There are literally hundreds of different types of worktop on the market, so making the right decision is very difficult. Depending on the amount of your budget you have allocated for your counter top, some of the worktops on offer may be out of your price range. Yet relying on price alone to dictate your choice of work top will still leave you with a bewildering array of options. Therefore, in addition to cost, it is also wise to think about your personal style preferences and the design of your kitchen, as well as how you actually envisage your kitchen countertop being used.Taking each consideration in turn, it will be become apparent that it is possible to make the process of selecting a worktop much more manageable.
Kitchen worktops are one of the most frequently used elements of most kitchens. They are also one of the most expensive single items that you are going to purchase as part of you kitchen construction or redesign. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider which kitchen worktop is the best for you and your family, before parting with your money and making the purchase.
Firstly, some worktops are much, much more expensive than others. If you have a massive budget, you will probably be avoiding some of the cheap kitchen worktops such as those made of laminate.Similarly, if you have a reasonably small amount set aside for your worktop, chances are you won’t be thinking about installing a marble work surface. When determining the amount you are willing to pay for your worktops it is worth weighing their importance against other elements of your kitchen design. Is the kitchen worktop more important to you than the kitchen floor? Does it take precedence over a splashback? Are your kitchen appliances more of a priority?
Secondly, it is crucial to consider the style and design choices that have already been made in your kitchen. If, for example, you have a kitchen with a traditional, country feel, you would probably be steering clear of metal worktops in favour of installing oak kitchen counters. Conversely, if you have a minimalist, modern kitchen, you might well think that stainless steel kitchen worktops are ideally suited to your look. In addition, it is also worth examining your personal preferences. Some people like natural materials (and will prefer wood or stone worktops), whereas others like clean lines (in which case glass or metal might be ideal choices). Don’t be tempted to go for a worktop you don’t love just because it fits your design concept. You will be using the counter too often to make compromises. There are so many different kitchen work surfaces that there is really no excuse for settling for an imperfect choice.
Thirdly, it is necessary to determine how your worktop will be used. Will your work surface actually be a surface upon which to work, or will it actually be a place to rest drinks? Will you be incorporating a breakfast bar or an island unit? If you are a keen chef or bread maker, your requirements will be different from someone who cooks very little but hosts lots of cocktail parties. If you have a young family your requirements won’t be the same as those who work long hours away from home. All of the different types worktops have pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages. It is important to select the worktop that best matches your requirements. It is also worth noting that what is considered a major plus point to some, is irrelevant to others. For example, a keen baker might really like stone kitchen worktops because the cool surface makes it easy to knead dough. On the other hand, to someone who doesn’t make cakes or bread (and doesn’t intend to in the future) this benefit is not really an important selling factor. It won’t influence their decision to buy the worktop one way or the other.
The aim when choosing the perfect kitchen worktop for you is to try to balance the three factors of price, form (design and style) and function (how you are intending to use your countertop). Only when these points are in equilibrium, will you be completely happy with your chosen purchase. In the paragraphs that follow we will examine the most popular types of worktops on the market, looking closely at their benefits and negative qualities. We will also be commenting on their characteristics, with particular regard to the three considerations detailed above (price, form and function). Hopefully, you will find this information on kitchen worktops valuable.
Wood Kitchen Worktops
In the last few years, solid wood worktops have made a big comeback. There is a multitude of different types of wooden kitchen worktops available. In fact, most hardwood timbers or lumber can be used to manufacture counter tops. As a result, it is unwise to make too many generalised statements about all wooden worktops. That said, there are a few factors that are shared by most (if not all) of the wood work surfaces.
Firstly, because it possesses natural antibacterial qualities, wood is considered to be a hygienic surface.
Secondly, wood countertops are relatively easy to fit, shape and join, allowing sinks to be incorporated, drain slots and grooves to be cut, and awkward configurations of walls and alcoves and difficult kitchen layouts to be overcome.
Thirdly, regardless of the type of timber used for the worktop, wooden surfaces bring a piece of the natural world into the kitchen. Just having such a large amount of wood in one room, seems to bring a natural serenity and calm to the kitchen.
Before we start to look more closely at some of the different types of lumber used in the production of solid wood worktops, it might be of value to look at the three main ways in which wood kitchen worktops are put together. The cheapest way of purchasing a wooden worktop is to invest in a traditional butcher’s block countertop. This consists of many staves of timber attached to each other by finger joints and edge gluing. This creates a strong and textured surface at an affordable price. The next cheapest option is to go for a two join plank worktop. As the name suggests this surface is constructed from long planks joined at least twice using finger joints. The most expensive wood worktops are those made from the fewest sections of timber. Single wide stave worktops are the dearest option because they consist of long planks edge glued together. There are no joints within the lengths.
The type of construction method you choose will affect how your worktop looks, but so will the type of timber used. Although all solid wood countertops share some characteristics, they are striking differences between the different types of lumber selected. Here follows a breakdown of some of the key timbers and their individual qualities and attributes.
Oak kitchen worktops are very popular at the moment. Oak, particularly American white oak, is really hard and very durable. If treated correctly an oak worktop can last a lifetime. It has a very tight grain, a low level of colour variation. It is rich in colour and its natural warmth is enhanced by golden flecks that run through the timber. An oak kitchen countertop will mature over time, getting both darker and richer. A cheaper alternative to using American oak is to select a European oak. This can be very similar, but is often quite a bit cheaper.
Walnut kitchen worktops are also widely available. The most expensive are made from American black walnut. These work surfaces are nearly as hard as oak counters and exhibit a deep and rich brown colour and a fantastic grain structure. It is possible to purchase a European Walnut worktop. These are paler than their American counterparts and softer. Although they also have a high level of colour variation, they are also considerably cheaper. African walnut worktops are also available from some companies, but this is a coniferous tree and its lumber is not really of a suitable quality from which to construct a kitchen countertop. Tiger walnut worktops are also widely available.
Cherry kitchen worktops are an excellent choice. American cherry is an exceedingly dense timber with a close grain and a smooth texture. With its hints of pink, red and gold, cherry worktops darken with repeated oiling and exposure to light. Its unusual grain patterns and tasteful autumn hues make cherry countertops a tasteful and popular choice.
Maple kitchen worktops can also look wonderful. Maple is hardwearing and strong. Its wavy grain patterns and structure make it an eye-catching and flamboyant work surface. Black maple is harder even than oak. Its timber is light in colour and, when finished properly, it reflects lots of light.
Ash kitchen worktops are becoming increasingly popular. Ash has an open grain structure which is similar to that of red oak. Pale greys and honey tones give the pale wood character. Ash worktops are very strong and have a straight grain. When oiled, it can look refreshingly light in colour. Thermo ash worktops are made of ash that has been smoked, adding contrasting hues to the grain structure.
Birch kitchen worktops have a close grain and have been described as elegant. They have a bright tan colour and a rippled grain pattern. Birch worktops are very affordable and widely available. Another timber that is often used for countertops is beech.
Beech worktops are light in tone have a soft grain and often look good in a range of different kitchen designs and schemes.
Other timbers used in the construction of kitchen countertops are elm, sycamore, teak, sapelli and rosewood. Elm kitchen worktops not particularly strong but they do have a natural water repellent quality. Elm is a colourful lumber with green and purple hues and an irregular, but attractive, grain pattern. Sycamore worktops are creamy in colour and look really elegant in the right kitchen layout. Teak kitchen worktops are very durable and are naturally resistant to some acids. Teak is quite a dark would with a very dark black or dark brown grain. Sapelli worktops look a bit like mahogany with its red and brown tints; however it is darker and denser. It is a very hard wood making it tough and durable. Rosewood worktops are brown in colour with veins of darker wood running thorough it.
There are lots of more exotic hardwood kitchen worktops coming onto the market. These include worktops made from the following timbers: wenge, bete, zebrano, ebiara, billinga, bubinga, dibetou, iotofa, acacia, muteneye and rubber wood. Bamboo kitchen worktops are also being installed in lots of properties.
Solid wood kitchen worktops have many benefits. They are easy to install and can be cut to fit any kitchen layout. They don’t require a specialist fitter. In addition, they are easy to repair. Dents, scratches and marks can easily be sanded off or out and the affected area re-oiled. As mentioned above, they are naturally hygienic, and they are relatively easy to keep clean.
Wood worktops look good in a range of kitchen design schemes. The more traditional timbers often complement a country kitchen style and the more exotic or unusual timbers, such as iroko worktops, usually go well in a more modern design. If you have a kitchen without much natural light, a pale wood worktop will help to reflect what little illumination there is.
Hardwood counter tops do have some negative aspects. In order to keep them looking good they do require maintenance in the form of regular oiling. Furthermore, they are easily stained by standing water. Some cheaper worktops, if the timber is not seasoned and oiled properly, may warp when installed in a hot and humid kitchen. It is also not impossible to install a wooden countertop with invisible joints. Wooden work tops can be very affordable. They represent a compromise between the cheaper laminate worktops and the more expensive stone countertops.
Stone Kitchen Worktops
If you have an unlimited budget, a stone worktop might be the right choice for you. Stone work surfaces have lots of benefits and only a few negative factors to consider. The most popular and well-known forms of stone kitchen worktops and made of granite, a type of igneous rock. Granite kitchen worktops are very hardwearing a durable. They are resistant to heat, they are virtually maintenance free and is a very good surface upon which to make bread (due to fact that it is cool). A granite work surface can be obtained in a range of natural colours and each piece of stone is completely unique. They look stunning in a range of kitchens and, because they are usually cut to order, they can be installed to fit a range of different kitchen layouts, and prepared to incorporate sinks and include drainage grooves.
However, installation must be carried out by a trained professional and the kitchen units may well need to be reinforced to sustain the weight of a granite worktop. Another negative point worth noting is that a granite kitchen worktop will be stained by wine, vinegars and other acids.
It is possible to purchase both marble worktops and limestone worktops, but both of these materials have significant downsides. Marble looks fabulous, but scratches very easily. Limestone can be eroded and dissolved by the action of water. One stone countertop that has lots of upside is pyrolave. Pyrolave worktops are constructed from volcanic lava that has been glazed and fired at an incredibly high temperature. It is very expensive, but is waterproof, heatproof, flameproof and looks great.
Synthetic Worktops
Rather than going for natural rock, lots of people are installing synthetic kitchen worktops instead. These surfaces share lots of the qualities possessed by stone work tops, but are actually made by combining naturally occurring minerals with acrylic resin, creating a solid, non-porous surface. Corian is one of best known synthetic countertop materials. Corian worktops come in a range of colours and are very durable. They are resistant to heat and don’t stain. In addition, any surface marks can usually be repaired. Joints in a corian worktop can also be made to look invisible. That said, corian countertops are very expensive and they are tricky to install, and should only be fitted by a qualified, authorised fitter.
Staron is a more affordable, cost effective version of corian. Staron worktops are available in a small range of fixed dimensions. It is not made to measure as corian is and because of this it can be installed by a regular kitchen fitter.
Other synthetic solid worktops include: zodiaq, luxore, silestone, minerelle, getacore and rausolid.
The cheapest, and thus most popular, of all kitchen worktops materials is laminate. Laminate kitchen worktops consist of a core of high density particle board laminate on its top side to produce a waterproof surface. Laminate is available in a massive range of textures, finishes and colours. It can be gloss, satin or matt in finish and it might be the only way of obtaining a worktop in a particular colour. Laminate kitchen worktops are durable and very easy to install. Unfortunately, there is no way to create a seamless join between two laminate boards. Laminate work surfaces are also hard to repair after they have been chipped or burnt. Some of the most popular brands of laminate countertops are: duropal, formica, axiom or prima. These counters are available at affordable prices from countless online stockists.
Other materials from which worktops can be constructed include stainless steel, glass and wood covered with tiles. Metal worktops, of which stainless steel worktops are the most popular, are usually found in a restaurant setting. However, they can work well in the home kitchen too. Glass worktops can look stunning but are not all that practical. A tiled worktop offers a massive range of choice in terms of colour and design. If you find the perfect tile you can use it to form the surface of the perfect worktop. But they are tricky to install and present durability issues.
Whichever material you chose for your kitchen worktop, make sure that you pick one that fits your circumstances and kitchen design. Think about balancing cost, form and function and you can go far wrong. It is also worth noting that your choice of kitchen worktop does not have to be for life. You might decide to look at cheap kitchen worktops now with a view to upgrading in a few years. With so many different types of kitchen worktops available, I’m sure you will be able to find one the suits your needs.