A countertop is the core of a kitchen. We will be doing tons of things on the countertop, therefore it is important to choose the right material for it. The countertop does come into contact with foods. Hence, besides practicality, safety and anti-fouling property are very important as well.
Check out the pros and cons of the top kitchen countertop materials to help you select the right one for your space. Here are the 10 materials comprise the majority of countertops in residential kitchens:
01 Melamine
Melamine uses plastic composite board as base, topped with a layer of laminate. The advantage of melamine is that it comes in various patterns and colors, thanks to new patterns that resemble natural stone, wood, metal or even quartz at a fraction of the cost and it can go with all sorts of interior style. By far the most budget-friendly option, It doesn’t require a high budget, suitable for those who have a lower budget, and who do not use the kitchen much.
Melamine is neither heat-resistant, nor it is acid/alkaline resistant. It’s softer and not a good moist-resistant material. If water gets into the seams, It will expand and peel and it’s not suitable for a humid space. If you are using a melamine countertop, make sure that it is always dry. Its overall functionality isn’t that great, unless you a very diligent in wiping the surface down after using it every time. With that, you’ll help prolong its life span.
02 Concrete
Concrete is a type of green, environment-friendly material. You can customize it according to the layout of your kitchen. After polishing, a concrete can be textured or acid-stained to produce colors. Regardless of the color and shape, you can customize your own preferred proportion, it’s versatile and more personalized. Concrete can withstand high heat, but we discourage you to put scalding hot pot directly onto it since the heat will cause damage to the sealant.
When you are preparing your ingredients, you must do it on a separated chopping board since sharp items will damage the concrete surface. Concrete has to be wax polished from time to time to maintain the shininess of the surface or you will find cracks and pores on the surface which will trap dirt in them. Moreover, it is not acid/alkaline resistant and it is not anti-foul. Once there is a color transfer, you have to wipe it away immediately.
03 Solid surface
Solid surface is a man-made material consisting of a blend of acrylic particles and resins that are pressed into sheets and other shapes. It is one of the most popular mainstream materials. It comes in all different patterns and colors. anti-fouling and easy to clean. And one can achieve seamless surface for design’s sake or turn it into a one-piece design. which gives an extended illusion.
The price is affordable, Its best quality will be its versatility in styles. It can be molded into all kinds of shape. It is best for an L-shaped countertop. After polishing, a solid surface will be almost non-porous. Different from natural stone, since it is non-porous to spills and stain-resistant, dirt and water will not be trapped on the surface, hence it is more antibacterial in that sense.
Since it is made of majority resin, it is not scratch-proof. Any sharp items like knives, pots, brushes, will easily scratch the surface. If you accidentally placed a scalding hot pot onto the surface, that would most definitely leave a mark on the surface.
04 Granite
Granite is an igneous rock formed by the cooling and solidifying of molten materials, composed chiefly of quartz and feldspar, granite is one of the hardest surfaces on earth. It is hard, sturdy, anti-corrosive, heat-resistant, weather resistant. It is a better material for countertop compared to marble.
Granite has its own particular pattern, hence it might cost high. Granite has pores on its surface, so regular polishing is needed. You might find color transfer on it easily. Compared to marble, the anti-fogging property of granite would be better. But still, a humid environment will make water trapped in the pores easily. And that promotes bacterial growth.
05 Wood/ Butcher block
A wood countertop has a warm touch and natural outlook, there are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. It’s best suited with vintage country, Muji and Scandinavian style that emphasizes on natural simplicity. Hardwoods such as cherry wood, maple, oak, walnut and teak are the species most often used as countertop woods. Good quality wood comes in higher cost.
Wooden countertop is not heat-resistant, nor it is scratch and moisture-resistant. Knife might leave marks on it. Without proper maintenance, bacterial infestation would cause food-safety issues. Wood is subject to cracking if not maintained, must be oiled and sealed frequently in order to maintain it at its best condition.
06 Stainless steel
The advantages of using a stainless steel countertop is that it’s easy to clean and water-resistant. The surface is smooth and will never crack. And it can be made into a one-piece countertop together with stainless steel sink. No color transfer, heat-resistant, acid/alkaline-resistant, moisture-resistant, easy to clean—just wipe off stains with a cloth and mild soap. The most appealing characteristic of this material is its ability to inhibit bacterial buildup, making it the most hygienic countertop available. Since the countertop will come into contact with food ingredients regularly, it’s advisable to opt for 304 food grade stainless steel, which is safe to human.
The shortcoming of a stainless-steel countertop will be prone to water marks and it is not impact-proof, easy to be scratched. Hence, avoid using wire brush while cleaning a stainless-steel countertop or else you will create more scratch marks on the surface and this would leave a great impact on the overall outlook. Stainless steel falls under cool-toned materials, it brings a more rigid outlook, this would bring some limitations in terms of styling. It is best suited to a neat and clean space or a rugged industrial style. One can opt for wooden cabinet to balance everything up.
07 Marble
Marble is a type of natural stone. It has soft, unique patterns on its surface. It is durable and scratch-proof. And it is heat-resistant too. However it is expensive and porous. When handling food on top of it, the pores will easily trap the filth which will lead to bacterial infestation. If you accidentally tip a bowl of colored sauce like ketchup, soy sauce or paste over the surface, the color of the sauces will stain the marble surface.
Moreover, the surface will easily turn yellow after a prolonged duration. It is not acid/alkaline-resistant, it will be corroded once it comes into contact with acidic fluid and it might loss its shine. Marble might also crack due to expansion and contraction. When cracks happen, it will be difficult to repair. So, special care and maintenance is needed. And avoid knocking the surface with heavy items. If you are a fan of high-end, luxurious and elegant interior style, marble is a good material to enhance the space. You may want to maintain the marble frequently, it’s best to be polishing it once every 6 to 12 months.
08 Quartz
Quartz is one of the synthetic stones. It contains more than 90% of quartz sand. Quartz is said to be the second hardest stone in the world which comes right after diamond. Practically maintenance free, engineered quartz countertops are stain, acid, scratch, heat and impact resistant thanks to their non-porous surface, don’t need to be sealed like natural stone countertops, some manufacturer would even add in antimicrobial ingredient on the surface.
Quartz is a hard material. It is 3 grades harder compared to solid surface material. It has a melting point of 1600 degree Centigrade. It would not show discoloration after prolonged usage. Available in a wide range of colors and patterns. It is said to have the combined advantages of both natural and synthetic stones. The price of quartz is high, especially the ones in higher grades that originated from European countries like German, Italy and Spain. Quartz surface is smooth and easy to clean. Wipe it down by using a rag with clean water will do.
09 Silestone
Silestone is made of 94% of natural quartz sands. Together with high quality natural minerals, recycled glass and etc. After 36 washes, surface polishing and vacuum pressing, the radiation pollution of the mineral stones will be eliminated and finally we have a hard, stylistic, and environment-friendly composite synthetic quartz.
It’s a novel material invented by the biggest quartz stone manufacturer in Spain, Cosentino. Silestone is impact-resistant, acid-resistant, dirt-proof, scratch-proof, non-porous surface, easy to maintain. It’s one of the best materials for kitchen countertop. Solid or fluid will not get stuck on the surface and causes bacterial infestation, same goes to mold infestation.
Silestone comes in big measurement: 325cm x 159cm, with two different thickness: 1.2cm and 2cm. You can create a kitchen island with a full piece of silestone. This can effectively reduce the number of seams and indirectly eases the installation process creates an extended illusion to the back wall. There are over 80 different colors to choose from. From light and faded to high opacity and bright color. Regardless of your personality, you can most definitely find the stone, color and design that suit you well.
Silestone is a food grade material, and recognized by NSF, it is safe to prepare your food directly on it. Besides, manufacturing process of silestone is safe and clean and doesn’t emit hazardous gas and it won’t cause harm to the environment and people. Now, they have came up with Sunlit Days series with a 25-year quality assurance.
10 Dekton
Dekton is made by a patented PST particle sintering technology, combining quartz, zircon, crystallized silicon dioxide and etc. The entire manufacturing process uses only inorganic materials, it doesn’t involve any use of resin or any other additive. It is UV-proof, stable coloration, the color will not fade with time or sun exposure. This technology solves the harm caused by UV radiation on the material. And the manufacturer is response actively to the sustainable development proposed by the UN. By decreasing the emission of greenhouse gas from the material, Dekton is awarded the zero carbon footprint label. It’s a recyclable and reusable sustainable material.
Each stone is compress under 25 tons of gravity to turn into composite spar. The pressure exuded on the material is 20% greater compared to that of the conventional high pressure porcelain product. Natural stones underwent thousands of years of temperature and pressure changes. By replacing natural stone with Dekton, it helps lower the rate of natural stone depletion. Painted with high resolution digital spray paint technology, each stone will have delicate pattern on them. It is a super sintered stone with a high CP value.
Dekton is a non-porous material, hence it has almost zero water absorption and is virtually impervious to liquids. This effectively prevents fluid from entering the material and causes discoloration. Maintenance will be way easier. It is almost a maintenance-free material. It is heat-resistant that when its surface comes into contact with high heat, the material will not burn. Thanks to its exceptional density, Dekton is very hard to scratch. You can cut right on the countertop without fear of damage, and you don’t have to worry about rough-bottom pans sliding across its surface. Besides being scratch-proof, dirt-proof and heat-resistant its bending strength is 5 times greater than that of granite.
It comes in thickness from 0.4cm to 2cm giving you more design flexibility as well as a sleek profile. Plus, it come in a 320cm x 144cm measurement, this can easily fulfil any demand for the design and help create a personalized, artistic space. If you were using the slab for a large island or a countertop and backsplash, you can line up the grain to hide seams and create continuous vein patterns. Most importantly, like silestone, Dekton is also recognized by NSF. Both materials are food grade, and hygienic quality certified.
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Cosentino
Cosentino Malaysia
Cosentino Group is a global company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for architecture and design.
