Biscotti Hanex

A return end could be considered to be the shaping detail of your worktop, either as a design choice, or to make your worktop fit your kitchen.

Return ends typically incur an additional cost, depending on complexity, and may affect the cost of your edge detailing depending on how this affects the front facing edge of your worktop.

Types of Return End:
Part/Full Return: A square finish
Single Radius: One rounded corner
Double Radius: Two rounded corners/ U shape
Double Notch: Square cutout at one corner
Triple Notch: Square cutout on one edge
External Splay: Split an external corner with a diagonal cut.
Internal Splay: Split an internal corner with one diagonal and one transverse cut.
Breakfront: Square cutout at two corners.
Curved: A straight edge with a curved extrusion.

Internal profile edges on all edge details other than Bevel must have a radius of at least 60mm to be machined effectively.

Solid surface worktops work exceptionally well with upstands, compared with other materials. The smooth, homogeneous designs of many solid surface styles means that sections can be joined inconspicuously.

Upstands are typically used as a back-edge of the worktop, and for solid surface are joined into the worktop itself. These come in three variants.

Square: A straight join between the worktop and a raised section.

10mm Coved: A short upwards coving of the worktop design, perfect for preventing small spills from dripping down the back of your worksurface.

50mm Coved: A taller coving which has a concave edge at the front, joining the flat worksurface to a vertical section at the back. Perfect for preventing any kinds of waste or spillages from permeating the back of the worktop.

Because solid surface sinks are made from easily workable material, they are perfect for creating smooth, clean designs, particularly around sinks.

We supply undermounted solid surface bowls, which can be either left or right handed, or completely symmetrical. The colour matching options of these bowls can vary depending on your budget and chosen style. White bowls can often seamlessly integrate with most designs; or Mixa sinks as an alternative can be used to seamlessly continue your design before terminating in a stainless steel bottom. For details of compatibility, please contact our sales team.

We also supply a range of stainless steel bowls which can be mounted either above or below your chosen worktop, though the real power of Solid Surface design comes from undermounted sinks.

Drainer Grooves

Drainer grooves can be cut directly into your worktop to act as a stylish and consistent utility area, and blend seamlessly particularly with undermounted sinks. We have six styles as described below.

• Type A - Six straight channels with a 1-5mm gradient
• Type B - Four straight channels flanked by two inwards facing channels with a 1-5mm gradient. This style is more suitable for smaller bowls.
• Type C - Five angled channels pointing inwards, with a 1-5mm gradient. The centre channel branches out into three channels for maximum coverage.
• Type D - A U-Bend of channels at 3mm depth, consisting of three pairs of rounded concentric channels.
• Type E - A U-Bend of channels at 3mm depth, consisting of three pairs of angled concentric channels.
• Type F - A flat recessed draining area, which is sunk entirely into the surface by 3mm depth.

Cutouts are necessary in worktops to allow space for sinks and hobs, and are often fabricated to specification.

Hob cutouts are usually lined with heat-protective film, to prevent thermal shock and eventual cracking of the surface with use. Sink cutouts can vary depending on whether the cutout is undermount, overmount, or a belfast sink cutout with an open front.

Joints

Joints are inconspicuous and unobtrusive providing a seamless worksurface. Due to the level of pigment in the material, joints can be blended to insignificance.

Thermal expansion

Due to thermal expansion solid surface worktops can expand up to 1mm per metre. A gap of at least 3mm should be left at each end of the worktop when fitted and filled with decorators caulk. When solid surface worktops are joined to other materials (such as glass, steel or wood), an elastic type of adhesive, for example polyurethane is required for expansion.

Overhangs and supports

Any overhang extending more than 300mm should be supported.

Hob and Sink Cutouts

Minimum gaps are specified by the material manufacturer when considering cutouts, to ensure that the product is capable of bearing the required load without voiding warranty. Such cases may necessitate breakfront edge details in front of hob cutouts, to ensure that the appropriate supporting material is used.

A minimum of 50mm is required between two sink cutouts. Sink cutouts must be placed a minimum of 50mm from the worktop front edge. This is required under terms of the product warranty.

If a waste disposal unit is fitted to an undermounted sink after installation, additional support will be required, otherwise your warranty may be invalidated.

Internal Radius

The minimum internal radius is 80mm. Thermoforming to achieve a smaller radius can result in “bleaching” of the colour. To achieve a radius smaller than 80mm, your chosen material may have to be laminated and may have visible differences, particularly for designs with large particles.

Scratches

Solid surfaces is scratch resistant but not scratch proof; the use of chopping boards and/or pastrymates is recommended. Dark, heavily pigmented colours will show scratches, dust and ordinary wear and tear more readily than lighter, textured forms.

Staining

Solid surface worktops are inherently non-porous, this means that when properly polished, most particulate matter will be unable to permeate beyond the top layer of the surface to leave residue which cannot be reached by conventional cleaning methods.

It is recommended that in the first instance, that spills be wiped up immediately with a cloth. Using scourers can mean creating micro-abrasions in the surface which can later trap dirt and make cleaning more difficult in future.

Repairable

Solid surfaces can easily be repaired. Using an ordinary abrasive cleaner and scouring pads of specific grits the surface may be fully restored to its original appearance.

Hygienic

Solid surfaces are non-porous materials. This means that particulate matter is unable to permeate the top layer of the material, which means that bacteria has nowhere to grow. Solid surfaces are naturally resistant to mould and mildew.