Kitchen Worktop Cutting
This tutorial is for cutting laminate kitchen worktops as they are the most widely used. technique may vary this is not how everyone does this particular job, If you’re not comfortable with using power tools please do not attempt to do this job yourself as it could be dangerous and expensive, it would be wise to hire a local tradesman as you do require a certain level of skill using power tools. Worktop templates are now widely available for various worktop widths and are supplied with detailed instructions.

Always use Protective wear when working with heavy materials and using tools and power tools

Cutting Laminate Kitchen Worktops to length with a circular saw
Laying the worktop upside down on a suitable bench supported through the hole length is required, Measure and mark out the length required, for best results clamp down a suitable straight edge to guide the circular saw along the line, remember you always need to be leading the blade into the

profiled edge of the worktop and running out the back edge of the worktop, this is so the laminate does not rip out or chip as the blade is always cutting up and in to the laminate and not out of, this will give a nice finish to the cut.

Cutting a Laminate Worktops with a regular fine tooth hand saw, laminate saw
Lay the worktop on the bench the right way up, face up and mark to length for darker colour worktops masking tape along the cut line and then marking with a pencil, this is so the line can be seen clearly, after hand cutting if the cut is not satisfactory it can always be sanded with a medium

grade sandpaper and block to give a better finish or even better than that a straight cutting router to trim the edge and as mentioned before allowing the blade to cut leading in to the post-formed edge as not allowing the blade to rip out, depending which end you are cutting will decide wether the worktop needs to be upside down or the right way up.

Cutting out appliances in to a worktop with a jigsaw (I tend to do this once the worktops are fitted for accuracy and speed) but its your preference
Appliances sometimes come with a template, sometimes come with the measurements and sometimes not, if not then when i fit the sink i always lay the sink in situ and draw around the sink with a pencil then measure 10mm -12mm inside that line (depending on the margin ) and draw in the line im going to cut out then drill 4 holes inside the inside line and cut out with the down cutting jigsaw blade, always remember its the inside line that needs to be cut, if the wrong line is cutout the sink will fall through the hole, then seal the exposed cut edges with pva or varnish. you may wish to protect the worktop with masking tape when laying the sink on for measuring, this will also give a clear line to see when marking.

Edging the ends of a worktop
2 options here, for a quick finish use a metal or plastic colour matching end this also protects the exposed edge from getting chipped from passing traffic or swinging doors so not a bad option, but for the professional finish edge with the laminate edging strip, this just requires a little practice and

finesse, I cut the worktop edging over size and holding it in place with the excess at the top and draw round the post formed edge with a sharp pencil, I then snip or cut close to the line, Using contact adhesive stick the edging on in the same place I was holding it, once adhered I get my metal file and

run it along the top not filing but using the file to cut into the edging pushing it in toward as to peal the excess trying not to scratch the surface of the worktop by slightly pointing the leading front edge of the file upward a few degree, then carefully filing (push action only)around the post formed edge

and taking out any sharp or petruding edges with the file, this takes plenty of practice not to mark the laminate face, it would be wise to practice on an off-cut before attempting for real,  other methods work just as well just takes a little longer.

For further tips on kitchen Worktops visit http://www.kitchenworktopsonline.co.uk