tight budget, this is definitely for you.
While in some instances, a square metre can be as little as $150, in most cases, including labour, you're looking at around $600.
Can You Really Install A Kitchen In A Week? Here's How Long It Actually Takes
Unlike natural stone, engineered stone alternatives tend to be hard-wearing, chip and stain resistant and, subsequently, require a lot less effort to maintain.
Caesarstone is a
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