Your kitchen worktop must not only look good but work hard too. With so many to choose from, it can be overwhelming deciding which worktop is right for your kitchen.
Here’s my handy guide to some of the most popular kitchen worktops on the market!
🪨 stone
Natural stone, like granite or marble, has a classic appeal and each piece is unique. For this reason, its essential to choose the particular slab for your kitchen to ensure you’re happy with it.
Care varies; granite is tough and hardwearing though limestone and marble are porous & stain easily. Stone can be polished, sandblasted, brushed or even flamed for a weathered look.
Weight & access can be an issue with big slabs so its essential to plan ahead & use an experienced installer. Sealing is highly recommended.
🔮 composite quartz
Composite quartz combines ground quartz crystals with recycled glass, resins, polymers and pigments to form a super tough solid slab. Available in a variety of colours and finishes, it can also imitate natural stone like granite and marble.
It’s exceptionally hardwearing, non porous and resistant to cracks, scratches and stains.
To install, the quartz will need to be templated to fit your kitchen, then cut and fitted by specialist fabricators.
🍳 porcelain
Large porcelain slabs are durable, lightweight, non porous, scratch-proof, antibacterial and even heatproof (pans can be placed on the surface without scorching).
Any material, from concrete to metal to stone, can be replicated and colours remain stable over time. Ultra large slabs also mean fewer grout lines which gives a sleek seamless look.
🍽️ laminate
An affordable option, laminate is formed using compressed layers of paper and resin bonded to a chipboard. Designs have really evolved and there is now a huge selection of contemporary plains and patterns. It’s also available in a range of realistic finishes such as wood, concrete and stone which give the appearance of the material without the maintenance issues.
Laminate is easier to move / cut than most other materialises and can be fitted as part of a regular kitchen installation saving time and cost.
✊ solid surface
Solid surfaces, like Corian are made from composite materials, acrylic polymer, natural pigments and formed into a smooth tactile product. These kitchen worktops are non porous, hygienic, impenetrable to mould and available in virtually limitless range of colours. Its stain and scratch resistant and small marks can be polished out. This versatile material can also be formed into seamless curved edges, integrated sinks and splash backs.
It must be fitted by specialist installers and like timber it can be sawn, routed, drilled sanded and engraved.
🪵 wood
Warm, tactile and naturally antibacterial, a sustainably sourced wood worktop is timeless and will only increase in character as it ages and colour deepens.
Wood is easy to install but will benefit from an experienced fitter for a good result. However, its higher maintenance than most other surfaces as it requires regular oiling. these worktops will resist staining as long as spillages are quickly wipes away. Most scratches can be sanded out. Warning… timber is best avoided in very wet areas such as directly around the sink!
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