The
worktop in your kitchen sees a lot of action, without a doubt. You chop food on
it, you spill liquids, you stain it, and you burn it. Yet, you wish for it to
look as good as the day you installed it. This may seem like mission impossible
if you don’t acquire the proper material. Thankfully, nowadays you have a lot
to pick from, though with this great of a choice comes the need to consider
what material you end up with carefully. Every worktop material comes with many
pros and cons, and you will do well to bear them in mind in order to end up
with the best option for your kitchen. Here is a quick rundown of the different
materials and their strong and weak points:
- Hardwood – hardwood has long earned itself
the reputation for adding warmth to any area. As a natural material, it
does add its charm to any kitchen, especially a traditional one. As it
ages, it develops a certain character, which many owners find important.
One thing you have to consider is adding protection in the form of sealant
because moisture can otherwise ruin it. You need to consider the fact that
hardwood can easily scratch, so don’t use it as a chopping board and don’t
put hot pans on it, as it can scorch. If you do manage to scratch the
surface, you can sand it out. Be sure to remove spills as soon as possible
so that no staining occurs.
- Granite – this type of worktop has always
been among the most coveted ones. It is beautiful to look at and comes in
many different styles that fit practically any kitchen. You can order your
granite to be cut to your kitchen specification so that it will look
amazing, once it is put in place. Granite is not all-powerful, however.
Yes, you cannot easily scratch it, but you can stain it. It possesses
porous nature, which makes it somewhat vulnerable to spills and stains.
Therefore, it pays to seal it so that you don’t have to deal with such
issues. Other than that, granite is relatively low maintenance, which is
another great thing about it.
- Laminate – if budget is your main
consideration, then laminate worktop is probably your best pick. It comes
in many colours, requires little maintenance since it is non-porous and
will really not hurt your budget. One thing about it you should know is
that it can mimic other worktop materials, even granite. It is not among
the most durable, however, so you need to be careful how you use it.
- Stainless steel – if you wish to upgrade
your kitchen to a modern look, you can go with stainless steel worktops.
It is durable and resistant to heat. It is also impervious to water, which
means there is pretty much nothing that can damage it. It is hygienic as
well because it only requires a quick wipe with an all-purpose cleaner.
- Knowing the strengths of different
worktop materials will allow you to choose the best one for your designer
kitchen.
Be sure
to check the available options at K&I Kitchens online or by contacting us
at 020 7388 4985.
