If you are renovating your kitchen, there are many things that will make a difference, like installing the right benchtops. There are many different materials used for benchtops, leaving you spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing the appropriate one for your kitchen. The most popular benchtop materials are marble, timber, polished concrete and granite.

Marble and Timber

Marble is a natural stone known for its beauty and uniqueness. This is a porous material that features a translucence that you will not find with other benchtop materials. Marble comes in different colours and patterns. The most popular varieties include Calacatta, Carrara, and Statuario. Calacatta is an Italian marble with a warm-coloured vein that has a white background. Carrara has grey veining with a white background while Statuario is a blend of both Calacatta and Carrara.

Timber is slowly finding its way back in Australian kitchens for both cabinets and benchtops. Timber matches with other materials, architectural styles and colours. It also adds texture and warmth to natural and engineered stone. Like natural stone, timber is porous and needs to be protected. It is important to seal timber surfaces during routine maintenance.

Polished Concrete, Granite, and Engineered Stone

If you are aiming for an industrial look, then polished concrete is what you need for your benchtop. This choice is expensive. Factors such as sand, aggregate and cement will affect the final colour of your benchtop — this means you will have a unique product. Raw concrete needs to be polished to avoid staining the surface.

Granite is also an excellent natural stone. It features large visible grains and is mainly composed of feldspar and quartz with bits of minerals like amphiboles and mica. Granite is formed from the magma below the surface of the earth. It is dense and robust. Granite comes in different forms from super white to Kashmir white, all with different colours and grain patterns. When sealed and polished, granite is very appealing.

Engineered stone benchtops are made of man-made products. Although most of it is made from natural quartz, a small percentage is made from resin. Quartz is a robust natural mineral, which is the reason engineered stone benchtops are common in many Australian households. Engineered stone is less porous than granite and marble, so they are hygienic. They are also stain-, scratch- and chip-resistant.

Endnote

Finding the right kitchen benchtop depends on the quality of the material. You need to compare the different materials available to find the one best suited for your needs. These different varieties also differ in terms of cost, maintenance, resistance and durability. You also need to factor these considerations into your final choice. Consult a benchtop expert for advice on the best benchtop for your kitchen.