What's usually repairable
- Small chips and edge damage on laminate benchtops.
- Surface scratches that haven't gone through to the substrate.
- Minor burn marks or heat damage on a small area of laminate.
- Timber scratches, small dents and worn oil/sealant finish on solid timber tops.
- A join that's opened up slightly or a connector that's worked loose.
What usually isn't repairable on site
- Deep gouges through to the substrate/particleboard core.
- Water-damaged or swollen particleboard beneath laminate.
- Stone and engineered-stone benchtops — this is outside our laminate/timber repair scope and needs a specialist stone trade.
- Extensive heat or moisture damage across a large area.
Not sure which category yours is? Send photos of the damage, close up and from a normal viewing distance, plus the benchtop product if you know it. We'll tell you honestly whether repair is realistic before you book anything.
How laminate chip and scratch repair works
Small chips are filled and colour-matched as closely as practical to the surrounding laminate; results are good for everyday wear but a colour-matched repair is rarely completely invisible up close. Surface scratches can often be minimised but not always fully removed, depending on depth and finish.
How timber repair works
Solid timber benchtops can generally be lightly sanded back and re-oiled or re-sealed in the damaged area, which also refreshes the surrounding finish. Deeper gouges may need a small patch or filler before refinishing.
When replacement makes more sense
If the damage is extensive, the benchtop is already dated, or repair cost starts approaching replacement cost, a full replacement is often the better long-term option — see our replacement page or kitchen refresh page.