A glance into the tactile area of kitchen work surfaces.
Slice on it, dice on it
Spill on it, thrill on it
Hit on it, sit on it
Knead on it, feed on it
Dine on it, wine on it
Hot pans or ice cubes, your kitchen worktop sees it all and is surely one of the most dominant features of a kitchen, and probably the hardest worker in there.
Deciding on your kitchen work surface is an important decision. It’s a big feature of that space both functional and aesthetic. It needs to visually please you and suit your style, and endure your way of living and serve your home and hub faithfully. It’s the material that you visually and physically connect with daily and the reality is – it’s also your proud bling. Everybody wants the; “Ooooh, what’s this made of?” from impressed guests and frenzied likes and comments from visitors on your social sites. But just like the wheels of sports car – there’s plenty of unsuitable choices out there and you have to get it right. As after they all go home, and the novelty wears off – your decision has to fit your needs for at least the next ten years so it’s worth weighing up the speedbumps beforehand.
Like most choices in a bathroom or kitchen, there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to worktops – it’s a focussed, and often lengthy conversation with customers that’s a bit like an interview!
At Omega we are very invested in customer satisfaction. It’s not a line – part of it is self-serving and good business sense. It’s a competitive world and caring, investing time and going the extra mile with customers pays off. I feel it’s our responsibility to advise, guide and assist with our work, so much of our customers are interlinked. It’s surprising just how many people know each other!
It sounds weird but instead of starting the subject asking what materials they’ve heard of, seen at their friends, or been dazzled with online – I learn about their lifestyle. I ask questions about how the space will be used, by whom, how many, how hard, and how often. I can then begin to build a list of suitable options that make sense. These answers combined with the physical aspects of the space like the actual design, room size, style, corner numbers, spans and lighting all play a part.
Personally, I’m a sceptic and perfectionist, it’s a blessing and a curse. A customer of ours was adamant she wanted white sparkle quartz next to an expansive glass door run on a south-facing garden. My feeling was she would be uncomfortably dazzled at certain times of day. She disagreed entirely. Ultimately all decisions are our customers but just before that one was made, I asked to lay a pair of removed white-gloss wardrobe doors rested in the area that would be the kitchen island and left for the weekend.
Monday morning, white was ‘off the table’ and we were now looking at dark greys. It’s not about being right – but getting it right. My take on that situation is that she will recommend us not only on the quality and workpersonship, but also on aspects that that were ‘above and beyond’ what other company’s might do.
So, what’s out there? Loads… it’s a jungle! Seriously.
Laminate is what we all know. It ruled the earth – just like the dinosaurs. But everything changes.
It was pretty much either this, or if you were posh enough – granite. Let’s make a start with these two.
Laminated wood
The sad truth is modern laminated chipboard isn’t what it once was. Decades of lean-processing production, coupled with better alternatives has lessened appeal and limited manufacturers investment into improving on the product. We are a throw-away world and producers of this material can sniff at a year’s guarantee being acceptable these days – this choice is viewed very much as the budget, entry level option and the buyer has to really research the best quality available as there will be wide variants out there.
Pro’s – Expansive choice, good ‘all-rounder’, affordable, DIY friendly.
Cons – Often poor quality finish and endurance, core very susceptible to moisture, becoming extinct.
Granite
It’s been around ages, literally. Natural stone that’s very beautiful and charismatic. Resilient and quality, it will faithfully serve you well. As it is a natural stone it is porous will require sealing (usually annually) but this is quite easy to do. Has a very classic appeal to it but that does run the risk of it feeling dated with so many newer ideas out there. It’s very unique as in no one will have a piece exactly like yours, and the distinct strong patterns of it beams quality. Granite is often dark in colour.
Pro’s – Established status, durability,
Cons – Ungodly heavy, can look dated, cost, patterns can look odd with corner joints, time from template to install.
Real wood
Real wood looks beautiful. Done right it is a marvel. Classic and unique it brings warmth and life to traditional kitchens perfectly. But the trade-off is it demands care and nurture. When new they can require oiling every three months, although this does reduce over time. Great care is needed to avoid cutting, stains, direct heat, chemicals, even standing water makes this the highest-maintenance option. Unfortunately, it is common seeing neglected oak surfaces with dark staining, especially around the sink area.
Pro’s – Natural beauty, Status
Cons – Very high care and maintenance required
Quartz
On to one of my favourites. It’s often mistaken as a natural product maybe because it looks and feels a lot like granite. Well, it’s kind of a hybrid. Quartz worktops consist of around 90% to 95% quartz crystals, which are ground to different specifications to give a fine or chunkier aggregate. During the manufacturing process, a mix of different aggregates can be used to create different visual and textural effects. Trends and popular in light colours as a flip to more darker granite options. It’s a great all-rounder. A huge range of styles are available with an excellent tolerance to heat, spills, and other heavy kitchen duties. A popular and worthy member on the podium. The only mentionable mark-down is joints. They are minute, but still visible. Just like granite – it’s always a mention in discussions as it can be a negative factor if there are more than one or two needed, especially with light and/or busy patterns.
Pro’s – Fantastic quality, feel, durability
Cons – Premium price, visible joints, time from template to install.
Solid surface
This has probably been one of the fastest expanding and evolving products available in more recent years. There’s many established brands like Corian, Staron, Dekton, and Krion all fighting for supremacy of being the leaded in the future of worktops.
Solid Surface worktops are incredibly tough and strong. They are manufactured from at least sixty six percent natural mineral, which has been blended with polymer resins to make them even stronger and more resilient than the natural stone from which they are produced.
Available in an abundance of colours and styles to match almost anything, it’s specs in tolerance are similar to quartz, not infallible but incredibly resilient and also non-porous. It feels like stone, but with a twist.
By far the biggest boast of this material is its versatility. It’s mainly manufactured in 12.5mm thick sheets which are then fabricated into what’s required. The process boasts ‘seamless’ joints. Virtually invisible to the eye and touch. Not only around corners but between upstands, cooker splashbacks, and even curves and elaborate shapes. It creates the look of it all being carved out of one solid block, very impressive. Another great feature is that if it gets scratched, it can be sanded and polished out, and for more substantial damage – it can be filled and repaired back to original with no trace. A re-assuring feature that our last customer liked with his six-metre-long island. On the subject of that project, special features he had like goalposts, inset sinks, and champagne sinks with pull-out covers can all be accommodated with this material.
Pro’s – Seamless joints, versatility, durability.
Cons – Cost is high, similar to quartz.
Stainless steel
This is a curveball. Definitely different is would be a real conversation piece in the appropriate setting giving a real ‘industrial’ look and resilience on a nuclear-level. It’s worthy of a brief mention because it does look good but with so many more practical options out there, this won’t suit many.
Pro’s – Ultimate image / impression / style.
Cons – Cost, scratch-city, frown-factor.
Compact laminate
It came it and was everywhere, now not so much. Hailed as the next generation of improved laminated chipboard – by removing the chipboard. Characteristically thin (12mm) they are made of layers of (wait for it!) kraft paper, each impregnated with resin. The strength comes from the layering process, and the result is a waterproof material that is also heat and stain-resistant. Done well it looks really good, but it’s a worthwhile point that although it’s billed as a material that carpenters can use all their normal tools and techniques on – it’s notoriously hard on blades and bits and is often met with hesitancy and avoidance from tradespeople due to those reason and its tendency to chip. To add to that, the depth of 12mm that gives it that distinct style can also be problematic with hobs. They hang lower and can fowl drawers that are often pitched below.
Pro’s – Sturdy, waterproof, sleek modern feel, reasonable cost
Cons – Fell out of fashion, tricky to fabricate.
Hope you found this article informative. There are more options out there than covered here. Concrete, porcelain, ceramic, marble, even glass. Each one similar to most above spirals outwards with vast variants of colour, thickness, and finish. You really can create a beautiful space that fits your every need.
Thanks for reading!