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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.

They are more similar than they are different, which is the whole point of compact laminate.

What they share: both are easy to maintain, both can have undermount sinks and drainage grooves, both look modern and slim, and both are essentially zero maintenance day-to-day.

The differences: quartz is 20mm thick, compact laminate is 12mm, which gives compact a sleeker, more modern look. Quartz needs a specialist stone fitter to install, which can double the overall cost. Compact laminate can be fitted by any carpenter, which saves you significantly. And the material itself costs a fraction of quartz.

Overall, compact laminate delivers about 90% of the features of quartz at roughly 30% of the total cost.

Yes, absolutely. This used to only be possible with quartz or stone, but compact laminate changed that. Because the entire core is solid and 100% waterproof from top to bottom, we can cut a perfectly clean undermount sink opening and machine drainage grooves directly into the surface.

The exposed edge of the cutout is simply sanded and polished. It looks completely professional.

If your fitter has told you that you need quartz for an undermount sink, compact laminate is the alternative they may not be aware of yet.

Yes. Drainage grooves are part of our customisation service and we do them on a CNC machine, so the result is precise and clean.

Because compact laminate has a completely solid and waterproof core running through the entire thickness, we can machine grooves directly into the surface without any risk to the material. The exposed core inside the grooves is simply sanded and polished.

You can specify the position and layout when you submit your order.

The core is the solid material that runs through the entire thickness of the compact laminate. When the worktop is cut, bevelled, or machined for a sink cutout, that core is visible on the edge.

We match the core colour to the surface pattern: light-coloured patterns like white marble or light concrete come with a white core, so the edge looks clean and consistent. Dark patterns like slate, anthracite, or black sparkle come with a black core, so the edge blends seamlessly.

Performance-wise, both are identical. The difference is purely aesthetic.

You will see this on the sample we send you. Two edges on each sample are specifically bevelled and polished to show you how the finished edge looks.

White core is slightly more expensive because producing a completely white core is harder to achieve in the manufacturing process. But that is the only reason. It is an aesthetic premium, not a performance one.

Yes to both. Compact laminate is actually our recommended product for those environments.

Because the core is 100% solid resin and paper with zero wood content, it cannot absorb water. It will not swell, rot, or delaminate. It can genuinely sit outside in the rain 24 hours a day without any degradation. That is why we offer a lifetime structural warranty. It is the only product in our range we actively recommend for outdoor kitchens.

For bathrooms, it is equally perfect. No moisture concerns, no maintenance, and it looks clean and modern.

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 to heat, staining and scratching in day-to-day use.

Repairability: solid surface wins here. The pattern runs through the entire thickness, which means if it gets scratched or stained, you can sand it back and it looks brand new. Compact laminate, once damaged on the surface, is very difficult to repair.

Thickness: compact laminate is 12mm slim and modern. Solid surface is 20mm, which matches the current thickness of most quartz or stone.

The core: with compact laminate the pattern is only on the surface and the core has a solid white or black colour. With solid surface the pattern runs through the core, which is why it is sandable.

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.

Yes. We do matching upstands and splashbacks for most of our compact laminate range.

Upstands come in 3000mm or 4200mm lengths at 95mm height. They match your worktop pattern and finish, and fix to the wall behind the worktop with adhesive and silicone.

Splashbacks are 6mm thick, half the thickness of the worktop, which makes them lighter and easier to handle when fixing to a wall. The pattern is the same as the worktop, so the match is exact.

Many customers also use the full 12mm worktop material as a splashback, especially if they want the thickness to be consistent throughout. Both approaches work perfectly.

To find upstands and splashbacks on the website: go to any worktop product page, click the green "Select Size" button, and at the top of the panel you will see two tabs: "Worktop Sizes" and "Upstands & Essentials". Click "Upstands & Essentials" to see the matching options for that worktop.

The material is completely identical. Same compact laminate, same performance, same waterproofing, same core. The only difference is the sizing we have cut them to.

Bathroom versions come in narrower widths to fit standard bathroom vanity units, which tend to be shallower than kitchen worktops. Kitchen versions come in standard kitchen widths.

If you need a kitchen-width piece for your bathroom, just order the kitchen size. It works perfectly in any wet environment. And if you need a non-standard size for either application, we can cut to your exact measurements.

Absolutely. Compact laminate is incredibly dense and strong, handles everyday use very well, is zero maintenance, and does not stain. It looks sharp in a home office or dining environment.

You can get it cut to any size and shape you need. Custom length, custom width. If you want rounded corners for safety or aesthetics, we can do that too. And since it is 12mm slim, it does not look bulky on a desk frame or table legs.

Many customers also use our wooden worktops for desks, especially the Full Stave Oak which creates a very premium home office look.

Compact laminate splashbacks need a reasonably flat and smooth surface to adhere to properly. Bare brick is typically too uneven and porous for a clean result.

You have a few options. The cleanest option is to plaster the wall first to create a flat surface. Alternatively, you can fix a sheet of plywood or MDF over the brick as a backing board, then bond the splashback to that.

If your brickwork is relatively flat and smooth, older well-finished brickwork rather than rough exposed brick, then fixing directly to the brick with a strong adhesive and silicone at the edges can work. It is worth checking how flat the surface is before you decide.

Every worktop needs measuring on site to make sure it fits your kitchen correctly. We do not offer templating or measuring ourselves, but you can measure at home or hire a local fitter to do it for you.

If you do not have anyone to help with measuring and you do not want to do it yourself, share your postcode with us and we will check if we have any trusted fitters in your area.