Whether you’re looking to install a brand new kitchen or revamp your current one, a kitchen worktop can help make or break your kitchen. As one of the busiest rooms in most households, your kitchen needs to be up to scratch for your needs, and the work surfaces are going to bear the brunt of all that activity. For those on a budget and wanting a brand new look and feel to their kitchen, try replacing the work surfaces for maximum impact.
When looking at which kitchen worktop is best suited to your needs there are a number of questions you need to be asking: how will your worktops be used, and what are your priorities no your wish list. No one work surface will tick all your boxes, so we’ve put together a handy guide to help you determine which kitchen worktop ticks the most for you.
WOOD
A beautiful, warm worktop that always looks stunning … right up until you forget to oil it and it starts going mouldy around the sink area. A wooden kitchen worktop requires repeated oiling (twice a year as a minimum) to ensure they remain water resistant, they are also naturally anti-bacterial and easy to repair. Just don’t cut directly on the worktop unless you don’t mind the scratch marks. Best installed by a professional if seams are required, particularly if an angled cut is wanted to help disguise the join.
GRANITE
Incredibly hardwearing and usually comes with a sparkle and gloss, granite can also be a popular choice a kitchen worktop, but is also one of the most expensive types. Heat and water resistant, granite is also resistant to most stains – all except tea, coffee and red wine which can leave permanent marks if you’re not careful. The cool surface is the perfect temperature to make pastry and dough, and is easy to clean. Just make sure the cabinets below are reinforced, granite is particularly heavy!
STAINLESS STEEL
A great choice if you’re looking for an industrial feel to your kitchen, and there’s a reason all commercial kitchens use it: it’s cost effective, heat, stain and water resistant and looks amazing in situ. It even comes in a variety of different finishes to suit all tastes, and is a durable option for someone wanting great value for money. It does mark easily though, so be careful not to cut directly on the kitchen worktop surface or clean with an abrasive.
COMPOSITE STONE
A manufactured surface, made from natural quartz bound with resin to give a stone-like appearance. Like stone it’s strong, and is water and heat resistant. It looks very similar to granite and marble, but comes in many more colours and varieties, and for less money. Like wood, this kitchen worktop definitely needs to be installed by a professional if seams are required as it does not forgive mistakes easily.
GLASS
This is one type of work surface that tends to be forgotten, but glass can be a great material to use, especially if you’re after the wow factor. Other than smudging easily, and requiring rounded edges, there’s little that glass does wrong. Sink and hob holes can be pre-cut to avoid seams, it’s water, heat and stain resistant and very hygienic. There’s little about a glass kitchen worktop to dislike, especially given the lengthy durability they offer.
LAVA STONE
Also known as Pyrolave, this is an incredibly hardwearing kitchen worktop that’s made from volcanic stone cut into sheets. Those sheets are then enamelled and fired at high temperatures, complete with coloured glaze, to create a work surface that’s heat and stain proof, not to mention available in multiple colours! It is, however, on the pricey side, but given the manufacturing process it’s easy to see why!
LAMINATE
The cheapest option out there, but you get what you pay for. Laminate comes in a variety of qualities, and is essentially MDF or plywood or chipboard, topped with a plastic laminate. The medium offers a wide variety of colours, patterns and finishes, up to and including granite effect. Better quality laminates are stain and moisture resistant, but you’ll pay for the privilege. Laminate can chip, scratch, scorch and deteriorate over time, especially the cheaper versions.
Whatever your kitchen worktop decision, professional fitting can make all the difference to the overall look. Don’t waste money buying an expensive work surface only to make mistakes DIY-ing the fit. For those in the Thame, Chinnor and Waltington area, why not give us a call for an obligation free quote?
