One of the hardest wearing and most durable surfaces in our homes is the kitchen worktop.

It has to be as well, because not only does it suffer a lot of wear and strain as people use it daily, but also needs to handle a lot of different sources of strain.

From errant knife cuts to searing hot pans and plates, even the strongest surface can require worktop repairs to handle little accidents or mistakes.

Here are some of the most common causes of damage to a kitchen worktop, and the easiest way to fix it.

Support Cracks

Kitchen worktops often hold up a range of different fixtures, containers, and appliances. For all except the weakest counterfeit countertops, these relatively light residents of the countertop are not much of an issue.

However, if you have more heavy-duty equipment on a worktop that is not appropriately reinforced, cracks can start to develop near the appliance, especially if it exerts a lot of heat that is unventilated.

Smaller cracks can be repaired using an adhesive advised by the manufacturer, and deeper cracks can be fixed by removing the broken part of the worktop and applying a special filler that blends with the rest of the surface.

The latter repair can be quite complicated so it may be worth asking a professional to help you.

Water Damage

There are a lot of water sources in a kitchen, from the washing machine and dishwasher to the sink to the boiler, and enough water can damage a countertop surface, especially if it is a laminate or wood counter rather than a stone one.

The best way to fix water damage is to prevent it in the first place. Ensure a vapour barrier has been fitted during the installation of your kitchen, and if you notice a leak or water damage emerging, inspect your drainage pipes for drips and stop it at its source with a caulking seal.

Hot Dishes

We have all made the mistake of dropping a hot pan onto the worktop, and in some cases, this can leave a discolouration or even a mark.

Clean the area thoroughly to get rid of the dirt and debris, and use either toothpaste (for laminate), sparkling water (for stainless steel), or a mix of bicarbonate of soda and water (for porcelain).