Worktop Fabrication ServiceBonded FENIX NTM® Worktop Installation & Maintenance Guides
Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops aren't like any other on the market. Created to stand the test of time, these durable surfaces make the perfect choice for a kitchen worktop as they require no treatment prior to fitting and no specialist equipment for installation. This guide is designed to provide you with all the information you require to install and care for your new Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop, and to help you keep the surface in pristine condition.
Please take the time to thoroughly read this guide before commencing installation as failure to follow it will result in invalidating your warranty.
Bonded fenix ntm® worktops are supplied in shrink-wrapped packaging. Do not discard any of the packaging supplied until you have fully inspected your worktop prior to installation for damages or defects and to ensure you have received the right decor and specification. An installed worktop will be seen as having been inspected and no liability will be accepted for its removal and/or replacement.
Please retain these instructions for future reference.
Whenever cutting, always double check measurements before proceeding.
To ensure the advertised size of the worktop is a completely usable section, Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops may be supplied oversized in length by up to 50mm. Therefore, we recommend measuring the length of the surfaces prior to installation and cutting where required. You must have adequate support for the worktop by supporting every metre on the length, 250mm on the width and maximum unsupported overhang is 250mm.
After delivery, we recommend waiting for approximately 24 hours to allow your Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop to acclimatise. Rooms should be dry, clean and frost-free. Installation should then be carried out as soon as possible after this time. If a longer period of storage is necessary, Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops must be laid flat and fully supported in their original packaging.
Surfaces must never be placed directly onto the floor, instead separate the floor and worktops with battens or pallets and sheets on a flat surface to provide full support. Battens must also be used to separate multiple worktops stored together.
Make sure the storage area is indoors, has a stable humidity, and will not be subject to extremes of temperature.
- The room humidity is stable and should be dry, clean and frost-free.
- All carcases and cabinets are built and fully fitted/complete.
- All building dust and debris has been cleaned and cleared off site.
- All wet trades are finished and a sufficient period of time allowed for natural drying.
- Fresh plasterwork has been allowed to dry for a minimum of 6 weeks or until the plaster is dry throughout.
When fixing Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops to cabinets, position the fixings at even intervals - three screws at the back and front of each cabinet unit are recommended. Use a 4mm gauge drill bit to make clearance holes through the support panels on each cabinet. Place your Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop on top of the cabinets ensuring there is at least 3mm expansion gap between worktop and the wall. Screw a 5mm x 35mm wood screw through each fixing position.
Fixing to Masonry Features
Do not fix Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops directly onto masonry. Use timber spacers measuring 6-10mm thick, with a Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) beneath. This prevents the transmissions of moisture and provides airspace under the top, so that the worktop is not compromised.
Tiles
If you are fitting tiles above your Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop, please ensure you leave a space of at least 3mm between the worktop and the bottom row of tiles. This will allow for easy removal of the worktop if necessary.
Pipe Holes
If holes have been cut through the Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop to accommodate pipes, a 2-3mm allowance for expansion/contraction should be allowed around the pipe. This gap can be easily filled with a silicone sealant.
Dishwashers and Washing Machines
When installing a dishwasher or washing machine, ensure a protective moisture barrier is fitted correctly to the underside of your worktop. These are sometimes supplied by the appliance manufacturer, or alternatively can be purchased from Worktop Express.
Edging
Before applying your edging strip, always ensure your worktop edge is completely flat and free from dust. Edging strips can be applied using good-quality waterproof adhesive directly to the show ends. To protect the surface from any overspill of adhesive, we strongly recommend covering the relevant decorative areas of the worktop surface with masking tape. Apply the adhesive to both the cut work surface and edging strip, allow it to go tacky, then apply the strip to the show ends.
Trim any excess from the edging strips with a laminate trimmer or sharp carpenters plane and use a fine-toothed tile to smooth the edge until flush with the worktop.
Cutting to Size
All cutting tools should be sharp, and safety goggles and a dust mask should be used whenever cutting Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops.
The best results will be achieved by cutting the worktop oversized by 5mm, using a portable circular saw (with the decorative side face down) or with a hand saw (decorative side face up).
Finish the edge using a portable hand router, straight edge and 'G' clamps. Clamp the straight edge to the worktop and ensure the cutter enters from the front edge which will result in a perfectly straight, chip-free cut. Our Worktop Specialists can advise on a comprehensive range of professional-quality worktop jigs, please contact us for more information. All cut edges must be sealed with a water-resistant material, such as silicone.
Cut-outs for Hobs, Sinks, etc...
When making a cut-out for a sink, hob or other inset worktop appliance, use the template supplied as a guide for cutting your Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop.
Any cut-outs should be carefully measured and marked in pencil. Working from the decorative surface, drill through all the corners using at least a 10mm diameter drill bit (sharp internal corners can lead to cracks forming in the Bonded FENIX NTM® worktop). Cut-outs can be made using a portable hand router, as explained above.
Alternatively, a jig saw can be used, providing that the four corners have been pre-drilled using a 10mm drill bit. Mark out the area to be cut on the decorative side of the worktop and drill a hole in each of the four corners of the cut-out. Once this has been done, turn the worktop over and mark a straight line from one hole to another. Use a jig saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut from hole to hole. Ensure the section to be cut out is well supported on the final cut.
Make sure all exposed edges are sealed with a silicone sealant. If you have fitted an overmount sink to the worktop, seal around the sink with an appropriate mould-resistant silicone to prevent water ingress.
When joining two Bonded FENIX NTM® worktops together, we recommend using either a 90° standard joint or a 45° mitre joint depending on worktop layout. This style of mitre joint is also known as a hockey stick joint, as it features a curved cut that resembles the shape of a hockey stick. Bolt apertures should be cut on the underside of the worktop using a jig and should be no deeper than 25mm for 40mm worktop and no deeper than 20mm for 24mm thick worktop. For a 635mm deep worktop three bolts are recommended, and four bolts for 900mm deep worktop.
After the worktops have been cut and mitred to size, apply the appropriate colour matched Topseal to one side of the joint, making sure all raw chipboard has been completely covered. Close the joint quickly allowing the two sides to align and fully tighten the joining bolts, making sure there is adhesive squeezing out along the entire length of the joint, including the front profile. This is an important step as the Topseal must also seal the two surfaces together. Remove any surplus sealant using a plastic spatula or similar - do not use anything metal as this will scratch the surface. Once this has been done, wipe off with a damp cloth. Care should be taken to ensure not to over wipe the joint and remove any of the Topseal from the joint. The worktops should then be left for 48 hours to allow the Topseal to achieve its full 100% bonding strength.
Your FENIX NTM® worktops are designed to withstand regular household use provided that they are maintained and cleaned appropriately. In order to clean your FENIX NTM worktops safely and successfully, please follow these steps:
1. Leaving staining compounds in contact with your FENIX NTM worktops is likely to make any problem worse. Always resolve any spillages quickly by rinsing with warm water and drying with a clean microfibre cloth.
2. If staining does occur, always clean a stain as soon as you notice it. Most simple stains can be cleaned using a damp microfibre cloth and a household degreaser. Once you have removed a stain, always rinse thoroughly using water and a microfibre cloth. You can find more guidance on removing specific stains from your worktop at: https://www.fenixforinteriors.com/en-GB/cleaning/removing-stains/
3. The unique microstructure of FENIX NTM worktops contributes to their unrivalled matt finish. It is therefore important to avoid damaging this microstructure during cleaning by scrubbing, or you risk creating a glossy spot in future. Never use an abrasive cream, scouring pad or hard brush to clean your worktops.
For full guidance on cleaning or maintaining your FENIX NTM worktops, including the thermal healing of superficial micro-scratches, please refer to: https://www.fenixforinteriors.com/en-GB/cleaning/removing-stains
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