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What benchtop for butler kitchen and laundry/vanity?

Hi there, I'm doing a small reno and looking for a benchtop that I can use in a butler's pantry kitchen and also as a laundry bench/vanity combo, which will have a top mounted basin on it, rather than a laundry sink. The spaces are very close together, so I'd like the bench tops to match.

I'm on a tight budget and wondering if any of these products would work, given one surface will be a wet area.

Timber multi use pine panel (I/N 0419622), Practa Acacia Timber Benchtop (I/N 0216266), or Practa Rubberwood Timber benchtop 9I/N 0149588).

1st pic is the butlers pantry (which was originally a linen cupboard). I've used the Bunnings Practa units for the top & bottom so far, but want to have a wooden benchtop.

2nd pic is my current laundry space, and 3rd pic is what I'm trying to create for my laundry/wash basin area.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

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MitchellMc

Hi @Bubbles50,

The panels you’ve listed could definitely work for your benchtop application, especially since you’re going with a top-mounted basin rather than a recessed sink. That reduces the risk of water damage with timber tops. Just be sure to seal the surface thoroughly with a suitable timber sealant or clear polyurethane to protect it from moisture, especially in the laundry area.

In terms of sizing, the Timber Multi-Use Pine Panel is only 405mm deep, which unfortunately isn’t wide enough to fully cover the Practa base cabinets, which are 500mm deep.

Either the Practa Acacia or Practa Rubberwood panels would be a better fit—they’re both 600mm wide, giving you enough depth to cover the units completely. You should trim them down slightly to match the cabinet depth.

You might like to have a read through this helpful step-by-step guide: How to renovate a European-style laundry.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Bubbles50

Hi Mitchell, I ended up purchasing the rubberwood timber worktop. Is the Cabot’s Benchtop Clear a polyurethane? Or is there something better I should use to seal it, seeing it’s going to have a wash basin on top of it? Thanks so much.

EricL

Hello @Bubbles50

I recommend having a look at the Cabot's 1L Satin Clear Benchtop Timber Finish. I used it on my kitchen benchtop and has kept its finish for quite a while now. But if you are looking for a polyurethane finish there is also the Cabot's 4L Matt Water Based Cabothane Clear Polyurethane which can also be used on benchtops and furniture.

Here is a link to our best advice: How do you seal a timber kitchen benchtop

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Bubbles50

Thanks so much Eric. The Cabot’s Benchtop timber finish worked a treat on the Rubberwood benchtop. The Mondella 600mm vanity, black tap and basin, and 7.5 x 30 gloss subway tiles look amazing.

Bubbles50

My next mission is to stick vinyl

floor planks over my tiles. Can you please advise the best adhesive for this. Thanks so much.

JacobZ

Hi @Bubbles50,

The vinyl floor planks you purchase should have an installation guide with recommendations for that specific product; however, a typical installation would involve applying a self-levelling compound over the tiles to remove any deviations in height from the grout lines. The self-levelling compound would then need to be primed with a suitable primer such as Dunlop Primer And Additive, before applying adhesive.

There are options for self-adhesive vinyl planks, such as these Senso Self Adhesive Vinyl Planks, which would remove the need for applying further adhesive. If the vinyl planks you use require adhesive, make sure you confirm compatibility with that specific product, but a vinyl adhesive like this Dunlop Vinyl Adhesive is likely what you'd be looking at.

Let me know what you think and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

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