Although it may not be a material that immediately comes to mind when you think of kitchen worktops, solid glass is growing in popularity. Like most kitchen worktop materials, glass has both positive and negative aspects. In this post we will explore these pros and cons in more detail. Hopefully, once you have read the information presented below, you should be in a better position to decide if a glass worktop is a good surface to install in your kitchen.
The Positive Aspects of Glass Worktops
Glass possesses many positive attributes. Firstly, it looks amazing. Glass is a sleek and very contemporary worktop material. It will add a touch of modern sophistication to your kitchen and, because it is reflective, it will make the most of the natural light in the room. Glass worktops can be purchased in a range of vibrant and exciting colours, and when combined with clever lighting, they can be the making of a kitchen design scheme.
Secondly, glass worktops are very hygienic. They are waterproof, so dirty water and bacteria will not leach into the surface. Glass kitchen worktops also have a smooth finish. This makes them very easy to wipe clean and maintain. Some people will tell you that glass worktops become streaky and smudged, but this is not the case, and it is certainly not a major problem if it does occur. A glass cleaner will have the worktop looking sparkling and stylish again in a matter of minutes.
The Negative Aspects of a Glass Worktop
No worktop comes without negatives, and glass worktops are no exception. Let’s look at the downside in more detail. Firstly, glass worktops are expensive. If you are redesigning your kitchen on a small budget, glass worktops are probably not for you.
Secondly, although glass kitchen worktops are constructed from toughened glass, they are not completely scratch resistant. You should not cut directly onto a glass surface, nor should you drag heavy or particularly abrasive kitchen implements across the surface. This problem can easily be overcome by employing a chopping board or worktop saver.
Thirdly, although some glass surfaces are almost completely heat resistant, you would still be well advised not to place hot items onto the worktop. Some of the glass worktop manufacturers are incorporating granite and stainless steel elements to their glass worktops to act as hot pan stands and chopping areas.
As you can see, glass worktops offer a lot in terms of aesthetic appeal and ease of maintenance, but they have some specific issues relating to their functionality. There is no getting away from the fact that solid glass kitchen worktops look amazing, particularly when combined with a matching glass splashback. If you are trying to design a modern kitchen space, glass might just be the material for you. However, if you are concerned only with function, you will certainly be able find a kitchen work surface that offers a greater degree of utility for the money.