Your kitchen is probably one of the rooms in your home that is used most often. The materials that are used in your kitchen have to be picked wisely, as they should be durable and tough, whilst having a pleasing aesthetic appeal. This is particularly apparent when it comes to your worktops. They are an investment piece, and one that you would like to last for a long time, so it is important that you understand the different materials, designs and what their individual advantages and disadvantages are. Here are just ten of the most popular ones to help you when making that all important decision…
Granite
Granite worktops definitely deserve to feature on this list. Not only is it incredibly attractive, this natural stone is among one of the most hard-wearing materials there is. It is available in a huge variety of styles and colours, allowing you to create the design that you have always wanted. To protect this stone, and make it suitable for the job in hand, it will require annual sealing, however, after this it is incredibly low maintenance. This luxurious, elegant material does come with a price tag, and is better suited to those with a slightly larger budget, but is an investment piece, and it will stand up to a high demand kitchen.
Quartz
A quartz worktop will instantly transform your kitchen and is quickly becoming one of the most popular materials there is. It is incredibly heard wearing and tough, and has a very high gloss finish which will not dull over time. It is a very modern material, and although it can be a little unforgiving if heavy objects are dropped on it, it is perfect for kitchen as it can withstand a lot of heat, whilst requiring very little maintenance. It is an affordable material that is available in a huge supply of colours and designs, to match your desired theme and style.
Solid Surface
Solid Surface worktops are at the pinnacle of quality, durability, hygiene and appearance. Offering extraordinary design flexibility, solid surface is becoming increasingly popular with architects and designers for both domestic and commercial kitchens.
Solid Surfaces are ideal for a range of kitchen styles from contemporary to more traditional. Choosing one of the top trade names such as Corian, Ecotop, Hanex and Hi-Macs, from Worktops.net and having it installed by one of our professional teams, warrants you will have the best quality worktops to last you for a lifetime, at an affordable
Ultra Compact
Ultra Compact composite surfaces are a contemporary worktop surface that is made by subjecting the raw materials found in glass, porcelain, and quartz, under extreme heat and pressure to create an incredibly tough material that is highly resistant to scratches, stains, very high hot and cold temperatures and Ultra Violet light. It has near zero porosity, meaning that it is virtually waterproof, making it easy to clean and maintain, as well as giving it hygienic properties – bacteria can not take root in a material where it is unable to penetrate.
Marble
Marble is the epitome of luxury and is still popular in kitchens and thoroughly deserves a place on the list. However, it has decreased in popularity slightly as it can be quite high maintenance, which has led people to choose other options that can mimic the appearance of marble. There are some real advantages to using marble in the kitchen though despite its appearance. It is naturally very cold, which is brilliant for any keen bakers who work with pastry a lot. The disadvantages of it are that it scratches easily, and is not stain resistant. It also requires regular sealing, and not all kitchen cleaners can be used on the delicate surface. It is better suited to those with more time, and a bigger budget.
Corian
Corian is an incredibly versatile material made from acrylic and polyester. This makes it durable, heat and stain resistant, which has many advantages for use in the kitchen. It is hygienic and it can be pre-formed, which allows it to be made with no visible seams on show, giving it an incredibly smooth and unmarked surface. It is available in many different colours and styles as well as being available in both a matte and glass finish.
Silestone
Silestone is a variety of a Quartz worktop, and has very similar qualities. It is incredibly durable which is excellent when being used in a high traffic area such as the kitchen. Not only that, but the stone itself looks so beautiful, and is available in a variety of different colours and finishes. It is both heat resistant and stain resistant so it will remain looking like new for the whole duration – in fact, it is more resistant than tough materials such as granite! It is very easy to see why this material deserves a place on our list, and is fast becoming an incredibly popular choice of worktop in many a kitchen.
Wood
Wooden worktops fully deserve their place on our list, purely for their appearance . A wooden worktop is such a classic design and is perfectly suited to any country, traditional kitchen. They are tough and durable, which is perfect for the kitchen, particularly if you are preparing food and will be chopping on them. The downside to wooden worktops is that they are not water resistant, they can become easily stained and will require a lot of maintenance. Scope on the colour and design is rather limited; however, for a lot of people this is part of the attraction for wooden worktops as they just speak for themselves.
Kitchen worktops – direct from the UK’s leading specialists, worktops.net
Are you looking to add class and value to your home by creating the perfect kitchen or attractive yet functional bathroom? If so we are the ideal people to help you with this. We produce the highest quality premium kitchen worktops, and bathroom vanity tops, all at trade prices. Worktops.net are are proud to make luxury work surfaces truly affordable. To help you from the start we have a dedicated team of sales and technical experts who can talk you through all the options, from material choice to final colour choice, answering any technical questions you may have along the way. We can even organise a home appointment with one of our design team. Our long-time served team of masons will then manufacture your kitchen worktops in our state-of-the-art factory; with their years of expertise they will fabricate the worktops to your exact requirements and with a professional finish. If you want the highest quality kitchen worktops crafted in Britain, choose Worktops.net. Call us now on 0330 088 3391!
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