Advice - Ideas - Tips
With the kitchen being the heart of the home, choosing the correct worktop is of the utmost importance. The ideal option should be useful for daily use while maintaining a seamless appearance and feel that complements your design theme.
Consider your lifestyle and how the kitchen works for you. For example, if you cook from scratch every day and are a messy cook, you will need a durable, heat-resistance worktop that resists stains and scratches. On the other hand, if you use the kitchen more for entertaining, the aesthetic appearance may be more important than durability.
Here are the different materials commonly used:
A popular, budget-friendly option that is durable. Made from chipboard covered in plastic laminate sheet, can be printed with any design and so there are a range of styles and colours to choose from. However, poor-quality laminate is prone to peeling and bubbling if hot pans are placed directly on it. Laminate is the best option for people on a tight budget. It will look fabulous in the right kitchen but could cheapen the look of an expensive one.
Though they usually require surface treatment for an aesthetically pleasing and protective countertop, solid wood is beloved for their effortlessly rustic feel, especially when aged. Cheaper than most solid stone options, they nevertheless require maintenance and are quick to scratch and stain. With a wide variety of wood types available, oak is the most popular choice adding a premium appearance. Solid wood worktops are a durable and hard-wearing surface option for the home.
Are made from more than one material and can come under one of two categories: engineered stone (ground quartz and resin) or solid surface (mineral dust and resin). They are easy to clean and scratch-resistance but not heat proof and are more expensive than laminate. Composite worktops are one of the most durable kitchen worktops available, but they need to be protected from scratches and scorch marks by using chopping boards and hot pan trivets.
Is a natural stone that forms beneath the Earth’s surface. It’s hard-wearing, heat-resistant, anti-bacterial and easy to clean, but it’s also very heavy and quite expensive making it an investment. Specialist fitting is required for granite, which involves creating a template and cutting the worktop off-site before fitting. This means there’s often a long wait for the worktop, and installation costs will be higher.
These countertops are a man-made alternative to pricey granite. Though the main compound is naturally occurring quartz, it’s often combined with other manmade components including glass and metallic flecks before being fortified with resin. Relatively hard-wearing and easy to clean, it’s still a heavier option and on the pricier end of options. Specialist fitting is required, which involves creating a template and cutting the worktop off-site before fitting. This means there’s often a long wait for the worktop, and installation costs will be higher.
Pure, solid marble has long been associated with the height of luxury. It’s by far the most expensive kind of kitchen countertop and is available in a variety of highly unique finishes which will make your home elegant with a luxurious look and feel.
Is an iron alloy with added chromium to make it rust resistant. Typically associated with commercial kitchens, some households opt for stainless steel countertops for a stylish statement. From a practicality standpoint, it’s strong, durable, naturally antibacterial, heat and acid resistant, lightweight and a breeze to clean. However, it scratches easily and can make a kitchen look cold and clinical if used over large areas.
The thickness of a worktop can have a significant impact on the overall look of a kitchen. A thin worktop gives an ultra-modern look and is suitable for use on the walls as a splashback. On the other hand, a thicker worktop will really make a statement.
