Choosing a kitchen worktop is an in-depth process with many factors to consider. Different materials offer different qualities. Whilst we love to work with wood, this article focuses on porcelain, stone and quartz worktops, as we don’t recommend wooden worktops except for accent areas such as breakfast bars, and never next to sinks or hobs due to staining and longevity. Utilising the knowledge and experience of Coast Creative’s Head Designer Luke, discover which kitchen worktop you should choose.
Luke said, “We use materials from different manufacturers in many ways throughout the home. However my favourite selection and the first place I look when developing concepts is the Cosentino surface range.”
Cosentino offer the following surface materials:
Dekton: a carbon neutral ultracompact porcelain surface with an optimised manufacturing process inspired by natural stone.
“Similar in a lot of ways to manmade quartz products but with its own specific qualities, porcelain surfaces are formed under high pressure and are incredibly durable. To give an idea of the level of durability, they can even be used as external cladding to buildings!” Luke continued, “Where as natural stone products are porous and require re-sealing, porcelain is completely resistant to water and stains. Porcelain worktops can be fabricated to achieve different thicknesses and edge profiles. Some porcelain products are also available in very thin sheets which can be bonded to substrates and used in other areas beyond just a worktop.”
“The surface pattern on a porcelain worktop is printed on as part of the manufacturing process. The core of the material is colour matched to the patterns underlying colour. Because of this when porcelain parts are joined and a bevel or radius detail added to edge you do get a colour change at the join. For this reason I try and stay away from using porcelain when a thick worktop is called for as the edge can feel a little to abrupt at larger scales.”
Scalea: Cosentino’s range of natural stone including marble, granite, limestone and travertine amongst others.
Luke said, “Natural stones can have incredible figuring with no two slabs being the same. For this reason you really need to see the slabs in person! We recommend taking samples of the other materials present in the design to the stone manufacturers – it’s a fun part of the process!”
“However, natural stone can be limiting in terms of fabrication. Typically slabs are fairly thick which doesn’t lend itself to all designs. For example, matching splash-backs or using stone within the cabinetry isn’t impossible, but can be prohibitively expensive.”
Sensa: a range of granite and quartzite products by Cosentino that has an additional treatment added to seal and protect the product, so you don’t have to re-seal the worktop.
Silestone: a manmade material comprised of various ground-down elements such as natural quartz, minerals and recycled materials, bound with resin.
“The advantage of the Silestone range is that the slabs are consistently reproduced. They are still effectively handmade so there is some variation, but in general you can take a suppliers sample along with the HD image files of the full slab (available through the material suppliers) and get a really good feel of how the worktops are going to look. We take these HD images to recreate the materials digitally which are then applied to clients.” Luke added, “It’s possible to cut quartz very accurately and with a good finish which allows for a variety of fabrication techniques to be used. The pattern or grain of the material runs through the slabs. If you cut a section through it you would see a continuation of the pattern from the outside surfaces! This also enables us to radius and mitre the edges as well as adding more decorative edge details. As manmade quartz slabs are available in many thicknesses they can also be used in other elements of cabinetry.”
Your kitchen worktop will be one of the most visible and heavily used parts of your kitchen, so selecting a surface that looks good and functions is an important decision in the design process. Different materials offer different qualities. From strength and suitability to aesthetics and construction, we’ve outlined a few important questions to ask yourself and your designer before committing to your new kitchen worktop.
By far one of the biggest considerations is which worktop will best suit your lifestyle. Kitchens that are subjected to daily, heavy use in multiple person households will need a strong, scratch and stain resistant worktop, Natural stones, Quartz or porcelain can all achieve this and each have their own unique characteristics.
Less labour intensive kitchens can get away with less forgiving materials. We work with a specialist craftsman to offer completely bespoke, super strong, poured in-situ, polished concrete worktops. We create the formers for him to then pour the concrete and create the perfect finish. These are incredibly durable but not as stain-resistant as other options as concrete is naturally porous which enables liquids to be easily absorbed. To improve stain resistance worktops need to be resealed annually.
Second homes and holiday lets would benefit from a strong, low maintenance worktop such as quartz or porcelain-blend materials.
If you’re looking for a beautiful but low-maintenance option, we’d recommend a stain resistant material such as Dekton. This durable countertop material is made from a blend of porcelain, glass and quartz stone.
Man made Quartz worktops like Silestone are also highly stain resistant. It is important to consider that the final finish, for example whether it is polished or honed, can play a part in stain resistance and wear. Characteristics of the worktop will vary slightly depending on the brand or specific composition.
There are a few factors you need to take into consideration when choosing which worktop to fit. One is the flooring or cabinetry it will be fitted above. Solid stone worktops can be heavy, so it is necessary to consider the load-bearing capabilities of the cabinetry holding it. Movement wise, if you have a suspended floor, underlay or a wooden structure supporting your worktop, it is important to opt for a material with relative flexibility. As wood and suspended flooring is subject to a small amount of movement, your worktop will need to be move too. Quartz has this ability, whilst porcelain has no give, therefore there is a risk of joints popping. Wood is also a very flexible option, however we do not recommend using wood around the sink or cooker area as it is so susceptible to liquid ingress, swelling and staining. If you’re eager for a wooden counter, we suggest using this material for a stand-alone breakfast bar or accent elements like peninsulas.
Worktop materials containing quartz are extremely durable. Resistant to scratches, cracks, chips and stains (but not stain proof, so spills need to be cleaned up quickly!), they are non-porous so they are hygienic and make excellent food preparation stations. Our clients at Keynvor opted for a Caesarstone worktop, which is made from a blend of natural quartz, resins, polymers and pigments.
However, another fact to consider about quartz and quartz-blend surfaces is that they have been found to be hazardous to the workforce producing them. Many engineered stone worktops, particularly quartz, have a high silica content that is hazardous to the lung health of the factory workers who cut, polish and finish this stone. Australia have recently banned worktops with a high silica content. There are a few stone kitchen companies that no longer work with high silica content stone, and there is a chance that the UK will impose similar legislations to the new law in Australia. This is an issue that we are keeping an eye on.
Porcelain worktops are stain resistant as they are less porous than natural stone. They are also low maintenance and don’t need regular upkeep. Whilst a porcelain-blend worktop material such as Dekton as durable, it is also brittle and can break if a heavy object is accidentally dropped on it. Porcelain worktops are not easy to repair, either!
Worktops such as poured concrete, granite or marble are incredibly durable and long-lasting. They are a timeless, low maintenance choice, which is one of the reasons our clients at Noordhoek opted for a poured concrete kitchen island and matching worktops.
It is important to consider that natural stone is sensitive to acidity and staining, and requires special cleaning products.
If you’re still unsure of which kitchen worktop material to choose, get in touch! We’d love to help you with your decision, and are able to make suggestions that take into consideration all your ideas and requirements.