Kitchen Worktops – A Buyer’s Guide

Kitchen Worktops are made with a range of materials, but making the right choice is often a difficult one. There are a number of important considerations, including cost and aesthetic, durability and functionality. Cleanliness and hygiene are also important considerations, and whether it’s easy to maintain. To help you make a well-informed decision, the following is a buyer’s guide weighing the pros and cons of the more common materials.

Also, keep in mind that most countertops are 26” in width (front to back) and roughly 35” deep. Most are designed with an overhang that makes it easier to reach and also protect the base cabinetry. Your choice of style may vary, but you should take into account the incorporation of any sinks or stoves, cook tops, cutting boards or drainage.

Kitchen worktops are made from a number of materials, while some are more common than the others. Natural stone, for example, includes materials like granite and marble. Other common materials include laminated and plastic surfaces, tile and quartz, wood, and crafted glass. Below are five of the most common materials:

Laminated Surfaces

If you’re seeking something less expensive, but still want a smooth and durable surface that ‘s easy to clean, then this is the right counter-top for you.  Laminated kitchen worktops are the least expensive, and available in a number of finishes. The leading brand’s Formica, and the higher quality grades are more hard-wearing and stain resistant. The negatives for laminated surfaces are that they eventually require repair and deteriorate over time, as well as they scratch and scorch easily.

Solid Surfaces

Solid surfaces are very popular and cost-effective. They’re non-porous and won’t absorb fluids, moisture or water. Solid surfaces are also very smooth and durable, and popular because they’re easy to clean and maintain. They’re also heat and water resistant, as well as stain resistant and available in several brands. Popular UK brands include Minerella, Maia and Artis.

Granite Worktops

Want a polished or glossy look? Granite countertops typically have a striking and attractive appeal, and they are considered extremely hardwearing and indestructible. They’re smooth and durable, easy to maintain, as well as water and heat resistant. On the other hand, granite’s expensive and stains easily with red wine, tea or coffee. Also, it’s extremely heavy and requires reinforcement for the cabinetry underneath. This is one of the important type of kitchen worktops.

Quartz

Natural quartz provides the most stain and heat resistant kitchen worktop, and it won’t scratch easily. Its smoothness and durability makes it a popular pick, and being water resistant, it’s easy to clean and maintain. Quartz surfaces are non-porous, scratch resistant and have a classic appearance that’s uniform. It’s made from 100% natural quartz blocks, which are cut into slabs and available in various colors. These are the few advantages of kitchen worktops made of quartz.

Wood

Want a kitchen worktops that’s easy to maintain, available in many tones, and also well priced? A wood surface could be the right fit. They’re easy to repair, and burn marks can be removed by sanding them down. Wood countertops are also hygienic and often safer then plastic surfaces. The bacteria absorbed eventually dies, and its surface will not mark as easily as plastic (making plastic surfaces harder to clean as a result). The downside to wood surfaces is they rust and blacken easily, and do scratch. This is your simple kitchen worktops buying guide.