What part of the kitchen is used every day of the year? The taps and sink spring readily to mind but the forgotten item is sometimes the worktop. The worktop is not only an essential part of the kitchen but is the one area that takes a battering day after day. Whether it is tenderising the meat by hammering away, slicing the vegetables or cutting, the worktop has to be extremely durable.
If you are intending to redesign or refurbish the kitchen or simply replace the worktops you need time to consider the various options and materials available. For many years now the word ‘Formica’ has been bandied about as one of the most popular and indeed it is true but consider others before making up your mind on the final decision.
Formica is simply one type of laminate and any worktop made from this material would be waterproof and heat resistant. It is fully hygienic and totally reliable.
There are also a group of natural solid worktops which include hardwood, limestone and another two gaining in popularity, marble and granite. Granite is fast becoming the favourite and advice taken from any professional kitchen designer would in the main include a granite worktop for the kitchen. Tests have proved that a granite worktop can outlive the house itself. Knives cannot mark it and it is also non-porous, durable and heat resistant.
If the aforementioned laminates, marbles and granites do not take your interest there is always the look of days of yore – wooden worktops. Oak, Beech, Ash and Mahogany make up the four main materials in the wood category. Although it is very true that wood worktops can be attractive there are advantages and disadvantages to using wood. On the plus side they can be cut easier if you need to fit them in any difficult corners. Much easier than cutting laminates especially if you are doing the job yourself. On the minus side there is the problem of expansion and contraction of the wood and it does have the tendency to warp. You will also need to re-oil the wood on a regular basis and possibly sandpaper where the knives will actually cut into the wood over a period of time. Maintaining a clean wooden worktop is much harder than that for granite or laminates which will simply require an occasional wipe with a clean cloth.
Decide beforehand if you are going to do the job yourself or call in the professionals. The price will go up obviously if you select the latter but the kitchen is one of the most used rooms in house these days and the worktop takes pride of place. Fitting it correctly is paramount.
