Cheap source of Formica

Graham_Wright

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 Dec 2002
Messages
8,184
Location
Gloucestershire
www.mastaclimba.com
For the heads and galley, I have chosen Formica. Local source quoted £127 + VAT for a 10' X 4" sheet and at least a three week delay for most patterns.

Yesterday, by prior arrangement, we called at Snow's Gallery in Tamworth and were surprised and pleased at the difference. Run by Barrie and Julie, they have a huge stock of 10 and 12 foot sheets all at around £50.

Despite Barrie being hospitalised with a serious condition, Julie dealt with us very professionally and was very friendly.

Very highly recommended.


They sell directly or via ebay.

No connections etc.
 
In Australia The Formica Group would charges outrageous prices as they are obviously not interested in selling to the likes of us. The largest hardware chain in Australia (Bunnings) sells for around 1/3 the price and you can buy half sheets. Bunnings does not stock a big variety of colours but it doesn't worry me as I only want white.
 
We got away with a sheet for £5 because it was in a colour nobody else wanted and had been lying around shop for a few years. It is a bit of a garish yellow but it actually suits the boat very well and tones down next to the varnished wood.
 
A few years back we were looking for a white Formica offcut to line the inside of the hatch. The local woodyard/builders merchant had a pallet of it with all the edges a bit mangled so sold us an 8x4 sheet as an offcut for £10 ! Horrible stuff to work though, the edges are like knife blades.

Rob.
 
When I was doing my refit in Greece I bought genuine Formica for €50 per sheet from a dealer in Athens. They really know how to extract the pi$$ here in the UK.

They don't call it "rip-off Britain" for nothing... it's a good job we are a member of Europe allowing us to get all those great bulk/international trade deals... I hate to think how much we'd have to pay if we were'nt...
 
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