A guide to choosing your perfect kitchen worktop from leading kitchen designers in Sheffield.

• News
• November 28, 2016

At Concept Interiors in Sheffield, we sell a number of different worktops, including specialist materials such as granite, quartz, Corian and solid wood. Specialist worktops need to be templated, so can only be measured for their fitting once your kitchen units are in place. Our worktops are available in a wide range of finishes and thicknesses.  Each surface has unique properties, which have differing levels of water, wear and heat-resistance.  They all come with a guarantee, which varies depending on type.

Wood or stone, composite or metal? The choice of material for your kitchen worktops can seem never-ending, but it’s worth taking the time to get this hardworking surface right. Your kitchen worktops will be used for preparing, serving and, potentially, dining and will need to withstand regular, intensive cleaning. They’re a natural focal point in your kitchen, complementing the units and flooring you choose, and have become a key part of the design process. You’re going to be interacting with them multiple times a day, so it’s important to choose a style you like the look of, as well as a surface that will suit your lifestyle. Here are the pros and cons of the main materials on the market today.

1. Granite

Granite is one of the most popular choices for kitchen worktops. It’s stylish, beautiful and is typically associated with luxurious kitchen schemes. Granite is the result of cooling pressurised magma over millions of years resulting in a rock that is both heat and scratch resistant. When sealed properly it is also stain resistant and, once installed, requires low maintenance.

Pros:

• Hard-wearing
• Heat resistant
• Antibacterial
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Very heavy
• Expensive

2. Quartz

Quartz is a man-made alternative to traditional stone worktops like granite. Employing industrial techniques, natural quartz is fortified with resin to create a truly hard-wearing and customisable worktop. Quartz has become ever more popular over the years and offers a more uniform, contemporary stone work-surface. It is naturally resistant to staining and scratching, but is less heat-resistant than granite.

Pros:

• Hard-wearing
• Antibacterial
• Easy to clean
• Unrestricted range of colour

Cons:

• Very heavy
• Expensive

3. Solid Surface Composite – Corian, Hanex, Tristone.

Solid surface worktops are made by applying an acrylic resin to the top of a substrate material like wood. They create a seamless, glossy worktop that fits perfectly into a contemporary design.

Pros:

• Heat and scratch resistant
• Seamless
• Stain resistant
• Can be moulded into any shape

Cons:

• Expensive

These solid surface materials are great for modern kitchens. They are heat and scratch resistant to a point, but can’t compete with solid stone or quartz.

4. Glass

Glass has only recently been introduced to the work surface market. It is stylish, versatile and works perfectly in a contemporary design.

Pros:

• Can be made in any size or shape
• Easy to clean and hygienic
• Extremely durable
• Heat resistant
• Limitless range of colours
• Looks modern, stylish and sleek

Cons:

• Expensive
• Needs frequent cleaning

5. Solid Wood Worktops

Whether you are after a contemporary or traditional kitchen, solid wood is a great solution, as long as you are willing to put the work into its maintenance.

Pros:

• Cheaper than stone options
• Variety of wood grains and colours
• Antibacterial if maintained
• Looks great with age

Cons:

• Requires bi-annual maintenance
• Can become stained
• Can scratch

6. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the go-to worktop material in the commercial kitchen sector.

Pros:

• Strong and durable
• Naturally antibacterial
• Easy to clean
• Water proof
• Heat and acid resistant
• Very light

Cons:

• Cold
• Clinical
• Difficult to integrate into large areas

Stainless steel is still not very popular in homes because it can become overwhelming when used in large areas. However, there is no reason you couldn’t use it to make a statement and take advantage of its benefits on a kitchen island or a small workspace.

Worktops to look out for in 2017

At Concept Interiors, a product that we really expect to take off this year is a new product called Dekton, it’s a porcelain product that is heat resistant, scratch resistant and can be bookmatched. Bookmatching is a process where two pieces of the same stone slap are joined to create a mirrored pattern in the surface. This was only previously possible using quarried marble which, as well as being expensive, is nowhere near as durable as Dekton.

At Concept Interiors, we are a Sheffield based, Elite retailer for Dekton products. We have several stunning displays for our customers to enjoy in our new state of the art kitchen showroom in Sheffield.

7. Dekton

Dekton is a new type of surface from world leading quartz brand Cosentino. Its structure and DNA makes it extremely adaptable and suitable for kitchen worktops, floor and wall tiles, external cladding and more. Dekton uses a blend of raw materials to produce the very latest in porcelain and glass and the highest quality of quartz work surfaces.

There are 12 Dekton colours available which range from Greys, Blacks and White. Unlike Cosentino’s other products, the Dekton range comes with unique texture finishes such as Brush Hammered, Wood Concrete, Denim, Leather, Oxide, Slate and Natural Stone. This unique texture gives it an advantage that no other material can provide. This means that denim texture would feel like denim and the same applies to other textures within the range.

It does not stop there, Dekton has other leading advantages over other worktops including Granite, Marble and Quartz. During its manufacturing stages, the slabs have been treated to ensure stain resistant technology, uv protection, water resistant, impact resistant and heat resistant. So if you are looking for a worktop for your new dream kitchen in 2017, perhaps Dekton is the product for you.