Help Centre

Browse our most frequently asked questions by topic.

Top FAQs

How long will delivery take?

Our standard lead time is 2 to 5 working days from when you place your order. That said, it really depends on your postcode. Some areas we cover every day, others once or twice a week.

If your order includes any customisations such as cutouts or joints, there is a confirmation process where we send you a CAD drawing for approval before we cut anything. That can add a few extra days.

If you share your postcode with us, we can tell you exactly which dates we deliver to your area and confirm when you would receive your worktops.

My worktop arrived damaged. What do I do?

We are genuinely sorry to hear that. Please send a photo of the damage to [email protected] with your order number in the subject line.

Once we see the photo, we will assess whether the damage can be repaired, whether a replacement piece is needed, or whether a partial refund is more appropriate. Either way, you will hear back from us with a clear resolution, not a runaround.

If you have already sent photos and had no response, please get in touch again with your order number and we will escalate this personally.

Can you cut a worktop to my exact size?

Yes, absolutely. We can cut any worktop to your exact measurements and customise it to your needs.

You have three ways to get this done:

Option 1: Use our Custom Worktop Builder at houseofworktops.co.uk/custom-worktop-builder. Choose your worktop, pick your standard size, and customise from there.

Option 2: Contact us through live chat or email and tell us exactly what you need. We just need your name, email, delivery address, which worktop you like, and the dimensions.

Option 3: Email our sales team at [email protected] and they will handle everything from there.

The cut-to-size service is charged per cut. The first cut is £17.95 and every consecutive cut after that is £12.50.

What actually is compact laminate? Is it the same as normal laminate?

They share the same name but they are completely different products.

Old chipboard laminate has a core made of compressed wood particles. Water gets into the edges and joints and it swells. It also cannot have undermount sinks or drainage grooves because the core is not waterproof.

Compact laminate has no wood in the core at all. It is made from layers of kraft paper compressed under extreme heat and pressure with resin. The result is a slab that is 100% solid, 100% waterproof, and stone-like in density. Most customers who come into our showroom think it is quartz. It is 12mm slim but incredibly dense.

Think of it as second-generation laminate. Same word, completely different product. One that competes with quartz, not old kitchen laminate.

In short: solid core, 100% waterproof, 12mm slim look, undermount sinks possible, zero maintenance, 90% of quartz features at 30% of the price.

Are wooden worktops hard to maintain?

This is the most common concern we hear, and the reality is much simpler than people think.

If you oil your worktop correctly in the first five days using a quality oil like Osmo TopOil, the wood becomes virtually maintenance-free for many years. Three to four very thin coats during the first week is genuinely all it takes. After that, you just use it like any other kitchen surface.

Think about Nandos, Costa, Starbucks. All their tabletops are solid wood. They are not running around re-oiling tables every few months. They oiled them correctly at the start and that was it.

If you do not want to oil them yourself at all, we also sell worktops that have already been oiled five times in our warehouse. Those come with a maintenance warranty. You do literally nothing.

The key line: oil it correctly in the first 5 days and you will not have to think about maintenance for years.

What is the difference between solid surface and compact laminate?

They are both quartz alternatives but they solve different problems. Here are the key differences:

Stain, scratch and heat resistance: compact laminate wins here. It is denser and more resistant in day-to-day use.

Repairability: solid surface wins here. The pattern runs through the entire thickness, so if it gets scratched or stained, you can sand it back and it looks brand new. Compact laminate cannot be repaired on the surface.

Thickness: compact laminate is 12mm slim and modern. Solid surface is 20mm, matching standard quartz.

Price: solid surface is approximately two times the cost of compact laminate. Due to limited sizes, material waste can sometimes make it as expensive as genuine quartz.

The choice comes down to your kitchen. Busy family kitchen with lots of cooking? Compact laminate. Want the quartz look with peace of mind on repairs? Solid surface.

Maintenance Guides

Expert tips for cleaning, protecting, and maintaining your worktops

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