Steam-Damaged Laminate Worktop Repaired in Knutsford

The damage

Olivia has a grey stone-effect laminate worktop in Knutsford, sitting over the dishwasher. Each time the dishwasher was opened, hot steam hit the underside of the front edge. Over time the edge strip lifted and the chipboard behind it swelled and blew along about 60 cm, the full width of the dishwasher. There was an old steam seal under there, but it had stopped doing its job.

How I repaired it

I removed the old steam seal and repaired the swollen, steam-damaged edge. Then I primed it and sealed it with lacquer, which gives the chipboard a second barrier against moisture. Finally, I fitted a new foil steam barrier over the front edge and underside of the worktop above the dishwasher, so the steam is kept off the chipboard from now on.

The result

The edge is solid and flat again, and the underside is now protected twice: the lacquer seal, plus the new foil barrier that takes the steam instead of the worktop.

If the worktop above your dishwasher is lifting or swelling, it can usually be repaired in place without replacing the top, and I fit a steam barrier as part of the repair so it doesn't come back. I cover Knutsford and the rest of Cheshire. See more about water-damaged worktop repair.

See more about Laminate worktop repair. I also cover worktop repair in Cheshire.