The benchtop is an essential part of any kitchen. But there are some benchtop materials that are better suited for use in kitchens than others. If you’ve never had to research kitchen benchtop materials, you may not know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this blog to help you find the right kitchen benchtop material for your home.
Different kitchen benchtop and their specifications
There are all sorts of kitchen benchtop materials available, but some may be more appropriate for your kitchen. You may need to consider the cost of the material; how much maintenance it requires; how durable it is, how resistant it is to stains, moisture and heat; and how it looks. Below is a guide to common kitchen benchtop materials and how they fare in these categories.
- Bamboo and butcher block
Great for a natural look, bamboo and butcher’s block is becoming more popular in modern homes.
Budget: This material is fairly inexpensive and easily available.
Maintenance: This material requires some maintenance, particularly regularly oiling from cracking or drying out. Harsh cleaning products can also damage this material, so only use recommended cleaning solutions. needs extra care by re-apply the oils to keep it from cracking up or drying out. In case of any spills it needs to be attended to immediately with damp cloth or soapy water. But using harsh cleaning products may also damage the bamboo.
Stain, heat and moisture resistance: This material is somewhat stain and moisture resistant, however spills should be cleaned up quickly to prevent stains. Bleach will also leave a white mark on the surface. This material is sensitive to heat and a ring or burn mark will be left if a hot pan or pot or placed on it.
Durability: While this material is strong it can be susceptible to dents and chipping.
Aesthetics: Bamboo is an attractive material and can be a great way to create a natural look in your kitchen. It complements other woods but looks equally good when paired against metal. - Polished Concrete
Polished concrete can be used to create an industrial look in your kitchen. However, it does need to be sealed regularly. This gives an industrial look and needs polishing for a unique product. The raw concrete is porous which needs sealing to avoid stains or any damage.
Budget: The cost of the material is relatively cheap but it can be expensive to install.
Maintenance: Care should be taken to maintain and replace the seal as needed to ensure that the concrete does not get damaged. Only use recommended cleaning products on the surface.
Durability: It may surprise you, but concrete can be a delicate material. For instance, the corners can be easily chipped and the surface scratched. However, it can manage daily use.
Stain, heat and moisture resistance: Once sealed, this material is fairly stain and moisture resistant. However, when the seal is damaged, it can stain easily and can be quite porous. It is not heat resistant as the seal may bubble when exposed to hot items and the surface may become marked.
Aesthetics: It can be difficult to match this material to most kitchens, but in an industrial or modern style kitchen it can fit right in./ - Laminate
Laminate is a popular benchtop material as it is available in a range of styles, is easy to install and is relatively cheap.
Budget: Laminate is a cheap option that suits almost any budget.
Durability: Durability can depend upon the type of laminate used. It can withstand daily wear and tear, but it may become scratched after a time and care should be taken not to cut directly on this benchtop material.
Stain, heat and moisture resistance: This material is relative stain and moisture resistant, but spills should still be cleaned up quickly. You can also purchase laminate that has a detailed pattern that makes stains harder to see. It is not heat resistant and hot pots and pans should not be directly placed on it.
Maintenance: Laminate is easily maintained with regular cleaning with general household cleaners. You may need to replace damaged sections or sections that are beginning to lift over time though.
Aesthetics: You can find a laminate to suit any kitchen. While it doesn’t look as elegant as other benchtop materials, it is a good choice all the same. - Marble
A natural stone often associated with luxury, marble comes in a range of styles including carrara marble. Depending on the marble, the colour and veins will be different. Generally, colours can range from white, grey, black and even pink with veins of gold, grey, white and black.
Budget: Marble is an expensive material but prices can range depending on the type of material and where it comes from. You can also consider engineered marble for a similar look for less.
Durability: Marble should be sealed to ensure it can handle the daily wear and tear of the kitchen. It is also a fairly soft stone and can be chipped.
Maintenance: Marble requires a lot of maintenance. It needs to regularly be resealed and should be cleaned often to prevent stains from taking hold. Only use recommended marble cleaners to avoid damaging this surface.
Stain, heat and moisture resistance: Like other natural stones, marble is naturally porous. Therefore it needs to be sealed to be made somewhat stain and moisture resistance. You will need to be quick about cleaning up spill still though. The seal can make it somewhat heat resistant — a mark will still be left but it can be cleaned off with extensive effort. It’s not recommended to put hot objects directly onto the marble though.
Aesthetics: Marble is a striking material and can be the centre piece of any kitchen. It suits elegant and stylish kitchens but may not be a good choice for smaller kitchens where it may look out of place. Read our another article on "Different Types of Marble"
Conclusion
It can be hard to decide on the right benchtop material for your kitchen. You may need to choose an item that is not entirely stain or moisture resistance in order to fit your budget, for instance. However, do your best to choose a material that most closely fits your needs.
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