quartz, ceramic, stone, hardwood, metal, glass, laminate, composite materials for countertop in kitchen

COUNTERTOPS – MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Kitchen Island in White and Grey Kitchen on Parquet floor in Dubai by Goettling interiors

Kitchen countertop and backsplash are the true crowning glory that binds the whole kitchen together as a cohesive design landscape.

If you have experienced kitchen renovation then you already know this. If you haven’t experienced it then please memorize this!

Every kitchen experiences different levels of wear and tear. For instance, a commercial kitchen undergoes extremely heavy action while a bachelor’s loft kitchen has nearly non-existent culinary activity. The most commonly made mistake in designing your own kitchen is when an incorrect countertop is chosen. This means the main working space where all the real action happens is inadequate to sustain. Consequentially you will have a kitchen top that is unusable, unhygienic and unworkable.

Hence read along and understand the nuances of choosing the correct worktop for your kitchen.

WHAT?

It is an engineered material created with ceramic clays and other minerals.

PROS?

  • Cheaper than natural stone
  • High temperature resistant
  • Scratch proof
  • Minimal maintenance

CONS?

quartz material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Quartz is a durable non-porous stone-like material made by combining natural quartz and man-made resin.

PROS?

  • Tough scratch-proof surface
  • Antibacterial
  • Low to zero maintenance
  • Large spectrum of color range

CONS?

  • Cost
Ceramic material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

This natural, man-made material only contains substances which occur naturally. This means that the material is environmentally sound and can be fully recycled. – next125

PROS?

  • Cost-effective
  • Heat & Scratch resistant
  • Low to zero maintenance
  • Large spectrum of color range

CONS?

  • Can crack relatively easier due to external impact

Granite material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Natural Stone like granite is an igneous rock formed by molten lava cooling down.

PROS?

  • Cost effective
  • Ability to be cut into variesty of shapes
  • As it is naturally formed – no 2 pieces are similar

CONS?

  • Porous hence needs sealant coating annualy
  • As it is naturally formed – no 2 pieces are similar
Wood material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Naturally obtained by different trees which leads to different color, durability and grain.

PROS?

  • Cost effective
  • Easy for DIY
  • Transforms as ages

CONS?

  • Can get scratched & stained
  • Needs frequent maintenance
  • As it is naturally formed – no 2 pieces are similar
Metal material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Metal sheets generally used in kitchens are Stainless Steel and Aluminium.

PROS?

  • Strong and durable
  • Sterile surface
  • Easiest to maintain
  • Light weight
  • Cheap

CONS?

  • Looks clinical and commercial
  • Absorbs and dissipates heat making it either to hot or cold at times
Glass material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Clear glass can be tinted or given a backing with colored laminate.

PROS?

  • Available in multiple finishes – glossy, matt or velvet
  • Looks and feels luxurious
  • Customizable into any shape and size
  • Offers a huge variety of colors
  • Heat resistant

CONS?

  • Can have unwanted reflections and glares depending on the finish
  • Fingerprint issue
Laminate material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

Laminate is made by fusing sheets of kraft paper with resin to form a stiff sheet. This sheet is then layered over (generally) MDF to make a final laminate sheet.

PROS?

  • A variety of prints can be laminated to give a luxurious outlook
  • Easy to maintain adding to the anti-bacterial hygiene
  • Durable

CONS?

  • Can get warped, wrinkled, burnt due to heat
  • The layers can peel
  • Plastic look and feel
Solid surface material thumbnail for worktop blog

WHAT?

A man-made material composed of a variety of elements, acrylic, color pigments mixed in epoxy, resin.

PROS?

  • Seamless
  • Easy to mould
  • Does not stain easily

CONS?

  • Looks artificial
  • Expensive
Betterhomes magazine Nov 2018 - featuring Goettling Interiors Kitchen project

At Goettling Interiors we work with the leading worktop suppliers in addition to our in-house Systemo by Schüller. We acknowledge the utmost importance of kitchen countertops not solely for it’s function but also for the aesthetic value. The adjoining snippet from Betterhomes magazine (UAE) ascertains that.

To read the full magazine, click here.