What is the difference between a laminate WORKTOP and laminate BREAKFAST BAR?

This article was first published 22nd October 2008

On a laminate worktop, the laminate will wrap around, and slightly underneath, the long, front edge of the chipboard base. The back of the worktop will be flat and square and will usually be factory sealed against moisture by covering the bare chipboard with a length of waterproof tape.

Breakfast bars have the laminate wrapped around BOTH long edges for the chipboard base. This means that if the end of the breakfast bar END is fixed to a wall, both long edges can be used comfortably as a breakfast bar.

The term breakfast bar can also be used in another context; some people prefer to have breakfast whilst sitting on stools at a long, narrow worktop which has been reduced (cut) down in depth from 600mm to, say, 350mm deep. The flat, back edge of this is fixed to the wall (supported by a timber batten) and the postformed laminate front edge is retained for comfort. 

Frequently, chrome polished breakfast bar legs (available in various heights) are used to support the front edge of these breakfast bars.