Installing the best kitchen worktops in the heart of your home is an excellent way to create the wow factor. But all surfaces have their pros and cons, and with so much more choice now available, as well as an increasingly diverse range of surfaces hitting the market, how can you be certain that the ones you choose are the best kitchen worktops for your needs?
Using our many years of kitchen design expertise, we have put together a guide to help give you an idea of the best kitchen worktops available as well as the pros and cons, the price, what they’re like to look after and other details.
If you would like to see the worktops for yourself, we have displays and samples to illustrate all these materials in our Leicester showroom and can guide you through the process.
The best kitchen worktops explained
Of course, your budget and the design process will often direct the choice in a certain direction. Certain work surfaces simply won’t suit a type of overall style and some maybe won’t fall within your affordability, so let us guide you on what’s available.
Laminate Worktop
1. Laminate
Original brands such as Formica were the perfect material invented for the kitchen worktop. Now they are available in many thicknesses from 16mm upwards, available with square or postformed edging and come in a maximum length of up to 4.95m.
How much do laminate worktops cost?
Price range: £
Laminate is one of the cheapest solutions for kitchen worktops.
What are the pros of laminate worktops?
The biggest plus has to be the low price
Modern laminate worktops also come with a good choice of finish and pattern
How do I look after laminate worktops?
These worktops are easy to clean, but it’s important to bear in mind that they do not like water in joints, edging, or near cut outs such as sinks or hot pots and can scratch easily.
Solid Wood Worktop
2. Solid wood
This popular work surface comes in natural or stained / treated finishes and is mostly sold as oak, beech, walnut or Iroko. Timbers such as Iroko have a high amount of natural oil and are often used for garden furniture. Other exotic timbers are available but at higher costs.
How much do solid wood worktops cost?
Price range: £ / ££
What are the pros of solid wood worktops?
The pros of solid wood worktops are the natural variation and beauty
How do I look after solid wood worktops?
Solid wood worktops can stain and mark easily and as such require maintenance such as sanding and oiling if the original finish is required.
Granite Worktop
3. Granite
Granite worktops are available in lots of colours, mainly blacks, whites, browns, greens and blues. The maximum length available can vary, but commonly they are 3.2m.
The price can also vary greatly depending upon where the granite worktops originate from and how they are prepared. A lot of the cost is in the cutting and polishing of the finished product as well as the transport from its origin. Exotic Quartzite, for example, offers fabulous patterns and colours, however, specialist factory equipment is required to cut and polish this material.
How much do granite worktops cost?
Price range: ££/ £££
What are the pros of granite worktops?
The strong, hardwearing nature of granite makes these surfaces largely heatproof. And their natural variation and beauty brings plenty of the wow factor to any kitchen.
How do I look after granite worktops?
Most are sealed prior to installation, so clean easily. However, the stone is naturally porous and as such can stain. Oils especially can penetrate and stain and pale colours can show stains more than darker ones
Quartz Worktop
4. Quartz
Again, quartz worktops are available in lots of colours and finishes. Brand names include Silestone, Konig, Quartz Forms, Caesarstone, and there are many more. This man-made, largely quartz material is very hard and generally stronger than granite. Specialist factory equipment is also required to cut and polish it and quartz worktops are available in a maximum length of 3.2m or 3.4m.
How much do quartz worktops cost?
Price range: ££ / £££
What are the pros of quartz worktops?
The wonderful array of colours that are available
A relatively low price, given the work that goes into production
Easy cleaning
How do I look after quartz worktops?
Cleaning quartz worktops is easy. The non porous surface means stains can be easily cleaned off with domestic cleaning products, even turmeric, tea, coffee and tomatoes. However, it’s important to remember that, like granite, it can chip and scratch. Put hot pans on stands as heat can cause staining in the pigment and cracking under stress.
Acrylic Worktop
5. Acrylic Composite
Materials, such as Corian, have been around for decades. The material can be sanded if scratched or damaged and polished to bring it back to factory new condition. It is often favoured in commercial situations because of this reparable feature and is stain resistant and non-porous. Joints in most patterns and colours can be made onsite and polished out to give a seamless, almost undetectable finish. Specialist factory equipment is also required to cut and polish this material.
How much do acrylic composite worktops cost?
Price range: ££/ £££
What are the pros of acrylic composite worktops?
A maximum length is not applicable as seamless joints can make slabs seem whole
Integrated sinks are available
These worktops are easy to clean
How do I look after acrylic composite worktops?
As mentioned above, these are extremely easy to clean, stain resistant and non porous. The only real downside might be the restrictive pallet that there is to choose from.
Ultra Compact Worktop
6. Ultra Compact Surfaces
Ultra compact surface materials such as Dekton or Neolith are made under extreme pressure and heat. They create a very hard ceramic material which is used for many architectural applications including wall and floor claddings on buildings. It is a hard, non-porous surface which makes it ideal for kitchen worktops. Specialist factory equipment is also required to cut and polish this material. The maximum length is typically 3.2m.
How much do ultra compact worktops cost?
Price range: £££
This is one of the most expensive types of kitchen work surface.
What are the pros of ultra compact surfaces?
The luxurious finish and extensive colour choice.
How do I look after ultra compact surfaces?
Cleaning of ultra compact surfaces is extremely easy, because it is a hard, non- porous surface. Although, bear in mind that joints will be visible.
Caring for your kitchen work surfaces
Firstly, it’s important to remember that no kitchen worktops are completely indestructible and care should always be exercised when using them. They will all chip, stain, or scratch if you try hard enough! Be aware of the following:
- Undermounted sinks with large heavy pots clunking around are not a good idea.
- Harsh chemicals, such as oven cleaner, will damage most worktops and if used at all, should be used with care.
- Bleach can pit surfaces (especially laminate and acrylics), take the finish off and start to turn the surface a yellowish tinge. This makes cleaning harder down the line and ultimately will destroy the finish. Bleach should therefore be avoided on such surfaces.
Newtown Lindford kitchen
Find the best worktop surfaces for you
So what are the best kitchen worktops? We find that quartz is the most popular kitchen work surface and has been over the last 15 years or so.
Granite sales have reduced but we are seeing a return of exotic Quartzite materials which tend to come under the granite banner. Ultra compact surfaces are also seeing their sales figures rise as customers learn about the benefits.
We hope this brief guide gives you an insight to the many options available when planning your new kitchen. Please contact us with any questions or for any further information, or pop into the showroom for a chat with one of our experts.
