Benchtops are great in the kitchen as they provide a working area for meal preparation, serve as entertainment points and other kitchen-related activities.
What are your benchtop choices?
The kind of benchtop you choose matters a lot in the design of your kitchen.
Aesthetics and functionality are what a kitchen benchtop adds to your home. On a daily, this fixture finds most use in the making of meals and visitor entertainment. Due to its consistent use, this space needs to be long-lasting. An important aspect to consider is the kind of material it is made from before other things like shape, texture, and colour come into play. Benchtops can be manufactured from stone or laminate.
What’s the difference between these two materials?
Stone, a material in a class of its own, creates a unique impression on the look and feel. This material has a tactile appeal – cool and smooth to the touch- so homes that love style, class, and luxury go for it. Wherever stone is placed, it brings in an instant beauty.
Stone is pricey because it is a one-off piece. Due to its porous nature, stone can get stained easily. Foods that have the potential to stain should be carefully handled around this material. Stone requires continuous maintenance to keep looking luxurious.
That’s not all. Stone has resonating characteristics. This is why, for instance, when you put a glass on a stone surface, it creates noise.
Laminate is another great option. This benchtop material is available in many styles – precisely around 200. Regarding maintenance, laminate may seem like wood or stone, but it’s not. People believe that plastics make up laminate; this isn’t true. Rather, paper layers constitute laminate.
Considering the frequent use of a benchtop, you would want a material that will be both useful and beautiful.
Finally, the stone looks pleasant, lasts long, and feels great. Laminate is excellent value for the price, comes in a range of colours and finishes, and is a multi-purpose choice.
What kind of activities will be going on in your kitchen? What kind of family do you have? How much are you willing to spend? Do you need a durable benchtop? Does its feel matter to you? These are questions worth asking while planning a kitchen design.
Let’s see some benchtop options:
Laminate benchtops:
Got a lean budget for a kitchen to remodel? Go for laminate, but a good one, though. The highest colour range and design that resemble luxe materials like concrete, stone, and timber are found in laminate. This implies you don’t have to pay much for a great look. However, this material gets scratched and scorched easily, so use a cutting board and keep hot pots away. Laminates are poor stain absorbers, and cleaning them is easy.
Timber benchtops:
Although this material seems outdated, it is gradually gaining a spot on the market. Timber benchtops light up the kitchen with a more natural colour. They look great when combined with other fixtures made from stainless steel and glass. There are a variety of styles available. For added protection, coat timber with polyurethane or food-safe oil. These protective layers have to be reapplied every year for continuing efficacy.
Solid surface benchtops:
A combination of resin and alumina filler is designed to hide the benchtop joints, giving it a sizeable stone-slab look. Cleaning is easy, and it’s UV-resistant, perfect for an outdoor kitchen. The sink can be moulded into it. You can repair this kind of benchtop without complete replacement. Heat scorching is a major issue with this option.
Stainless steel benchtops:
This heat-resistant, hardy material is great with chefs and can cover worktops and island benches. It can also blend with kitchen sinks and splashbacks and function as shelves.
Porcelain benchtops:
Widely known to be versatile, durable, and affordable, porcelain benchtops won’t stain or scratch easily, is resistant to high heat, and a hygienic option due to their less porous nature.
Bamboo benchtops:
A natural material with environmentally friendly features. This benchtop is not expensive and can be suitable for any kitchen. For better performance, they are covered in oil or polyurethane. Fixing them is easy.
If you’re looking for a stone benchtop supplier to help you with your kitchen project or renovation, contact us today. We can work with you to achieve the best look and practical option you need.