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THE WORKHORSE OF ANY KITCHEN, A WORKTOP NEEDS TO BE TOUGH, PRACTICAL AND STYLISH. HERE’S HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR YOUR NEEDS…
When it comes to choosinga kitchen worktop, it’s crucial to make the right decision so that your kitchen is able to withstand all the elements of everyday usage.
‘It is essential to invest in your worktop, as it’s one of the most hardwearing areas in your kitchen space, but it can be difficult to choose between style and practicality,’ says Darren Watts, design director at Wren Kitchens (wrenkitchens.com).
Here, we explain the variety of materials available, how much each will probably cost and what you should look out for when choosing the perfect worktop for your kitchen.
1 ADD NATURAL WARMTH WITH WOOD
A traditional favourite for its natural warmth and the character that comes as it ages, hardwood is preferred over ‘soft’ woods, such as pine, for its strength. Popular choices of hardwood include oak, walnut and iroko. Wood is very easy to cut, and is suitable for use in most situations.
PRICE From approximately £150 linear m.
BEST FOR Food preparation and dining areas, for example, islands and breakfast bars. Iroko and teak are ideal for using around the sink as they have a high oil content and are water resistant.
DURABILITY If hardwoods are properly sealed and maintained they will last for a long time, but don’t use the worktop as a chopping board, or place hot pans directly onto the wood.
MAINTENANCE Hardwoods require an initial programme of sealing using oil. Apply a coat once a day for the first week, then once a week for the next month, then once a month for a year. Avoid direct exposure to heat and prolonged soaking, especially around the sink and tap area. You may prefer to install a wall-mounted tap, which could help to keep the area drier.
2 CHOOSE DURABILITY WITH COMPOSITES
This very practical and beautiful choice can be used anywhere in the kitchen, including next to hobs and around the sink. It can be thermoformed into different shapes without joints to create streamlined, seamless worktop runs. Templates will be taken once the base units are in place and it can be one to two weeks before the worktops are ready to install.
PRICE From approximately £300 linear m.
DURABILITY Composite is very tough and more durable than many natural stones. As the colour runs right the way through the material, any scratches can be sanded out. In the very unlikely case that your composite surface is scratched, chipped or stained it can often be repaired by a specialist. However, it is easier to achieve perfect restoration with acrylic composites as scratches can be sanded out, while quartz is more likely to be filled and any polishing can leave a dull area.
MAINTENANCE Composites do not require any initial treatm
