Granite is an intrusive igneous rock formed from cooled magma. It is rich in quartz and feldspar. Its natural origin, selection of unique colours, beautiful nature-made patterns, overall luxurious look and feel as well as its durability, resistance to heat and scratch, antibacterial qualities and easy maintenance made it one of the most attractive choices for kitchen worktop. Granite is found in red, pink, brown, grey, black, white or blue shades. The colour depends on the exact location of its origin. Although this natural rock is very heavy, patterns of dominant light minerals create an impression of a light surface. Granite is perfect for people who desire a luxurious natural look as well as low maintenance and durability.
Quartz (quartz composite) is a man made stone. It is a mixture of natural quartz crystals (90%) and resin (10%). This composition makes it a highly durable material for your kitchen worktop. In its original form quartz can be found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks and is one of the most common minerals on Earth. In comparison to natural rocks like granite, quartz’s greatest advantage is colour diversity (from pastels to intense reds). Desired colour is normally achieved my mixing quartz with colourants and resin binder. Also, quartz is absolutely liquid and scratch resistant. It is easy to keep it nice and shiny at all times. However, unlike granite quartz is not completely heat resistant, therefore, it might crack when exposed to thermal shock.
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of one of the two minerals, either calcite found in limestone or dolomite found in dolomite rock. It is formed when mineral is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Widely known and used white marble is composed of calcite. All the patches, lines and other patterns on its surface are impurities in the mass. These can vary from grey, pink to green, brown or black shades. Marble has a very distinctive appearance and is very well known for its natural beauty. As a kitchen worktop, it creates a very luxurious and elegant look. However, there is a price to pay if you desire a natural white rock to complement your interior. Marble is vulnerable to scratches, liquids and heat. Therefore, it does require a lot of cautiousness and high maintenance.
Hard wood is a very versatile material. Depending on a type of wood and a shade it can complement very modern as well as Provance style interiors. Wood softens the look, creates warm and cozy atmosphere in the room. There is a variety of wood grains and colours to choose from and it is significantly cheaper than stone. Oak, walnut and iroko wood is mostly used for kitchen worktops due to its durability. The strongest is oak, however, with a little bit of cautiousness and maintenance walnut and iroko can also withstand temperature and moisture. All hard wood worktops require biannual oiling to serve better and longer.
Laminate is made from composite wood pressed together at high temperatures. The image of hard wood or other solid surface is then placed over composite wood to create the natural look. It is much cheaper and easier to install than hard wood or stone worktops. Good quality laminate is hard wearing, scratch and heat resistant and easy to maintain.
Glass is a great option for those aiming for modern and sleek look. It is incredibly popular in contemporary interiors due to its versatility and durability.
Glass can be produced in any colour, size or shape. Also, it is liquid and heat resistant. Kitchen worktops made of glass require more frequent cleaning than those made of any other material.
Stainless steel is mostly used in commercial kitchens. However, it can also give a contemporary edge to your kitchen design. Stainless steel is very strong and durable. It is also liquid, heat and even acid resistant. Moreover, it is easy to clean. Despite its qualities stainless steel remains not a very popular material for home interiors. This is due to quite clinical and cold look that it gives to the living space.
Corian – solid surface composite is a man-made material composed of marble dust, acrylic or polyester resins and pigments. It is a great alternative to a natural stone. Design and colour options are limitless to satisfy even the most exquisite taste. Apart from the obvious beauty of a seamless solid surface, Corian is completely non-porous making it resistant to harmful germs and bacteria. Its extremely durable, very easy to clean, easy to repair if damaged and stain resistant. It’s available in a wide range of colours, and has been the premium choice of solid material for many years in both the residential and commercial sectors, due to its properties and proven quality.
