Which Kitchen Worktop?

As the most hardworking surface in your kitchen, worktops should always be hard-wearing as well as look good. Cabinets may be ‘the face’ of the kitchen, but the action takes place on the worktops. The choice of work surface comes down to levels of durability and aesthetics.

Here are the options-

WOOD
Wood brings natural warmth to a kitchen and is kinder to crockery. Its need for on-going maintenance has been concluded as its downfall. However, after treating it 2-3 times upon instillation, the wood should only need a new coat of oil once a year.
Any scratches or stains can be sanded out reasonably easily and it is a lot more water-resistant than people think. Most hardwoods are perfectly durable, such as oak, beech and cherry. Current fashion includes Walnut, Wenge and certain other darker timbers.

METAL AND GLASS
Both materials are prone to scratching and show up fingerprints easily.
Stainless steel gives a professional, modern look, although somewhat sterile.
Glass is great for adding colour and can be spray painted on the underside.
Crackle-glaze, mirror-backed and frosted glass all have their own beauty and LED lighting set under opaque glass will create a fabulous evening atmosphere.

STONE
A natural material and therefore unique every time, its veins and markings add to the materials overall charm. Granite has been the favourite for a long time now due to its strength and high quality appearance.
However, becoming ever more popular, are the matt finishes such as limestone, sandstone and slate. All boasting a soft warm texture, they are pre-treated to seal out any moisture.

COMPOSITE AND CONCRETE
Composites are a combination of resin, pigment and stone. Also known as ‘solid surfaces’, they are hardwearing, easy to clean and offer excellent design flexibilities. The down side is they can be quite expensive.
Concrete is popular for its urban, industrial appearance. It is resilient and lighter than granite which poses less of a threat to units below.

LAMINATE
The photographic techniques have improved of recent and helped to make this a convincing option. Mimicking solid wood, stone and composite surfaces at a fraction of the cost, this is an excellent choice for anyone on a budget.

It’s not particularly hardwearing but when treated well, should look good for at least 5-10 years.