How do I choose a kitchen worktop?

Engineered stone quartz kitchen worktop bulthaup b3 olive wood — CHOPPING, CLEANING AND PROTECTING

Choosing the right kitchen worktop material for your new project is one of the most enjoyable parts of the design process. It is the moment you begin to personalise the layout with your individual taste and is often the starting point from which other style choices follow.
However, not all worktop materials are perfect matches for your new kitchen - it can depend on how you wish to use the space, your budget, and your willingness to care for the worktop ongoing. This is where your designer can help you narrow the selection, so you can make the right, informed decision.
In this article, we will explore some of the most popular worktop materials chosen by Hobson’s Choice clients for their new kitchens.
**LAMINATE | ENGINEERED STONE (QUARTZ) | SINTERED STONE | NATURAL STONE | CORIAN | STAINLESS STEEL**

laminate kitchen worktop bulthaup b1 — GENERAL GUIDANCE

There are three recommendations we would make to homeowners, whichever worktop surface they select.
1. Hot pots and pans should not be placed directly onto a worktop to avoid damaging the surface.
- Engineered stone may show discolouration and crack.
- The seal on natural stone may become damaged.
- Laminate could show burn marks that cannot be removed.
We would always recommend the use of trivets,
2. Always use chopping boards and coasters when preparing food or placing cups and glasses on worktop surfaces.
3. When cleaning worktop surfaces we recommend following the guidance of the manufacturer, paying particular attention to the suitable types of cleaning chemicals. For example, guidance may advocate the use of Ph-neutral cleaning agents to avoid damaging the surface sealant or resin.

what is the difference between porous and non-porous worktops?

Porous kitchen worktops have little holes or pores in the surface of the materials where fluids can pass through, while non-porous worktops do not. This means porous worktop surfaces such as natural stone, marble and wood can be more challenging to clean and maintain over time compared to non-porous materials including engineered quartz, stainless steel and laminate.

Due to this, we do tend to lean towards non-porous worktops however due to our extensive knowledge of our products and materials your designer will be qualified to help you get your desired result without compromising functionality.

What KITCHEN WORKTOPS Would you Recommend?

LAMINATE

A high-quality laminate worktop surface can provide a welcome combination of durability, colour choice and a competitive price when compared to other materials. However, not all laminate surfaces are created equal. The quality of the material will depend on the thickness of the lamination, the gluing technique, the type of core and the final finishing process.

In a bulthaup kitchen, the laminate worktop is built from incredibly strong high-density fibreboard (HDF) upon which the 1.5mm thick laminate is glued and sealed. The lamination is made of 6 coloured layers compressed together to form a hardwearing surface that is resilient to scratches or knocks.

Bulthaup has worked hard to manufacture b3 kitchen laminate worktops that are 10mm thick, slimmer than comparative brands, and just as strong and long-lasting. Each piece of bulthaup laminate worktop is made specifically for your order, in lengths up to 4.05m. This longer length, compared to stone worktops, can ensure a clean, seamless appearance and is often cited as a reason for choosing the material.

In addition, for clients who desire a monolithic style, the bulthaup worktop can be the same colour as the furniture fronts.

laminate worktop and matching fronts bulthaup b3

With cleverly sealed edges that hide any joins and a uniform finish across the entire piece, the hand-finished worktop appears as if it has been shaped from a larger, single piece of material.

Sinks and draining areas, as shown in the photo, are bonded into the worktop, providing a much better seal when compared to silicon.

Looking after a bulthaup laminate worktop is relatively simple: general day-to-day marks can be cleaned using normal methods and more stubborn stains can be gently removed with a microfibre sponge provided by bulthaup. A specialist can be called to repair the surface if a laminate worktop becomes damaged.

ENGINEERED STONE (QUARTZ)

Quartz worktops are a popular choice for people who desire some of the attributes of a natural stone surface including the look, style and touch, without the higher levels of ongoing maintenance and care required to prevent staining and damage.

Quartz worktops have been manufactured in a wide variety of finishes, which have a consistent appearance (design dependent) across the worktop. In comparison, a natural stone slab, drawn from the earth, can have a very different presentation from one edge to another.

The worktop itself is non-porous, meaning it does not allow water and other substances to penetrate the surface. In comparison to natural stone, it can be argued it is a more practical surface for everyday use as the quartz surface is more resilient to physical and chemical damage.

In a similar fashion to natural stone, a single slab of engineered quartz has a size limit – typically around 3m x 1.5m. If your kitchen worktop requirement exceeds these dimensions then your designer will factor in a join.

SINTERED SURFACES - DEKTON / NEOLITH

The evolution of engineered surfaces has led to the creation of Sintered Stone, a material that improves upon the qualities of quartz through the combination of raw materials and manufacturing innovation – Sinterised particle technology.

Glass, porcelain and quartz are mixed together to form slabs which undergo a rigorous process, mimicking the creation of natural stone, all in a factory environment.

The slabs are subjected to the intense pressure of 25,000 tonnes, and then the surface pattern is printed onto the slab face before it is baked in an 80m long oven at 1200 °C. The extreme pressure and heat cause an internal particle reaction that creates an incredibly dense and hard material structure that is coloured all the way through.

The complete control of the manufacturing process enables the visible surface to be designed in many different styles, textures and colours. It is even possible to recreate a wood grain effect by arranging the powder accordingly before compression, printing and baking.

For the user, this means they have a worktop that won’t scratch, it is heat-proof, cannot be etched by acids and retains its colour under prolonged UV exposure. It is also easy to clean and won’t stain.

Too good to be true you might say. In a Consumer Report test and it was noted that Sintered Stone (Dekton) can be susceptible to chipping due to impacts, such as dropping a pan.

To see the video of the test, click here.

That said, any kitchen worktop edge is likely to be vulnerable to damage of some degree if met with the edge of a solid metal pan travelling at speed. The good news is that the surface can be repaired by a specialist, should you ever manage to harm your worktop.

The maximum size of the slab is 3.2 x 1.4m and, like other stone worktops, if your requirements exceed these dimensions, a join will be required.

NATURAL STONE

Natural stone surfaces are often chosen because of the material's decorative qualities, visual depth, organic detail and opulence. In this bulthaup b3 kitchen, a large single slab of granite was used to create a stunning kitchen worktop.

The use of natural stone in the kitchen has to be carefully considered due to the material's porous nature. Surfaces such as Marble, Granite and Stone require sealing to prevent water and other substances from entering the material and causing damage or stains.

Certain types of stone are more hardwearing than others and lend themselves to the kitchen environment more readily. Granite has historically been a popular choice for worktops, being harder and more practical than Marble or Limestone.

We recommend walking around a stone merchant's yard to see the full-size slabs before making a selection based on a small handheld sample. The slabs can vary significantly from edge to edge in appearance and detail and reserving the right slab for your project means you know what you will receive. The price of natural stone is comparable to engineered stone surfaces and will ultimately depend on the size, thickness, and complexity of shape required to fulfil your requirements.

Granite kitchen worktop bulthaup b3 kitchen

CORIAN

Originally produced and marketed as ‘Corian’ by DuPont, the name is now recognised as a product in itself, think Hoover and vacuum cleaner. Corian is produced using minerals and resin, forming a material that is non-porous and, uniquely for worktops, can be moulded and seamlessly joined.

The ability to form different shapes provides opportunities to integrate sinks and draining board grooves, cascade the worktop down the sides of an island without any visible joins or even create seamless dining table extensions.

Corian is also available in a wealth of colours and finishes, even mimicking natural stone details, with reliable colour uniformity across the worktop.

However, Corian is softer than granite, quartz or laminate, so what you gain in design versatility you lose slightly when it comes to resistance to scratches and chips. The material is also susceptible to heat damage and can become discoloured when exposed to incorrect chemicals. For example, when a Quooker boiling hot water tap is specified with a Corian sink, a stainless steel sink base should be included to prevent the hot water from causing unwanted damage.

Fortunately, the majority of surface damage can be repaired by a specialist but you would be wise to read the manufacturer's care instructions.

STAINLESS STEEL

In terms of durability, a stainless steel worktop is practically impossible to beat - that is why it is found in every professional kitchen. However, there is one caveat: a stainless steel surface picks up light scuffs and scratches from normal daily use. Over time, these marks tend to dull down to a more even finish. However, if you can’t bear to watch as the surface begins to mark up, then stainless steel might not be the right choice for you.

A bulthaup stainless steel worktop can be designed to feature a seamlessly bonded stainless steel sink, giving the appearance of a single surface that flows across the entire worktop.

Some people see the patina as a record of the kitchen, its history of cooking, guests and memories. For others, the chaotic scratches and marks can irritate and annoy. This is just a note of warning as only you will know how you might feel as that perfect metallic surface weathers in over time.