Swollen Worktop by the Sink in Luton

A laminate worktop swells when water gets past the laminate into the chipboard core. It usually starts at a cut edge: around the sink, at a joint between two lengths, or above the dishwasher where steam rises every time the door opens. Once the chipboard has swollen it does not shrink back, so the repair is to replace the damaged section and seal the new edges properly.

In Luton the problem turns up most in kitchens of ten years or more, in the terraces of High Town and Bury Park and the semis of Stopsley, Round Green and Leagrave. Sink cut-outs that were never sealed underneath, joints with tired sealant, and dishwashers fitted without a steam guard are the usual causes.

A small swelling at a joint can sometimes be trimmed and resealed if it is caught early. A swollen area round the sink normally means a new length of worktop, which is often a good moment to choose a tougher surface such as a solid laminate, wood or quartz.

To slow it down in the meantime, keep the area dry, reseal the sink edge, and make sure the dishwasher has a steam protection strip fitted under the worktop. Send us a photo of the swelling and the joint and we can tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement.