Most people spend a lot of time in their kitchen. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The afternoon brings lunch, followed by supper in the evening. A kitchen needs to be practical and functional since you will be spending a lot of time there, and why not make it look good too? One of the main things in the kitchen is the surfaces. So, being a designer I am here to help you choose the right surface for you. Each material has advantages and disadvantages, you need to know what is important and functional for you and your kitchen.
Granite:
Granite is a natural stone. It consists of many different minerals which give each slab its unique appearance. Due to its stone variation, matching up slabs could be tricky that’s why it’s important to choose slabs that were quarried from the same stone. A special protective coating should be applied once a year. To stop stains such as oils and wine from getting into and staining the surface.
Advantages:
- Granite is among the most stunning countertop materials, making your kitchen look absolutely gorgeous. Since each slab of this natural material is unique, each one has rare colors.
- It is resistant to heat and it won’t be damaged by cuts and scratches.
- When sealed correctly, with protective coating it is easy to clean and has good stain resistance.
Disadvantages:
- The edges and corner could chip if a heavy object falls on them.
- Since each slab of granite is unique, it would cost a lot to fix.
- If not sealed correctly, with a special protective coating it could lead to permanent staining on your beautiful countertops.
Corian:
This is a solid surface countertop, which is man-made. They are manufactured by mixing acrylic, epoxide, and polyester resins with various pigments and a filler material derived from natural bauxite, a sedimentary stone. Each company varies depending on their mix of resin and pigments used. Solid-surface material such as Corian makes an extremely practical and attractive countertop.
Advantages:
- Many colors and patterns available.
- Easy to clean
- Low maintenance
- On the less expensive side for counter tops.
Disadvantages:
- Not heat resistant
- Easy to scratch, which might mean you’d want to buy a new countertop after so many scratches, just because it doesn’t look nice anymore.
Porcelain
Essentially, porcelain is made from clay — but not just any type of clay. The clay used to create porcelain is often called China clay, and it contains a high percentage of a mineral known as kaolinite along with silica, feldspar, and other mineral oxides which together are responsible for the strength and durability of porcelain.
Advantages:
- Porcelain will resist scratching with the best of them. However, the one thing to be careful of is ceramic knives which can sometimes scratch the porcelain.
- Stain-resistant
- Heat resistant.
- Numerous colors and patterns are available.
Disadvantages:
- It can be more expensive in some parts of the World as it has to be shipped. For example in the USA, as it is shipped from Europe.
- Porcelain is strong but not that strong. Don’t use a meat cleaver on it.
- porcelain counter tops tend to be very thin, which necessitates visual tricks such as mitered edges to make them appear more substantial
These are only three options out of many to use as surfaces in your kitchen. Stay tuned for the next blog on Kitchen Countertops. If you are unsure about which countertop to use then please, get in touch and I shall help you decide what is best for you and your kitchen.
