Fill and blend a chip in a laminate worktop so it's smooth, sealed and barely visible in one afternoon.
WC-01Clean the area and gather materialsWipe the worktop with a damp cloth and dry it fully so no grease or crumbs are trapped in the repair. Lay out your filler, sandpaper and cloths within reach before you start. Good light helps a lot here — angle a lamp across the chip so you can see the true colour and depth.
WC-02Mask off the surrounding surfaceRun masking tape close around the chip, leaving only the damaged patch exposed. This stops filler smearing onto the good laminate and makes clean-up much easier. Press the tape down firmly so no filler creeps underneath.
WC-03Lightly key the damaged areaRub the chip and its edges gently with fine sandpaper to remove any loose splinters of laminate and to give the filler something to grip. Don't sand the surrounding surface — you only want to key the chip itself. Wipe away the dust with a dry cloth.
WC-04Warm and colour-match the fillerLaminate repair kits usually come as wax sticks in several shades. Blend two or three shades together in your hand or on a saucer until the colour matches your worktop as closely as possible — laminate is rarely one flat colour, so mixing gets you closer than any single stick. Warm the wax slightly between your fingers to soften it before use.
WC-05Press the filler into the chipPush the softened wax firmly into the damaged area with a plastic scraper or an old credit card, slightly overfilling it. Work it right into the corners of the chip so there are no trapped air pockets. Let it sit proud of the surface — you'll level it in the next step.
WC-06Level off the excessOnce the filler has firmed up slightly, drag the scraper flat across the surface to shave off the excess, working level with the worktop rather than digging into the repair. Leave it to cure fully — check the kit's instructions, but most wax fillers are workable within 10 to 15 minutes.
WC-07Sand the repair flush once curedRemove the masking tape. Sand the filled area very gently with fine sandpaper, working in small circles and checking often, until it sits flush with the worktop and you can't feel a lip with your fingertip. Stop as soon as it's flat — laminate finish sands through quickly if you overdo it.
WC-08Clean up and protect the repairWipe the whole area with a cloth dampened with methylated spirit to remove dust and any wax smears from the surrounding laminate. For a repair near the sink or hob, a light coat of clear worktop lacquer over the top will help seal it against water and heat. Leave it to dry fully before using the worktop as normal.