Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to Materials
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Article by: Barry Dunlop Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens , VoIP and 911 Warning - Buyers Guide to Materials The worktop or countertop is not only necessary for a kitchen , Painting Cabinets it is also an integral part of its design. , Wood Boilers Food , Replacement Vinyl Exterior Window preparation can deliver a large amount of wear and tear to the surfaces in the kitchen. , VoIP and 911 Warning Within this article we look at the various materials used for countertops and discuss the reasons for choosing them for your kitchen. , Repair Your Plumbing? You Can Do That! Whether its durability, hygiene or cost, you can find both the advantages and disadvantages of each material below. Laminate Worktops This in expensive option is a very popular choice for kitchen , Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2 countertops and it comes in a variety of colors , What You Should Look For When Buying an Outdoor Wood and Coal Furnace and textures. It isn't that hard wearing and can get scratched or burned, and gets dirty very easily. It is not built to last. If you do choose laminate , Your Shower Door Can Have A Huge Impact On The Look And Feel Of Your Bathroom! you can protect your surfaces with trivets and chopping boards. Advantages Fairly Inexpensive. A wide range of colours , Scented Candles make a House a Home! and patterns to choose from. Easy to apply fancy edges. Stain resistant. Disadvantages Not wise to use as a cutting surface or to place hot , Where’s the Care Label for my New Bedspread? pans upon. Cannot be repaired if it gets damaged. It must get replaced. Noticeable seams because of a dark backing sheet. This is most apparent with light , How To Clean Laminate Floors colours. Granite Worktops Granite is the most common type of stone , Back Yard Swingsets: A Worthy Addition To Any Family Home used for a countertop. Granite is quarried worldwide, , Home Improvements – The Fun Stuff with colors , 7 Safety Tips For Troubleshooting Your Portable Generator and patterns that reveal the region and the geological conditions that created it. Each slab is unique, with random and inconsistent patterns for a great character and look. It is highly durable, it doesn't scratch or burn, and it keeps its color. , Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2 Unfortunately Granite is a very expensive material though the finished look is often well worth the cost. Advantages A variety of colours , Swimming Pools: 6 Tips to Make them Auspicious of natural , How To Measure Your Room For Laminate Flooring stone. Extremely durable. Heat resistant and hard to scratch. Disadvantages Expensive To prevent staining it will need to be resealed. Stainless Steel Worktops Often associated with professional kitchens, , How To Make Your Own Roman Shades stainless steel is stylish and contemporary. Steel is highly durable and can be shaped in many ways to fit your kitchen. , Replacement Vinyl Exterior Window The backsplash and the sink can be made out of the same piece of steel, ensuring that there are no awkward corners or gaps for food , Choose Trex Decking – The Last Material For Your Deck to get lost in. Stainless steel is hygienic and is the only surface that can be safely bleached. Advantages The only surface that can be safely bleached. Corrosion proof. Very durable. Sinks, draining boards and backsplashes can all be fabricated into the counter top. Heat proof. All the joints can be polished for a seamless effect (may cost extra). Disadvantages Can scratch and dent (though newer designs , Where’s the Care Label for my New Bedspread? can include textured finishes that can hide the scratches). A high maintenance option. Expensive. Wood and Butcher Block Worktops Wood will always give a great look and add character to your kitchen. , Lamps Are Decorative And Functional Too On the countertop, however, it is highly susceptible to scratching and cutting. Hot , A Clean House is a Lucky House: 8 Tips for Creating a Clean -- and Fortunate -- Home pans will burn it or leave marks, and it can be unhygienic if meat or poultry is prepared on it. However, it is one of the only surfaces that will not damage your knives. Oak, maple, cherry, red beech, walnut, teak, and mahogany are all hardwoods favored for countertop applications. Advantages Ideal for cutting on. Only surface that will not damage your knives. Very attractive. Disadvantages Deep cuts will show but can be sanded out. Hot pans will burn it or leave marks. High maintenance. Use mineral oil to renew surface. Quartz Surfaces: Zodiaq, Cambria and Silestone Worktops Quartz delivers a great natural , Living With Colour look to any kitchen. , Kicking Up Storage For The Home And Office Into Overdrive It is highly durable being resistant to scratches, stains and heat. , Kicking Up Storage For The Home And Office Into Overdrive However this flexibility comes at a price and you can sometimes encounter prices up to 10% higher than that of granite. Quartz surfaces are hygienic because the material is non-porous and so bacteria and mould have nowhere to hide. Three brands to note of are Zodiaq, Cambria and Silestone. Zodiaq comes in 26 colors , Back Yard Swingsets: A Worthy Addition To Any Family Home and has a 10-year warranty. Cambria is made in the USA and is available in 34 colors , Knowledge Is The Key To Making An Informed Decision - Buying A New Toilet which are all the same price. Silestone is made by the Spanish company Consentino and is available in 46 colors. , VoIP and 911 Warning Advantages Scratch resistant. Stain resistant. Heat Resistant. Looks great. Does not need to be resealed every few years (unlike granite). Disadvantages Expensive (about 10% more than granite). Set on backsplashes only. Corian, Avonite and Other Solid Surfaces Worktops A countertop that consists of a solid plastic , Adjustable bed manufacturer - choosing the right one for you all the way through is said to be a solid surface countertop (as opposed to those built up in layers i.e. laminate). They are similar to quartz in that they're also hardwearing. They are resistant to scratches, scorching and heat. , How To Make Your Own Roman Shades If you do manage to do damage to the countertop you can easily repair , 7 Safety Tips For Troubleshooting Your Portable Generator it. You can expect to spend about three times more than you would for laminate, , VoIP and 911 Warning and twice as much for wood. , How To Measure Your Room For Laminate Flooring A wide range of colors , Lamps Are Decorative And Functional Too and styles are available to choose from and most suppliers will give you a good guarantee. Corian is the most famous brand (has been around for 30 years) Avonite has unique color , Home Improvements – The Fun Stuff choices. Advantages Large variety of colors , How to Choose a Gas Water Heater and edge styles. You can create your own design , Single Pane Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame, Part 2 on the deck. , What You Should Look For When Buying an Outdoor Wood and Coal Furnace Backsplashes can be any height and coved to deck , How to Choose a Gas Water Heater for a very clean look. Seams are virtually invisible. The material is renewable and repairable. Most all brands offer a full, transferable, 10-year warranty. Disadvantages Cost is high when all available options are used.  |
  
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