Which Kitchen Worktop? Pros and cons?

[Slaav]

Can't find any links or threads so asking for real world advice pls?

Wood - impractical and needs TLC
Marble / Granite - great but spills etc an issue???
Composites - just always seem a cheap solution? Especially in a traditional style kitchen?

Etc etc.....

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

[RevHappy]

Work out what you want from a surface and take it for there.
Questions like, polished or not, joints or not, dark or light coloured, budget or bucks etc.

[Neil - YVM]

Slaav said:

Can't find any links or threads so asking for real world advice pls?

Wood - impractical and needs TLC
Marble / Granite - great but spills etc an issue???
Composites - just always seem a cheap solution? Especially in a traditional style kitchen?

Etc etc.....

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

Wood - can look fabulous in a traditional style kitchen, can be sanded to remove marks, etc. But does need periodic maintenance - if oiled, to keep at it's best, especially around the sink.

Granite - Looks great, hard wearing, heat resistant, spills only really an issue if a light colour. Natural, so can have variation in appearance, which either adds to the character or is an issue dependent on your view.

Quartz - Looks Great, hard wearing, heat resistant, sealed so no spill issues, consistent pattern / colour. Available in different styles to granite.

Corian - Looks man made, reasonably hard wearing, can be re polished to remove marks, joints are invisible, allows seamless jointed sinks. No spill issues.

Excluding laminate worktops, Timber is the least expensive, the other 3 options are broadly similar in price.

Edited by Neil - YVM on Wednesday 27th August 18:26

[Riff Raff]

Neil - YVM said:

Wood - can look fabulous in a traditional style kitchen, can be sanded to remove marks, etc. But does need periodic maintenance - if oiled, to keep at it's best, especially around the sink.

Granite - Looks great, hard wearing, heat resistant, spills only really an issue if a light colour. Natural, so can have variation in appearance, which either adds to the character or is an issue dependent on your view.

Quartz - Looks Great, hear wearing, heat resistant, sealed so no spill issues, consistent pattern / colour. Available in different styles to granite.

Corian - Looks man made, reasonably hard wearing, can be re polished to remove marks, joints are invisible, allows seamless jointed sinks. No spill issues.

Excluding laminate worktops, Timber is the least expensive, the other 3 options are broadly similar in price.

I was told by a kitchen design place that Corian can also be repaired, so if you knock a corner off a worktop by dropping a pan on it, you can have it fixed. The moulded in sinks also look pretty cool. It's currently top of the list for our forthcoming kitchen re-furbishment (worktops and splash backs).

[Renovation]

I'm considering slate or polished concrete for mine.

I have no issues with granite and having dark granite I'm unaware that stains are an issue - we haven't had any and we certainly spill things.

I believe tiles and glass are other options

[Alucidnation]

Most granite is porous, which is why they normally leave a bottle of sealer when installed for maintenance.

[jon-]

I'm also looking at polished concrete

[Maxf]

We chose oak - the natural look softened an otherwise fairly harsh and stark kitchen. We'd probably have gone for polished concrete otherwise, but the price made me cry inside a little.

It hasnt been fitted yet, but I understand oiling it will become a new hobby.

[vescaegg]

I got oak last year. It looks amazing and I have kept it looking really nice.

But...

I have bloody tried my hardest to keep it this way. Even one drop of water left around the sink after washing up will soak in and eventually turn things black. Im constantly going round with a tea towel mopping up even the smallest of drops spilled.

One cup was left on the drainer with a wet bottom (obviously I claim by the missus and she claims by me ) and we now have a lovely black ring on the corner which will NOT rub off. I will have to sand it down again next year and oil but its a pain.

They do however look brilliant when in top condition but I would not get again. To much effort.

Edited by vescaegg on Wednesday 27th August 13:59

[Zelda Pinwheel]

vescaegg said:

I got oak last year. It looks amazing and I have kept it looking really nice.

But...

I have bloody tried my hardest to keep it this way. Even one drop of water left around the sink after washing up will soak in and eventually turn things black. One cup was left on the drainer with a wet bottom and we now have a lovely black ring on the corner which will NOT rub off. I will have to sand it down again next year and oil but its a pain.

They do however look brilliant when in top condition.

Would not get again. To much effort.

We hope to have an oak top installed later this year, and have a small test piece to knock about in the kitchen before saying yes to the final installation. I've managed to mark it (wet baking tray), and got the black marks out using oxalic acid. It'll need re-oiling, but does mean that it doesn't immediately need sanding back.

[Renovation]

Maxf said:

We'd probably have gone for polished concrete otherwise, but the price made me cry inside a little

Yes it seems very high for a cheap material - I intend to make my own

[paulrockliffe]

I used iroko instead of Oak for it's oil content. I used Sadolin IP67 instead of oil. Doesn't look quite as nice as an oiled top, but it looks much nicer than any similarly priced options and seems to be a good compromise between the look and the maintenance involved.

It's only been in a week, but hopefully it will alst as well as people have suggested it should.

[Paul Drawmer]

I like laminate. It's does the job extremely well, and is cost effective without looking cheap.

I really don't see any advantages in spending more for a product that will require more looking after. Spend the money on storage solutions.

[Muzzer79]

Paul Drawmer said:

I like laminate. It's does the job extremely well, and is cost effective without looking cheap.

I really don't see any advantages in spending more for a product that will require more looking after. Spend the money on storage solutions.

I agree

I've just replaced my kitchen, removing the old wooden worktops which had faded, split and discoloured.

I went for a higher quality laminate as the other options - Corian, Quartz, Granite - had such a high price difference it made no sense in a sub £10k kitchen.

If you're doing something higher in price, then look to the more quality materials.

[irocfan]

by the sounds of it oak (or indeed any other wood would drive me nuts). Quarz for me please

[Neil - YVM]

Muzzer79 said:

Paul Drawmer said:

I like laminate. It's does the job extremely well, and is cost effective without looking cheap.

I really don't see any advantages in spending more for a product that will require more looking after. Spend the money on storage solutions.

I agree

I've just replaced my kitchen, removing the old wooden worktops which had faded, split and discoloured.

I went for a higher quality laminate as the other options - Corian, Quartz, Granite - had such a high price difference it made no sense in a sub £10k kitchen.

If you're doing something higher in price, then look to the more quality materials.

The current laminates have moved on significantly, and some look really quite nice.
They will always be the best value for money option, and not a bad option at all.

But if budget allows, I personally would have granite or quartz.

[Neil - YVM]

irocfan said:

by the sounds of it oak (or indeed any other wood would drive me nuts). Quarz for me please

Good call. When would you like it?

[Neil - YVM]

Riff Raff said:

I was told by a kitchen design place that Corian can also be repaired, so if you knock a corner off a worktop by dropping a pan on it, you can have it fixed. The moulded in sinks also look pretty cool. It's currently top of the list for our forthcoming kitchen re-furbishment (worktops and splash backs).

Yes, within reason Corian can be repaired. Not my favourite surface, but the moulded in sinks do look great. Also as no ridges, so nice and easy to clean.

[The Moose]

Neil - YVM said:

Muzzer79 said:

Paul Drawmer said:

I like laminate. It's does the job extremely well, and is cost effective without looking cheap.

I really don't see any advantages in spending more for a product that will require more looking after. Spend the money on storage solutions.

I agree

I've just replaced my kitchen, removing the old wooden worktops which had faded, split and discoloured.

I went for a higher quality laminate as the other options - Corian, Quartz, Granite - had such a high price difference it made no sense in a sub £10k kitchen.

If you're doing something higher in price, then look to the more quality materials.

The current laminates have moved on significantly, and some look really quite nice.
They will always be the best value for money option, and not a bad option at all.

But if budget allows, I personally would have granite or quartz.

I'm yet to see one I'd be happy to put in my own kitchen I must be honest.

If you spend a bit of time looking around and doing your research (not buying from Howdens/Wickes etc) you can do stone for not a lot more than laminate...

[RevHappy]

Also look at various thickness, the cost of a 12 or 20mm slab can give big savings over the traditional 30mm.