Worktops

A worktop is both an aesthetical and the most used part of a kitchen, so you need it to be hard wearing and easy to clean and maintain. There is a large selection of worktops, each with their pros and cons, I have selected the main worktop types with descriptions below.

The majority of worktops are 30mm thick, bringing the standard worktop height to 900mm, however there are heights from 10mm all the way up 100mm, so consider the style you are looking for and the impacts thicknesses have.

One other thing to look out for is length of worktops, majority of worktops can span up to about 3m. But when dealing with these lengths check that the access to the kitchen will allow for this length and that you have sufficient manpower to move it as 3m of any worktop is heavy!

Wood

Wood has been a widely used worktops for generations and create a warm feel to a kitchen. Just remember that wood needs to be looked after, in most cases oiled, and preferably natural wood oil, which is more environmentally friendly. You can do this oiling yourself but check with the supplier on how regularly this needs to be done. Having oiled wood also means that if there are scratches, you can have them sanded out without degrading the look of the wood. You can get coated wood, which gives it a more glossy look and requires less maintenance, however if you do get scratches they need to be repaired professionally. Also once a scratch appears this means there is a chance of water ingress, which could cause the wood to swell, so avoid cutting directly on the surface, as well as hot pans!

Laminate

Laminates have been developed over many years to bring a cost effective, durable, easy cleaning and stylish (in some cases) finish to your kitchen. You can get imitation wood finishes, smooth finishes, glossy finishes and textured finishes. I would advise against the glossy finishes as the show up scratches and are difficult to remove. You can also get different edging finishes, the normal is formed edges, which means no sharp edges (good for kids - or accident prone adults) but you can also get squared edges, either in the same finish as the top, or alternatives like wood and aluminium. These add an extra wow factor, especially if you go for a thicker edge, say 50mm, while still being cheaper than most worktops. One thing to remember that most suppliers cannot provide under mounted sink configurations, they are however in development of surface mounted sinks and hobs.

Stone

Granite - This material is very hard wearing and less porous than other stone worktops meaning spills are less likely to stain. It also allows for under mounted sinks which is a nice design detail, especially with square sinks and grooves etched in the worktop. You can get thicknesses up to about 30mm in one piece, but you can have thicker by having a "L" shaped or double thickness. See the images to the left for examples, just be aware of the possible joint mark when choosing this.

Marble - This material is softer than granite and more porous, this means that if you spill anything you must clean it immediately or else you will stain the top. So for this reason, more sealant is required, and on a more regular basis.

Sandstone - This material is available and can look really good, however I would recommend against it as it is far more porous and brittle than granite and marble and even water can stain it.

When choosing a stone worktop, either Granite, Marble or sandstone, suppliers offer templating and fitting and I would recommend this as stone can only be cut in the factory and with such great tolerances any wavy walls can leave big gaps if not templated correctly. To add extra tolerance, thicker splash backs could be used to hide these gaps.

Also remember as stone is a natural material, the samples you see may not match exactly with the finished article as each cut has it's own unique characteristics.

Composite

New materials such as corian and quartzite are man made stones, basically stone is ground down and mixed with a poxy resin to create a kind of paste. This is then set in sheets and cut and polished to the sizes required. You can however use moulds to create any shape and length (within reason and check with you supplier) you want, including moulded sinks, which are really nice. These materials come in a massive array of colours and have a uniform finish in either matt of glossy complection.

Composite worktops are generally more expensive but have more flexibility than stone alone.

Glass

Glass as a worktop brings something different from the norm, generally coming fairly thin and frosted (so that you can't see into your cupboards below) however you could go for a painted under image to personalise your kitchen, in the same way as the splash back. I am quite intrigued however at the possibility of lighting, you could inlay LEDs at the back of the worktop which will light up the worktop to add an extra effect to your kitchen.

Stainless Steel

It’s tough, durable, won't rust, corrode, or decay and is easy to clean.

Although it is easy to clean, it is very susceptible to fingerprints, scratches and dents! In my experience Stainless Steel looks good at two stages of its life, when it’s shinny new and after years of abuse and full of scratches.

Stainless Steel worktops are also very heat resistant, so are good to use around the hob or range ovens, and are also very hygienic. Usually found in professional kitchens, these worktops are becoming more popular in residential properties. I like the mix of stainless steel with a composite material to create a nice contrast.