There are some common issues that community centre and church kitchens encounter, and you might have come across one or more of these:

• peeling and wear and tear of vinyl-wrapped doors to the edges
• water ingress around sinks to laminate worktops
• space limitations through poor design
• accessibility issues due to lack of understanding of disabled access requirements
• safety concerns as in appropriate health and safety guidance

Here is your quickfire guide to troubleshooting those common community kitchen issues.

Preventing surface peeling and wear and tear in your kitchen

Community and church kitchens are often prone to edge damange/peeling, because many use materials like vinyl-covered MDF, which do not stand up well to heavy use. For a kitchen to remain fully intact, it needs to be made of sterner stuff. A community centre really needs a semi-commercial kitchen — a mild steel carcass and stainless-steel worktop. It is more durable than a domestic-style kitchen, but isn’t fully stainless steel like a commercial kitchen, which would be excessive and expensive.

Preventing water ingress around sinks

Sealant around sinks deteriorates with time, use, and wiping, which creates gaps for moisture to enter and bacteria to thrive. If the sink in a welded-in to a recess in a stainless steel worktop, there are no gaps that require sealant, and the whole unit is wipe-clean and durable.

Overcoming space limitations in a church or community kitchen

Space might be limited in your community kitchens, but that doesn’t have to limit your ambitions. There are always efficiencies and solutions that free up surfaces and room to work, especially when you have an expert design eye on the task.

Steelplan’s designers are specialised at maximising use from minimal spaces — they can discuss your plans and your wishes for your kitchen, and create a bespoke plan whatever your kitchen footprint.

Managing kitchen accessibility challenges

Space limitations in a kitchen can mean that it is not equipped or laid out for disabled access. The law makes accessibility a legal requirement (Equality Act 2010 and Building Regulations Part M), but making a renovated space accommodating to everyone will probably be one of your priorities anyway.

That tends to involve some smart design, and Steelplan’s experts are experienced in creating accessible kitchens in all kinds of spaces.

Addressing safety concerns in your community kitchen

With a diverse range of users and abilities in your community kitchen, safety needs to be a top priority. Some things are more obvious, like cabinet locks, having a first aid kit, and having a COSHH cabinet, but others are less likely to be on a typical checklist, like the choice of a non-slip and easy-to-clean floor material, or the location of equipment and workstations to reduce collisions and contamination. A well-conceived kitchen design will maximise safety without compromising functionality or fun.

For a safe, hygienic, durable kitchen, choose Steelplan for your renovation. Our design experts can create incredible solutions for kitchens with limited space or specific requirements, and will provide a free consultation on the approach to your new kitchen. Call 0844 809 9186 or email [email protected].