Pros & Cons of Popular Benchtop Materials

The kitchen bench top is a staple feature of the home that will see a lot of use over the years. Selecting a material that looks good and stands the test of time are important factors to consider when renovating your kitchen. In order from the least expensive to the most expensive, this blog explores the different options available and their pros and cons.

Laminate

Laminate countertops are made of a particle board covered with 0.7mm thick HPL decorative plastic laminate treated with thermosetting resins using high pressure presses. Laminate countertops are an affordable option that still provide a sleek, modern design. Although laminate countertops have decent impact resistance, they’re vulnerable to heat damage and can scratch easily. But with proper maintenance and care, laminate bench tops could be the perfect option for your home.

Wood

Wooden bench tops are a good option if you’re looking to add warmth and character to your home. The beauty of a solid wood bench top is its ability to be renewed. Dents can be filled, stains and scuffs can be polished and re-oiled. Not only this, but wooden bench tops are environmentally friendly options. Most wood used for kitchen comes from sustainably sourced forest. However, it’s important to consider when choosing a wooden bench top, the they can endure heat damage, water damage and countertop scratches.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel countertops are becoming increasingly popular. Besides looking modern and sleek, stainless steel is quite indestructible. With easy maintenance and high durability, stainless steel is a great option for the modern kitchen.

Concrete

Trendy, chic and versatile, concrete bench tops continue to be incredibly popular. Concrete countertops are easily customisable to suit your preferences. The addition of glass fragments, stones, shells and even fibre-optic lights can be embedded into concrete countertops. Despite these great qualities, concrete does come with some downsides. Concrete is a heavy material, and sometimes the excessive weight can be taxing on your cabinetry and floors.

Corian

Corian is one of the safest options for you kitchen bench top. The original solid surface is pure in its solidity, powerful in its performance, versatile and can be shaped to almost any concept effortlessly. Like with most bench tops, corian is also susceptible to direct heat and sharp objects. But with good care, corian will last the test of time.

Glass

Glass kitchen bench tops have a distinctive look that classic materials have a hard time competing with. Another advantage of glass countertops are that they are non-porous, making them more durable in comparison to other materials. However, they are not immune to cracking. This is not to worry though, as the environmentally friendly option of glass will last with efficient maintenance.

Engineered Stone

Stone bench tops convey a sense of luxury and is known for its beauty and elegance. One of the major pros of a stone kitchen top is its low maintenance and longevity. Due to being one of the strongest materials featuring low porous properties, stone will last a very long time and is very simple to maintain. From July 1st 2024, enginereed stone will be banned for use in Australia due to the risks associated with its production and installation. Being a composite material, the dust produced from cutting of the product has been linked to Silicosis and can be harmful to stonemasons and installers.

Caesarstone are now implementing a plan to transition their current, market-leading design collection to a new crystalline silica-free formulation which will retain the same ease of fabrication and functional performance characteristics as current materials. For more information on the new alternatives available from Caesarstone and the like, please get in touch.

 Porcelain

Porcelain is a vitrified pottery material that can be opaque or somewhat translucent. Porcelain kitchen countertops are extremely hard, durable and stand up to most impacts. Porcelain provides a beautiful countertop that is a more affordable option than natural stones. At Retreat Design we love the Dekton porcelain, come visit us in the showroom to see our products in person.

Natural Stone

Natural has been a prized building material since ancient times. It’s beautiful, luxurious and is a natural stone. Because marble is a natural stone, no heavy manufacturing or chemical processing is required, making marble readily available. However, marble is susceptible to degradation over time. Although, some people view this degradation is a development of character that adds to its value.

There are a wide range of natural stones such as marble, granite, limestone and quartzite. In order from least expensive to most expensive, these natural stones provide a great element to your kitchen.

Understanding the pros and cons of the material of your kitchen countertop will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you end up with a bench top that suits your home and lifestyle.