If home improvement is your thing and you are looking to upgrade your kitchen on a budget, why not consider looking into replacing your current bench tops? Provided the rest of your kitchen is in decent order; the oven looks okay and the white goods and cabinets are fine, then read on and see what you can do to turbo boost your kitchen's sex appeal!

What Are Bench Tops?

These are also known as work surfaces; they sit on top of your kitchen cabinets and really complete the overall ambience of your favorite room. There is an enormous range of colors, patterns and different material you can choose for these items. Here is a quick guide to the myriad of ranges available and how to choose and fit the right one for you.

Which One Is For You?

Most of us have different tastes and we also have different lifestyles to complement those choices. You need to think hard about the type of material you want for your bench top. If you are part of a busy family, with small children running around everywhere, a good choice would probably be something like stone or laminate as these are very durable and easy to clean. A solid wood bench top will offer a warm and cozy feel to your kitchen, but these can scratch easier than either of the previous mentioned materials. Wood is probably better avoided if you are not into maintaining your 'living' surface, you need to treat the bench top several times a year with special oil.

Putting On The Style

You should choose the style and color/pattern of your bench tops to complement the cabinets and doors they will be sitting on. It may be a tricky task but will be worthwhile in the end. If your budget can handle it; why not replace the cabinet doors at the same time? As well as solid and natural colors, you will have the option to choose and even design your bespoke patterns. Just don't be too flamboyant when choosing the pattern; you will have far too many breakfast times to regret it!

Buying And Fitting

Once you have decided on the material and design that you are happy with; you can pop down to your local home improvement center and speak to the experts. They will ask you to double check your measurements. When you do this, you should ensure that you allow for an inch and a half for the overhang and also some extra for large appliances that the top will butt up to. If you are unsure, do not be afraid to ask for professional help! Remove the old tops only after you have taken delivery of the new set. Ensure all of the edges are nice and level, be careful that you do not damage the cabinet tops. Once the new bench top is in place, check that it is flat by using a spirit level. Then use a recommended adhesive to hold the bench top in place. Also use a sealant for the seams and silicone is the best for this.

Maintaining them

Do not place any heavy objects on the new bench top for at least twenty four hours. All that remains to be said is - enjoy your glamorous new kitchen!