The kitchen benchtop is one of the most vulnerable areas. We’ll tell you how to choose a benchtop that will last for years without losing its attractive appearance.
Changing or renovating your kitchen is always a question of which benchtop to choose. Choosing the right benchtop will ensure that your space for cooking and eating will be well-equipped for years to come. Let’s take a look at the important points in choosing the right one.
Which benchtop is best for the kitchen: top tips
The benchtop, on which food is prepared for cooking, forms the surface that covers the floor units. It is usually solid, as joints spoil the look and impair functionality. Its dimensions are usually equal to the cross section of the furniture units, although there are also variants where the edge protrudes over the front. A benchtop withstands a wide range of impacts and must have a set of these characteristics:
- Resistance to high temperatures. Often hot pots and pans are placed on the surface.
- Moisture resistance. Water and other liquids are almost constantly present.
- Resistant to quite severe mechanical stress.
- Resistant to chemicals, including aggressive detergents.
- Easy to maintain. The surface must be easy to clean and must not absorb dirt and odours.
- Attractive appearance that can be maintained for a long time.
These characteristics explain how to choose a kitchen benchtop in terms of material quality. In addition, the safety of the product should be taken into consideration. It must not contain any toxic substances that would be released into the air during use.
Laminated benchtop
The manufacturing process is similar to that of chipboard, the only difference being the substrate. It is MDF board, which is highly dense and completely free of toxic substances.
Advantages of the material:
- Safe and environmentally friendly.
- Variety of colours, it is possible to imitate any surface, even complex textures.
- High resistance to micro-organisms and fungi.
- Low cost.
Important disadvantages are poor temperature resistance, denting after a hard knock and sensitivity to moisture. Swelling of joints and mortise sections is possible with prolonged exposure to water. Compared to chipboard, however, this problem is much less likely to occur as MDF absorbs water to a much lesser extent. If the laminate used is of poor quality, staining may occur over time in areas where intensive cleaning has taken place.
Timber: eco-friendly and functional
Made from sturdy wood, as resistant to moisture as possible. Bamboo, walnut, oak, eucalyptus, etc. The presence of knots affects the quality of the wooden leaf. Not desirable if the thickness of the board is less than 40 mm.
The advantages of such products are obvious:
- Attractive appearance and very pleasant texture.
- Good damp resistance provided they are treated and cared for properly.
- Possibility to refurbish the surface by sanding. And it can be done repeatedly.
- Reasonable price, especially if the wood species chosen are common.
The main disadvantage of this solution is the necessity to thoroughly care for the wooden surface. If it is not taken care of, all the defects of the timber surface become visible. Lack of impregnation can lead to shrinkage and sagging of the material. Unprotected cracks or joints will let moisture in, which will cause the wood to swell. In addition, micro-organisms and fungi can develop in such areas.
There are also disadvantages that need to be considered.
These are low heat resistance and fire resistance. A hot pot or frying pan placed on such a benchtop will definitely leave stains on it that cannot be removed. Wood is sensitive to dyes and acids, which also leave marks on the surface.
Natural stone: luxurious and long-lasting benchtops
The most common forms are marble and granite, but onyx, malachite and so on are also possible.
Each of the stones has its own properties, but common to all the advantages can be considered:
- Durability. The slabs are insensitive to almost any mechanical damage. They are very difficult to scratch or split. The exception is marble which splits off quite easily.
- Beautiful appearance. Despite the fact that the colour scheme of each rock is limited, it looks very attractive.
- Ease of care. The surface is easy to clean, it is not afraid of moisture, and it can withstand the influence of non-aggressive detergents.
- Highly heat resistant, hot cookware will not damage the hob. This does not apply to marble which may turn yellow.
- Long service life, which is counted in dozens of years.
The material does have some disadvantages.
The parts have a high weight, which requires significant reinforcement of the construction of the bollards and makes installation more difficult. Active dyes can leave traces on the surface, especially with white or beige marble. It is recommended that it be wiped down immediately if any stained liquid is spilled: wine, tea, etc. The stone cannot be repaired in case of serious damage, which is extremely rare but can occur.
The disadvantages are the visible joints. They simply cannot be sealed discreetly. A single piece, due to the technological features of production, usually does not exceed 2.5 m in length. The high cost of the material and installation work is also considered a disadvantage. Sometimes the stone may have a high radiation background, so for safety reasons it is essential to check the certificate before purchase.
Ceramic cladding: original and functional
A good choice for those who prefer unconventional solutions. A wide variety of tiles are used: medium, fine, mosaic or a combination of these. Joints must be grouted. They will be the most vulnerable place, so the composition should be chosen very carefully.
The strengths of such cladding can be considered:
- Resistance to high temperatures.
- Insensitivity to moisture and aggressive substances, including any dyes. It is true that grout of poor quality may react to such exposure.
- Resistant to various mechanical influences.
- Original and very beautiful appearance, especially if tiles of different sizes are combined.
The disadvantages include the need to constantly clean the joints, where crumbs will inevitably accumulate, beverage marks, etc. To make things easier, it is important to choose the right grout. Problems will arise if a piece of grout has to be replaced. This will be quite difficult to do.
Useful tips
To avoid disappointment and unpleasant surprises, it is worth heeding some simple advice once the new covering has been installed.
Everything should go with the kitchen unit. A simple cooker, for example, would look ridiculous on a natural wood cabinet. In addition, it is desirable that all elements of the kitchen “age” at about the same rate. That way all elements of the kitchen renovation can be done at the same time.
Choosing between a glossy and a matte finish can seem difficult. The most practical choice is the matte finish. It is less picky and will retain its tidy appearance longer.
When deciding on the tone, you should be guided by the colour of the façade. They should harmonise with each other. Ideally, light colours should be chosen for laminate panels. Darker shades are more effective, but over time they may show lighter stains in areas where the coating has been washed intensively.
Choosing a benchtop for your kitchen is not difficult if you consider our recommendations. There are plenty of options, you just need to choose the best one based on the characteristics of the coating and its cost. Even the most inexpensive models will last a long time, provided they are used with care and follow the rules for use.
