The Kitchen Benchtop
There are certain standard properties required for materials that are used to make kitchen benchtops. The most important of these properties is heat resistance because residential kitchens are always heat-laden areas.
While most materials used to make kitchen benchtops have great heat resistance, certain materials are better than others for various reasons. The best type of material for kitchen benchtops will be determined by your primary factor of concern when shopping for a benchtop.
The post below provides a bit of insight into various kitchen benchtop materials.
Laminate Kitchen Benchtops
Laminate is perhaps the most readily available material used in the making of kitchen benchtops. Laminate kitchen benchtops are typically made of an engineered wood product onto which an interlayer of plastic is glued. Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is the most common engineered wood product use for kitchen countertops.
MDF and plastic are both relatively cheap materials. For this reason, laminate benchtops are often the most affordable. If affordability is your main issue of concern, then laminate benchtops would be the most ideal for your kitchen space.
Marble Benchtops
Marble is also commonly used as a kitchen benchtop material. Marble is a natural stone product, and it is mainly preferred for its aesthetic appeal when used as a kitchen benchtop material. Marble benchtops are often on the higher end of the price spectrum thanks to this aesthetic appeal. They are a common fixture in high-end kitchens because they give the kitchen area a classic, timeless look and feel.
If you are more interested in the elegance of your benchtop as opposed to the cost, then kitchen benchtops made of marble would be the perfect fit for you.
The elegance and sophistication that marble benchtops bring into a kitchen are the main reason why the marble benchtop is a must-have fixture on Hamptons-style kitchen designs. Other stone benchtops also give a similar look.
Concrete Benchtops
Unknown to many homeowners is the fact that concrete is also among the best materials that can be used on kitchen benchtops.
A concrete benchtop is an ideal choice if your primary concern is getting the most durable benchtop for your kitchen.
The durability of concrete as a construction material explains why it is a favourite for residential driveways and other high-traffic areas. Considering that kitchen benchtops are not exposed to such high levels of foot traffic, you can expect a concrete kitchen benchtop to last a lifetime. You will only need to ensure that it's properly sealed in order to curb the problem of porosity.