The choice of worktops for your kitchen come in all manner of shapes and sizes while the materials used are seemingly endless. The result is a bewildering choice for those who would like to redecorate their kitchen. With so many worktops to choose from in the current kitchen design climate it is a difficult decision that means a lot of deliberation on the part of the homeowner; your choice should factor in cost, durability and style, but ultimately the decision is yours.



Currently the most popular materials for worktops are laminate, granite, glass, stainless steel and wood. All these materials have benefits and disadvantages, it is important to recognise these features and not to purely make your decision on looks. For instance some wooden worktops are susceptible to warping when used in wet areas, such as around sinks, hence a more durable material would be more advisable in this case.

Your primary concern should be the practicalities of the worktops you are looking at. For those who have children the stylistic benefits of glass will be offset by how easily it is marked. Also, if you are keen cook, your worktops should have heat resistant properties in order that they will not be marked by hot pans. Once again if it is your children that will be in the kitchen, you may well want to consider worktops that have antibacterial features, the best materials for this kind of worktop are stainless steel and corian. These will have their downsides as well, over time steel will scratch; while some may like this patterning, those who want the pristine modernist look will not be satisfied.

Hardwood is a great material for the worktops in your kitchen; it is ideal for food preparation areas and looks great in most kitchens. For sink areas, woods such as iroko and teak are ideal as they have a high oil content and are subsequently water resistant. To avoid staining your wooden worktops it is advisable to wipe up spillages instantly as they can soak in and stain. It is advisable to stain the wood every couple of years to extend the lifespan. Also, wooden worktops may well require sealing when first purchased to ensure their durability, this can laborious, so for those who are slightly work-shy avoid wooden worktops as they require upkeep.

Composite worktops are manufactured from artificial stone and can be an extremely durable work surface. In terms of style, they are extremely contemporary and can be used anywhere in the kitchen. Many who install composite worktops will want to utilise the vast array of colours available to make attractive and contrasting colour patterns in their kitchen. They are easy to keep clean, just use a detergent and if they do become scratched it is normally possible to sand out the scratches. As they are man-made it is possible for these worktops to be fitted in an original way, using many different shapes.

Granite worktops are normally considered to be some of the most expensive worktops on the market but are certainly worth the outlay. It oozes luxury and will never be considered unfashionable; it is in short, timeless. Just as easy to keep clean as composite, its durable properties are outstanding, able to withstand high temperatures and spillages excellently, although acidic liquids should be cleaned away immediately.

At the other end of the price scale is laminate. This is perfect for general uses and can be used anywhere in the kitchen. It is also possible to make laminate resemble other materials through veneers. Resilient to stains and liquid, it somewhat suffers when heated; although high end laminates can limit this problem.

Hopefully this article has given the reader some idea of the different options available to them in terms of the materials used in the manufacture of worktops. Ultimately the choice is yours but be sure to carefully consider all the options. The right selection of worktops can make your kitchen the culinary haven you have always wanted.