Kitchen Trends Monthly Blog – March

The Counter Argument: pros and cons of kitchen worktop materials

When designing a new kitchen we all think first and foremost about the cabinets but actually, often the biggest continuous area of your kitchen will be your kitchen worktop. Your choice of worktop must look right with your choice of kitchen but it must also be very functional. There are lots of factors to consider such as durability, look, cost, colour, installation and maintenance so you need to know all the facts. Therefore, the 3Style Kitchen Trends blog for March is looking at the pros and cons of different kitchen counter materials.

Granite

Pros

• Looks very luxurious
• Sets the style of the whole kitchen
• More affordable than it once was
• Range of colours and patterns – each piece is unique
• Natural material
• Very hard wearing and heat resistant (practically indestructible!)
• Easy to keep clean

Cons

• Still expensive compared to other materials
• Needs sealing every 6 months
• Can stain
• Very heavy so needs good quality carcases to sit on
• Must be professionally installed
• Can’t be removed in one piece – needs breaking up so can’t be reused elsewhere
• Can’t be repaired if damaged

Wood

Pros

• Natural material so each piece is unique
• Lends a warm, cosy look to most kitchens
• Particularly suited to traditional and contemporary kitchen designs
• More cost effective than granite or marble
• Has natural anti-bacterial qualities
• Easy to install
• Can be cut to shape
• Timeless look

Cons

• High maintenance – needs sealing every 6 months
• Can stain and scratch
• Scratches and stains can be sanded away but you’d need to do the whole worktop to avoid it looking patchy
• Can become water damaged around sink areas

Laminate

Pros

• Cost effective
• Available in a wide range of colours and finishes
• Easy to clean
• Higher quality laminates now available
• Easy to install
• Timeless look

Cons

• Lots of low quality laminates around that are a false economy
• Can scratch and burn
• Unrepairable
• Can see joins

Glass

Pros

• Unlimited colours
• Can be lit from below
• Chips can be repaired
• Low maintenance – doesn’t require any sealing
• Easy to clean
• Very durable
• Heat and water resistant
• Works well in a modern kitchen

Cons

• Shows marks easily
• Scratches and chips
• Joins are visible
• Creates a modern look that could date
• Requires professional installation

Stainless Steel

Pros

• Strong and durable
• Hygienic and easy to clean
• Water, heat and acid resistant
• Looks good in a modern kitchen design
• Has a very industrial look akin to a professional kitchen
• Can be formed into any shape

Cons

• The industrial look isn’t right for everyone
• Can scratch and show every fingerprint
• Needs professional installation

Marble

Pros

• Real wow factor
• Cold material so good for a lot of cooking and baking
• Every piece is unique
• Comes in a variety of colours and patterns
• Can be combined with other worktop materials to good effect
• Works well in a traditional or contemporary kitchen design

Cons

• Probably the most expensive of all the options covered here
• Easily scratched and stains
• Unrepairable if damaged
• Professional installation required
• Heavy so required sturdy carcases to sit on

Concrete

• Available in colours other than the obvious greys
• Looks great in a modern kitchen
• Very tactile
• Can be shaped
• Can be repaired
• Is usually poured in so no joins
• Very strong and becomes tougher with age
• Scratch and heat resistant

Cons

• Due to being poured it requires professional installation which can be expensive and takes several weeks to set sufficiently to use
• Stains easily
• Needs sealing every 6 months

We hope that this gives you a good overview of the different options for worktops to allow you to make an informed decision. Obviously, your kitchen designer will be able to guide you and provide ideas and inspiration as well as practical advice to help you choose the right counter top for your kitchen.

You see see our other posts in the Kitchen Trends Blog series here.

If you require any help planning your kitchen please call us on 0800 321 3491 or send us a message.