The most popular luxury materials for kitchen worktops - granite, wood, composite/solid surface, quartz - have different advantages, so it's important to look at all the factors involved. Here's what you should consider before you buy.
Practicalities of kitchen worktops
* Think about practicalities, such as the maintenance of your worktop. If you have young children, a material that marks easily such as glass, is not ideal.
* If you like cooking, consider a heat-resistant material such as granite around your hob, so that you can move hot pans off the heat and onto the worktop.
* If hygiene is a concern, think about anti-bacterial materials, such as Corian or stainless steel. Remember that steel will scratch over time, creating a worn patina that some love, but if you want a pristine worktop, it might not be the right choice for you.
Hardwood
Best used: Food preparation and dining areas, for example, islands and breakfast bars. Iroko and teak are ideal for using around the sink as they have a high oil content and are water resistant.
Best look: Suits all kitchen styles. Can be incorporated into a contemporary scheme using glass or stainless steel to add a warm feel.
Upkeep: Wipe up spills instantly to prevent staining. Once established, seal with Danish or linseed oil quarterly to stop drying out. Scratches can be sanded out with fine wire wool
Sealing required: Hardwoods require an initial programme of sealing using oil (DWS hardwoord worktops all come pre-oiled) Apply a coat once a day for the first week, then once a week for the next month, then once a month for a year.
Durability: If hardwoods are properly sealed and maintained they will last for a long time, but don't use the worktop as a chopping board, or place hot pans directly onto the wood, as it can scorch.
Flexibility and fitting: Wood is very easy to cut, and is suitable for use in most situations
Composite/Solid Surface (Corian, Apollo Magna, Apollo Slab Tech, Apollo Solid Surface Quicktops & Maia)
Best used: A very practical and beautiful choice that can be used anywhere, including next to hobs and around the sink.
Best look: Dramatic colours such as dark grey and blue look fabulous in modern and contemporary kitchens. If your room design is quite traditional, stick to neutrals such as cream.
Upkeep: Wipe up spills to prevent marks. Keep clean with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Sealing required: No
Durability: Composite is very tough and more durable than many natural stones. As the colour runs right the way through the material, any scratches can be sanded out.
Flexibility and fitting: This worksurface can be thermoformed into different shapes without joints to create streamlined, seamless worktop runs.
Granite
Best used: Any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. A large expanse of glossy granite makes a striking island worktop
Best look: It's a luxury material that never falls out of fashion and suits traditional and modern styles. Choose from a classic polished finish, or a honed matt for a more contemporary look.
Upkeep: Very low maintenance. Clean using a damp cloth and a mild detergent
Sealing required: Granite requires an initial sealing, and then another about 10 years later
Durability: The best of all the natural materials, it can withstand high temperatures, is water resistant and impervious to most stains, but wine and citric acids must be cleaned up at once.
Flexibility and fitting: With advances in modern technology, granite can be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, although it is very heavy to transport and difficult to manoeuvre.
Corian
Best used: In wet areas. Perfect for a seamless integrated sink and worktop run.
Best look: Suits most schemes. Available in a variety of colours - choose bright hues for modern kitchens, white for architectural, and any pale shades for traditional rooms.
Upkeep: Low-maintenance. Clean with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
Sealing required: No
Durability: Stain and water resistant. Heat-resistant to 250°C, but best to use a trivet. As it is a solid surface material, scratches can be sanded out.
Flexibility and fitting: Can be formed into any shape without the need for ugly or unhygienic joints.
Quartz (Apollo Quartz, Zodiaq & Silestone)
Quartz Worktops are also one of the best alternatives to place in your dream kitchen. Since they are made from the combination of polymer resins and natural quartz, they are also called as 'engineered quartz.' They provide sturdy quality which is also easy to maintain.
Here are some reasons why you must chose engineered quartz instead of other work surfaces:
• Quartz offer uniform color thus you get consistent appearance and shade in what you are purchasing. They don't have discoloration in between sections that provide a consistent finish.
• They are maintenance-free. There is no need for regular cleaning as they are easy to maintain with just warm and soapy water. Quartz doesn't require special polishing and they are non-porous providing a stain-free surface. They have resistance against juices, wine, coffee, tea, food, and nail polish.
• They are versatile as they can also be used in installing other surfaces including wet bars, islands, desktops, tabletops, and backsplashes. They can also be used as vanities, floor, shower surrounds, tub and fireplace surrounds.
• They are superior in strength. Since they are added with resin, these components add extra durability to them. They are not easily chip, scratched and are scorch resistant.
• Surface offers non-porous characteristic which makes them less prone for bacteria hosting. They also prevent possible growth of mildew, bacteria and molds which also makes them a perfect material for bathroom surfaces. There are varieties ofkitchen worktops available in the market today. But quartz provides an amazing feature of sturdiness which makes them one of the most durable worktops these days. From many stone work surfaces, only diamonds, sapphire and topaz are harder than this semi-mineral worktop which makes them sustain the heavy impacts of daily activities. They are excellent investments that will make any gourmet space trendy and long lasting.
*please call 0845 600 5512 for Discount Worktop Store's competitive prices for these materials.
(Adapted from House to Home magazine article & Benefits of Quartz worktops- Sooper Articles)
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