Making kitchen worktop surfaces work for you

Choosing the right worktop is an important part of any kitchen remodelling project. With a range of materials on offer, the choice can be tough. Many people choose their material based upon how it will impact upon the look and feel of the kitchen but important practical considerations also need to be addressed. This article aims to navigate the minefield that is kitchen worktops.

When considering a material for your worktop, you need to think about a range of different factors. Price is obviously important but your surface also needs to be stain and heat resistant. With pots and pans crashing around, it also needs to be strong and durable. If you intend to use the surface every day, it also needs to be easy to clean.

Stone surfaces, particularly granite, offer a high level of durability, whilst its attractive mottled appearance adds an air of elegance to the home. However, granite is sometimes prone to staining, with red wine, tea and coffee the main culprits. To prevent this, treating the stone with a sealant every year is advised. Limestone and marble are more susceptible to staining and are probably best avoided. Another massive disadvantage of stone surfaces is the high price tag.

Wood has become increasingly popular in kitchens in recent times as it is a cheaper way of creating a classy finish, not to mention more environmentally friendly. It is also exceptionally easy to clean whilst the application of a thin coat of oil twice a year will guarantee that the wood will be preserved. Burn marks can easily be sanded off but this material is prone to scratching, so it isn’t particularly suitable if you intend to do a lot of chopping in your kitchen.

Another material which has become popular but which suffers from similar drawbacks is stainless steel. It adds a futuristic feel to your kitchen and is highly durable and heat resistant but cannot resist the power of the blade. Cutting on stainless steel is not advisable due to the heavy marking which results.

Corian is a multi-purpose material which can be moulded and manipulated into a range of different shapes. The combination of natural materials and acrylic polymer gives it a finish like stone whilst retaining the warm feeling of wood. Furthermore, it is highly durable, easy to wipe down and comes in a range of different colours and finishes. Scratching the material is difficult but if you do, all scars are easy to repair.

Laminate was a popular choice twenty years ago but it has a reputation for being cheap and tacky. However, some of the high quality laminates can produce an exceptional finish at a fraction of the price of stone or wood. However, it can chip and scratch easily.

The final option is glass, which will give your cooking space a contemporary feel. This is easy to clean, highly resistant to both heat and staining whilst it is also extremely long-lasting. However, it is prone to smudging which means your kitchen can have an untidy feel if it is regularly used.

Ultimately, your choice of kitchen surface will depend upon how you use your kitchen. This is something you need to consider thoroughly before you embark on any kitchen remodelling project and it may also help to get hold of a free kitchen planner to help with the planning process.  

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