What Material Should I Choose For Benchtops?

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Quartz

Quartz is an industrial cluster that is characterized by its hardness and hygiene. It is very resistant to water and humidity, however, it is necessary to watch with the high temperatures and to use protectors to support the hot containers. With the quartz benchtops, you can get a kitchen with sink of the same material fully integrated.

Stainless Steel

A kitchen with stainless steel benchtop is eternal as it waterproof, has high hardness, resistant to high temperatures and acids. Therefore, it is common practice in the professional kitchens to use this material. In addition, it is possible to create large surfaces without joints, so these benchtops stand out for their hygiene. The stainless steel provides an industrial style that can rightly be used as a decorative resource. Also, it is possible to fully integrate the sink to the benchtop with the same material.

Glass

One of the latest trends in kitchen benchtops is the glass top for its transparency and visibility. The latest advances allow them to be not only scratch resistant but also shock resistant. If you are looking for a modern and bold cuisine, do not hesitate, as this is your material. To make the matters even better, the glass benchtops do not absorb water and cannot burn, and because it is a non-porous surface, it is very easy to clean.

Formica and Synthetic Materials

They are the most economical benchtops in a kitchen. They are formed by a wood chipboard with a final layer that can imitate any material. However, it easily deteriorates for the reason that it absorbs water. Therefore, the duration of its life is much shorter and it is the perfect solution for temporary situations.

Marble

The marble benchtops have characteristics very similar to those of granite, but being a noble material, they are much more elegant and attractive in the sense of decorative look in the kitchen. To maintain its brightness, it must be known that it requires special maintenance and it is sensitive to the stains and acids. To find out the reasonable cost of stone benchtops Adelaide, you are suggested to visit adelaide.homegiraffe.com.au.

Now that you know all about the benchtop, you just have to choose one as per your style of decoration and budget. You should not hesitate to contact and discuss the experts in the field who can advise you to select the best one as per your own needs.

What are the Types of Benchtops?

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No part of the house is so exposed to the scratches, bumps, dampness and high temperatures as the kitchen. Therefore, you have to make the choice of your kitchen benchtops very seriously. There are three key points that must be met and in which we will focus to discover all possible materials i.e. maintenance, cleaning and durability. If you want an attractive and warm kitchen making your culinary experiences easy, the choice of the benchtop is very important. Now we will discover the different materials for benchtops, so that you can find the right one for your kitchen.

Laminate

This type of benchtop is characterized by its quality and price. It consists of a solid base of the composite materials on which is a sheet of plastic material. Its only weak point is the possible filtration of humidity, so ensuring the tightness in the joints with a sealant or aluminum pieces is very important.

Wood

If you are looking for a rustic kitchen look, this is your material. With the wooden benchtop, the space gains the warmth and beauty that brings this noble material. Among its advantages is that it emphasizes the resistance to the cuts and blows, although it requires a special maintenance and it is unsuitable to the humidity. In any case, it can be sanded and varnished to recover its initial state.

Granite

It is the material for kitchen benchtop most popular for its hardness and durability. Granite is a very porous material, so stains can penetrate permanently, so be careful with its use. However, it does not need special maintenance and it is heat resistant, so it can support the hot pots and pans with getting any harms.

Resin

It is a new synthetic material formed by a mixture of minerals and acrylic polymer. They are of great durability and resistance to water. They stand out for the reason that they allow to mold a benchtop and sink in one piece, avoiding any annoying joints. In addition, they are water resistant and there are more than a hundred colors available.

Porcelain

Kitchens with porcelain benchtops combine the advantages of glass with the strength of the stone. The result is a strong, uniform and very durable material. Its unique technology that guarantees the resistance to direct heat and the absorption of water and all kinds of stains. In addition, it is a very difficult material to scratch, so porcelain kitchens are always maintained as the first day. However, it must be taken into account that it is a fragile material.

Should I Choose Quartz Or Formica Kitchen Benchtops?

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Quartz Kitchen Benchtops

They are relatively new. Quartz is used in an approximate percentage of 95% along with other products such as resins and pigments, the latter are what define them as synthetic and have had a great acceptance in recent years.

Benefits

  • They have almost no porosity, which means that water cannot penetrate inside. This means that they can be cleaned very easily by wiping a damp cloth over their surface while preventing any growth of mold and bacteria.
  • There is a great variety of colors and shapes. The pigments and resins allow a wide variety of colors and shapes using only different molds and colors, and this allows them to be able to fit in a washbasin without problems or even integrate into the same structure as the dishwasher tray, as well as create any shape and design.
  • They are manufactured in one piece from a mold and this allows to have no visible joints throughout the piece.
  • It is very resistant to scratches and bumps, let’s say they are much more resistant than wood and slightly less durable than the natural stone.

Disadvantages

  • You have to protect against high temperatures. Quartz benchtops withstand high temperatures very well, much more than any wood, but less than stone. They are made from resins and it means that high temperatures can deform or damage them. So do not put pots directly from the fire because you can damage them.
  • When it is damaged, it is very difficult to repair them and above all, it too is expensive.
  • Without being able to give an exact price, since everything depends on the type of benchtops, the shape, the color and the mark, the price could be approximately €300 per linear meter, considering that the width of a benchtop is of approximately 60cm.

Formica Kitchen Benchtops

They are made from wood. Formica is a veneered wood, specifically based on a base of mdf wood or agglomerate and a later plating with resin plates that mimics any texture. Lately they are made of strong and durable resin sheets that support scratches with some guarantee.

Benefits

  • The price is the best advantage of this type of benchtop.
  • It is mounted with easiness and you can even place it yourself with very little effort.
  • They are very easy to clean.

Disadvantages

  • You have to protect them from high temperatures.
  • They’re not very resistant to water. They hold moisture well when the base is made of MDF, but they do not reach the degree of impermeability of stone or resin benchtops.

The price is very low. You can have a piece of 2 meters long by 0.6m wide for just over €50 and price per linear meter oscillates €25.

Advantage and Disadvantages of Natural Stone Benchtops

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When we have to choose benchtops, most of the times we usually make a decision based on the price, since the differences are quite important between one type of benchtop or another depending on the material. However, it can be said that benchtops are those products in which there is a direct relationship among price, quality and duration of the product. If you have ever figured out how much a benchtop costs in relation to its useful life, you may have realized that it is quite likely that you are not saving anything when you buy a certain material for the simple fact of being cheaper than the other. In this post, we will talk about the benchtops made of natural stone along with their advantage and disadvantages.

Natural Stone Benchtops

The natural stone benchtops are possibly the most used since ancient times. They are made from the simple carving of a piece of natural stone that is subsequently polished by sealing the small pores it might have and giving it a shiny finish. The most used materials are granite and marble, although any type of stone may be feasible to make a benchtop. In the case of porous stones such as sandstone, we would need to treat them to avoid porosity and consequent leakage of water.

Advantage

The natural stone benchtops have the following advantages;

Easy to Clean

Its polished surface allows for easy and effective cleaning. You have to simply wipe a damp cloth over the surface and it will be shiny again.

Great Hardness and Resistance

It is almost impossible to scratch as it is very resistant to the blows. In case of breakage, it is not difficult to repair, although it can be expensive.

Resistant to any Temperature

The stone supports any temperature that we can generate inside our kitchen.

Disadvantages

The natural stone benchtops have the following disadvantages;

  • The textures and colors of the stone benchtops will be limited to the nature of stone. The marble and granite are the most used and within these types of stones we have different colors.
  • The joints are necessary to compose different forms, for example, the crest.
  • The marble ones are more fragile than the granite benchtops.
  • The cost depends on the type of stone. Generally, they are measured in linear meter taking into account a width of 60cm.

6 Types of Benchtops to Define the Personality of Your Kitchen

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One of the most important decisions when designing or remodeling the kitchen is choosing the benchtop that best fits your lifestyle and the use you are going to give it. Do you need an easy-to-maintain surface? Is stain resistance your biggest concern? Or is style what matters most for you? Finding the perfect benchtop should not be a challenge as you can find a variety of materials and models on the market. To help you make a decision, I have the available types of benchtop material to consider for your kitchen within your budget.

1 – Soapstone

It is a natural stone used in laboratories, benches and in sinks because of its resistance to attack by acidic substances. They do not withstand heat and require regular lubrication and polishing, but soapstone is an ideal choice for benchtops, basically for its durability and the wide variety of color options it offers.

2 – Glass

It has gained much popularity in the recent times. It is made of tempered safety glass bathed by a treatment of anti-stain and antibacterial products. It is very resistant to heat and do not stain easily; besides that its surface is smooth and without pores, which allows to clean it without any difficulty with any cloth.

3 – Lava Stone

It is a novel material used in kitchen benchtops. It is cut into slabs and glazed in ovens for a glazed finish. It is not porous and highly resistant to stains, scratches, bumps and temperature changes. It is low maintenance and available in a wide variety of colors.

4 – Stainless Steel

It is practically impervious to heat and bacteria, which makes stainless steel one of the favorite materials of professional chefs. Of course, it is necessary to protect it when you go to cut, because it is very sensitive to scratching. It is imperative to frequently clean fingerprints and marks left on the benchtops.

5 – Granite

It offers the beauty of a natural stone in different colors. It is one of the hardest rocks on earth and is highly resistant to heat. It has small holes that have to be sealed with resins to avoid the deposit of dirt and microorganisms. To clean it, it is advisable to use warm water with neutral soap and then dry it with a cloth; do not rub it with aluminum scouring pads.

6 – Marble

It is the most elegant stone, thanks to the richness of its colors and drawings. It is highly resistant to heat, wear and acids. If it has pores, they should be sealed with resins to deal with stains and bacteria, so be prepared to cook carefully. Clean your marble benchtops with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

Which Countertops Should I Choose?

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Marble Countertops

It has a lot of similarity to the granite countertops. Marble is a material used that gives you a lot of elegance. It very well resists the scratches. You have to keep in mind that it does not withstand accidental hits that you may have. It also has the disadvantage in the absorption of the liquids.

Among the problems you may encounter is the delicacy of the material. You may have problems with the stains and acids you get to use. With the passage of time, the marble in the kitchen loses its brightness. The maintenance of this material is a major expense. The sale price is competitive with granite countertops.

Wood Countertops

This type of countertop gives a touch of elegance and warmth to highlight your place. The beauty that provides in your home is one the points of your demand. The varied colors you can find is another strong point in the purchase decision. Despite being very attractive to purchase, it has many disadvantaged points that make it unattractive.

The cost of maintenance becomes a little higher than that of the marble countertop. The porosity is presented of equal or greater proportion than the types of countertop. Oil stains and scratches are within against points. Water can become an enemy of your countertop. The maintenance is increased due to the periodic application of varnish or sanding to erase the damages that you cause.

Quartz Countertops

One good choice you can make to refurbish your place is to opt for a quartz countertop. Among the advantages with which they emphasize that you can make use with a thickness from centimeters and a half. You can adjust the price of the counter based on your budget with a variety of finishes.

They are resistant to scratches and heat. The blows are not a problem for this material since its resistance is just as you expected it. You do not have high maintenance costs since it does not require much to have it in optimal conditions. The facility to clean it will leave you enchanted. You cannot apply any chemical or you can ruin it.

The decision of choosing the countertops depends largely on the tastes and budget. If we are looking for any design and we are willing to be careful, marble is usually one of the preferred options. On the other hand laminated countertops are the favorites for those who are looking for an economic option, either because they will not give an intensive use or because it is a rental housing.

Wood is the favorite choice of people looking for the naturalness and have a special relationship with this material. The great advantage of quartz countertops is that they offer both design and quality and resistance, making it an option for all those who do not look for a low cost option.