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If you are designing, building or renovating your kitchen, you will inevitably go through the stage of the worktop and its material. There is a wide range of materials to choose from, but you should only choose one. However, we will help you to eliminate some of them and choose the right material for you.
Stone, wood, Solid surface or other composite materials, there are many materials that can suit you but how to differentiate them. In this article we will compare these materials with several criteria in order to choose the best ones.
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A stainless steel kitchen like the pros
The worktop for fans of top chefs, in fact we mainly find stainless steel kitchens in the professional world of restaurants and hotels. But why choose stainless steel? It is easy to maintain for intensive use and is perfectly resistant to heat, allowing you to place your hot dish directly on your worktop. Another big plus point for a home kitchen is that it will blend in perfectly with the other materials, as it needs to be warmed up - metal is cold! You can match it perfectly with wood, stone or even Solid surface.
As far as weak points are concerned, shocks and scratches will be the number one enemy of your worktop as it marks very easily. Also despite its fairly simple maintenance, it will need very regular maintenance so that no bacteria or mould can develop on the surface.
The price will vary according to the thickness of the worktop, the finish and the manufacturer. Expect to pay between 75 and 300 € per m².
The solid and aesthetic worktop
Stone worktops have long been the star of luxury interiors, with marble, granite and quartz worktops having a proven track record. They provide a sophisticated aesthetic that will delight customers who want a luxurious and contemporary kitchen.
Easy to maintain, resistant to high temperatures, stains and scratches, it will accompany you for many years.
Despite its many advantages, it also has its weak points. It has a solid reputation and can break with a strong impact and will be impossible to repair. Its price is also a disadvantage - you will have to pay several thousand euros to get a beautiful stone worktop, which may put off some people.
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Cheap and easy to live with, the laminate worktop
Laminate is the most widely used material in the low and mid-range kitchen. Scratch and impact resistant and very reasonably priced, it has become increasingly popular in recent times.
With its infinite range of colours and its ability to imitate natural materials such as wood or stone, it fits perfectly into any space and gives a modern edge. Laminate also offers many advantages such as heat and moisture resistance and is easy to maintain.
Laminate worktops are available in different thicknesses of 16, 28, 38 and 58 mm. This allows you to choose the style you want to give your room.
The disadvantages are that any damage to the laminate will not be repairable and depending on the colour you choose, the texture may look cheap.
For the price, count about 10 to 30€ per m². For a modern kitchen it is difficult to find a material with a better quality-price ratio and a life expectancy of about 20 years if it does not receive any impact that would break it.
A worktop with charm and trendiness
Wood is a timeless, charming and environmentally friendly choice. It is the solution to bring you comfort with a warm and industrial style, just varnished or with black or white colours, you have the choice for your unique interior.
When it comes to wood we can all agree that it doesn't mean anything. There are many different types and species with unique properties. We cannot help you with your choice, there are so many woods with different properties and above all very different prices. You will have to adapt your desires to your wallet in order to find the right wood for you. It is advisable to choose hardwoods such as oak, bamboo or maple. In all cases we advise you to pay attention to its origin and to protect it well with varnish or natural oil of quality which will protect and simplify the cleaning of your worktop.
Disadvantages: A solid wood worktop must be maintained regularly to ensure a long life, and it is recommended to varnish it at least twice a year. Despite the varnish or oil that protects the wood, care must be taken not to leave any water marks and to watch out for moisture near the sink. Of course, hot pots and pans need to be protected in order to be placed on its surface.
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The Solid surface: the combination of the best
Solid surface, also known as synthetic resin, is a mixture of stone dust and acrylic resin, which gives it unique characteristics and makes it suitable for the kitchen environment.
Indeed, thanks to its composition, there are no visible joints and it is antibacterial, which facilitates its intensive use in the kitchen. In addition, it is non-porous, which makes it 100% moisture-proof and repairable.
The Solid surface can be scratched or cracked over time with a major impact, which is why it is possible to sand it down to make it look like new again and glue it back together to repair it if necessary.
You will only have to be careful with the heat, which must not exceed 180°C in order not to damage the surface, even if it is also repairable.
The price will depend on the finish, the colour, as there are more than a hundred colours to choose from, and the work to be done by the craftsmen. Do not hesitate to contact us for more information or if you would like a quote.