Australia (AU $)

Kitchen renovation ideas - materials for your benchtop.

March 17, 2014

One of the important areas when renovating your kicthen is your benchtop. You can never have too much bench space. There is always something to put on the bench space, dishes to leave, pots to leave, shopping to leave, children doing work, paper to read. There is always something happening with your bench space. This week I thought I would do a series of articles on the various benchtop materials that you can use and the pros and cons of each material. Please let me know your thoughts during the week, particularly on the amterials you found the best.

Granite Pros: Granite's beautiful mottling and the host of colors and patterns found in nature make each piece one of a kind. It stands up well to splashes, knife nicks, heat and other wear and tear. Cons: Like most stone, granite must be sealed every so often to avoid stains. And its heaviness means you'll need very sturdy cabinet boxes to support the weight. Solid Surfacing Made primarily from acrylic and polyester,solid surfacing first was sold under the brand name Corian, which is often (erroneously) used as a generic term for it. Today, it's made by a host of manufacturers and has enjoyed steady popularity over the years. Pros: Because solid surfacing is nonporous, it's virtually maintenance free — no sealing or special cleaning required. Although it can be susceptible to scratches and burns, those are easy to sand out. Color and pattern options are extensive, and because you're not trying for the look of a natural material, you can experiment with vibrant hues such as turquoise or tomato red. Seamless installation means there are no cracks to trap dirt and debris. Cons: Solid surfacing can have a patently artificial look and feel, yet can approach the price of natural stone. As mentioned above, it doesn't stand up to hot pans or sharp knives as well as other materials. Quartz Surfacing Crafted of resin and quartz chips tinted with color, quartz surfacing (also called engineered quartz or engineered stone) is a good compromise between the beauty of stone and the easy care of solid surfacing. Pros: Quartz surfacing has the same advantages as solid surfacing with regard to maintenance. As an engineered product, it's available in a far greater range of colors and patterns than natural stone. Cons: This material doesn't have the natural variegation of granite, so it may be evident that it's an engineered product. It's relatively pricey, although its durability can make it a worthwhile investment. Marble Is there anything that looks and feels more glamorous than a marble countertop? Peerless in terms of its luminescence and distinctive veining, it's an ultratraditional choice. Pros: Nothing beats marble for sheer elegance. It stands up to heat well, and because it remains perennially cool, it's a traditional choice for pastry and baking stations (read: Dough won't get too soft). Cons: Marble is very suspectible to stains even with sealing. For that reason, it's not often used throughout an entire kitchen — most homeowners limit it to one or two small areas. It can also scratch and chip. There we covered 4 different materials today. Let me know your thoughts and feedback. Have a great day. talk soon.....