Choosing the best kitchen worktop for your kitchen
Worktops play one of the most important roles in kitchen design. They need to be strong and durable as well as tying in with the overall look of your kitchen.
Laminate, Quartz and Granite are the most popular choices for our clients. But how do you decide which to select for your own home?
Quartz Worktops
Natural quartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth, making it a very practical choice for a kitchen worktop. Quartz kitchen worktops are produced from natural quartz crystals and resin and the material is extremely resistant to stains, scratches, heat damage and impact.
Unlike natural stone, the pattern in Quartz is consistent throughout so if you’re looking for an aesthetic with veining it wouldn’t be the right choice. However, Quartz comes in a wide range of colours from natural browns, whites to bold colours such as blue, so it’s usually possible to find the perfect granite to complement your kitchen design.
Laminate Worktops
Laminates are a man-made material, created by fusing multiple layers of impregnated paper under high pressure temperatures. Aside from being durable, laminates are very budget friendly.
Advances in worktop materials and technology mean that modern laminates are a far cry from those that were available several decades ago. With varieties of textures, colours and improvements in print quality, laminates offer a solution to suit most budgets and design preferences.
Whilst laminate is durable and easy to maintain, it is important to note that if the laminate does chip, scratch or stain, it cannot be polished like stone. There are a number of laminates available with a huge variation in quality, so choose laminate carefully to avoid one that may be prone to peeling or scratching.
Granite Worktops
Another of the most commonly used materials for kitchen worktops is granite. Like quartz, this material is also very resilient. Granite is formed as a result of cooling pressurised magma over millions of years. The natural rock is cut in its natural state and polished for use in homes.
Granite is very durable which makes it a perfect choice for a heavily used kitchen. It is a hard, heat resistant, which means it is unlikely to scratch or chip, however it must still be treated with care to avoid damage. Although it can withstand higher temperatures and is water resistant, certain liquids such as wine and citric acids can damage the stone and should be cleaned up instantly. If chips do occur, granite can be filled with resin and polished and the finished result is usually unnoticeable. For daily cleaning, granite is very low maintenance and can be cleaned using a damp cloth and mild detergent.
Like any natural material that comes from the earth, each piece is unique. Although there are many granites to choose from, your choices are dependent on the slabs available. In some cases, kitchens are planned around the slab that is chosen.
Ceramic Worktops
Ceramic worktops have become increasingly popular in recent years, perhaps partly because of the trend for natural stone which has been on the rise within the interiors industry. Open any interiors magazine and you are bound to find a beautiful kitchen or bathroom featuring a white marble with grey or golden veining, it certainly is a beautiful aesthetic. However, marble is a very soft and porous stone, making it prone to staining, scratches and chips, so in most cases it is unsuitable for use in the kitchen.
Unlike marble, Ceramic worktops are extremely durable. Made from clay fired at extremely high temperatures, the material is then printed to create the appearance of stone. The material is non-porous, preventing build up of bacteria or mould, and food can be placed in direct contact. The UV stable properties mean that the surface will not crack and can be used for large exteriors surfaces, as well as heavily used kitchen worktops and splashbacks.
Ceramic worktops are not the most cost-effective option, however they are a perfect choice for those looking to achieve the stone veining aesthetic within a highly functional kitchen.
