Selecting A Benchtop For Your New Kitchen

Let’s firstly take a look at laminate. There are a lot of positives for this material although it is often overlooked. Many people think “old fashioned” when they think about laminate, but the colour and pattern choices available today are amazing and many replicate the look of stone. Also, it is an affordable product due to the inexpensive manufacturing costs, it’s quite durable and versatile.

There is natural stone such as granite and marble. These stone materials can be porous meaning that they may stain easily. There is a reasonably large selection of colours and patterns to choose from, as well as selecting a polished or matt honed finish to the stone. These benchtops are solid, easily maintained and great for food hygiene as they are smooth and impervious.

Man made stone such as Caesarstone® and Quantum Quartz and also another great option. They have similar traits as natural stone but are manufactured to be more stain resistant, scratch resistant and heat resistant than their natural counterparts and laminate. These benchtops also come in a vast assortment of colours and patterns and definitely make a statement in your new kitchen.

Another stone option is Corian®, this product is another solid surface which blends acrylic and natural minerals to make the stone. Like the other man made stone materials it is non porous and scratch and heat resistant. Unlike other benchtop materials this product can be moulded into your sink and seamlessly continued with invisible joins.

And if you’re after an edgier industrial feel and look, you can’t go past stainless steel, highly durable and versatile, don’t be fooled though, it still requires regular maintenance just like any other benchtop. Stainless Steel comes in an array of different finishes and looks fantastic when paired with another benchtop type.

And finally, there is timber, once a traditional style of benchtop, it is becoming quite popular as a feature benchtop in modern kitchens. One drawback to using timber benchtops in the kitchen, you may have water problems when using it near the sink and must be sealed correctly to prevent rotting. Timber is one of those things that never seem to date, it’s reinvented and renewed and timeless.
To help you choose the most appropriate kitchen benchtop you need to consider your own family circumstances, taste and budget. If you’d like some expert advice on what really works best for you, talk to a designer at Creative Design Kitchens who can help you to decide which option may best suit you.