Personal worktop with solid aluminum edge water damage

Dear Ikea friends,

I had the above worktop custom made and happily installed it in my 2005 kitchen two weeks ago. So far everything is fine and it looks very good. But yesterday I noticed that water had penetrated between the aluminum and the worktop at the front edge - where the expensive aluminum strip is mounted - and the worktop is swelling. Unfortunately, I had to notice this in several places; if you run your finger over it, it is really uneven and visible in the light.

Okay, so in shock I went to Ikea and they assured me an uncomplicated replacement – they said it was a quality problem with the custom making. Now I’m not sure if I should risk it again with the solid aluminum edge or go for the cheaper glued plastic imitation. I don’t want to have the problem again in a few weeks...

Has anyone had a solid aluminum edge in use for a longer time?

Maybe they forgot glue on mine – they surely don’t just press it on with tongue and groove, do they?

Thanks in advance, best regards Roman

Hi,

is the complaint already in progress? Because it might be that you get the same countertop again.

Basically, I am not a fan of these applied edges, whether plastic or aluminum makes absolutely no difference. It is always connected to the countertop at a cut, no matter how much glue is on it, it will eventually swell if a lot of water gets on it. If you have the option to choose, take the standard rounded edge. It is not cut off at the front but wrapped around to the underside. This way no water can penetrate and you won’t have another complaint soon.

Best regards

Nayla

It is only a manufacturing defect, not nice but a processing error, so you should have no problem getting a new board.

In principle, the aluminum edge is harmless, friends have had one like that since 2006.

You also make sink and cooktop cutouts in the board, if they are not sealed the same thing happens, so don’t stress.