When choosing the kitchen worktop for your cooking space, you need to put a lot of thought into it.
If you are often busy at work, you probably don’t get enough time for cleaning your kitchen worktop. So, you need to choose a material that’s durable and requires low-maintenance yet looks amazing all the time.
Let’s check out some different types of kitchen worktops that you may choose depending on your lifestyle and daily work routine in the UK.
Granite
Granite worktops are famous for the luxurious and stylish appearance that they add to any kitchen space. Granite is functional and durable at the same time. It is a natural stone and comes in a variety of colour, shades and patterns to match with your kitchen decor or theme.
Maintenance: Clean with warm water and detergent. Avoid acidic cleaners.
Price of granite: £25 to £70 per square foot
Quartz
Quartz worktops are man-made stones with durable nature. It is scratch-proof and can even withstand cracking and chipping that makes it ultra-low-maintenance. This is ideal for busy homeowners who have very little time to clean or maintain their kitchen worktops. It even gives more finished appeal to your kitchen while contributing a bit to the green revolution, as it contains waste materials for construction.
It can even be customised as per the homeowner’s preference and also comes in a wide range of colours, patterns and textures.
Maintenance: It can be cleaned using water and mild soap and you can wipe it clean using a cotton cloth.
Price of quartz: £35 to £100 per square foot
Limestone
Limestone worktops are naturally warm and beautiful in appearance and come in a variety of colour options. From subtle whites to jet black, limestone comes in a number of finishes that include brushed, honed and hammered polished finishing. It is also a good stone for installing outdoors; however, it may get stained if placed under fruit trees.
Maintenance: Regular cleaning with mild detergent and water using a clean cloth.
Price of limestone: £5 to £50 per square foot
Quartzite
Quartzite worktops consist of a metamorphic rock that’s made entirely out of Quartz. Quartzite is created when sandstone changes due to heat, chemical treatment and pressure of metamorphism. This natural stone comes in beautiful streaks of colours, beautiful patterns and rich tones. It is also durable and tough like quartz and can withstand stains and impact of hot pans to a great extent.
Maintenance: It is low-maintenance and can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
Price of quartzite: £270 per square meter
Marble
Marble worktops cost around £315 per square meter on an average. But if you decide to choose this expensive worktop material, you need to be ready for taking care of it. This is because marble is porous in nature and absorbs liquids spilt on it. So, you have to be careful with wine or acidic stains by lemons, citrus fruits, etc. It also requires annual sealing for protecting the surface against stains, scratches, chipping and cracking.
Maintenance: It needs regular cleaning with water and soap, using a clean sponge or cloth.
Ceramic
Many people adore ceramic worktops due to their hygienic and versatile nature. They’re easy to match with any kitchen theme due to their availability in a variety of colours and textures. What makes this material different from granite and quartz is the fact that it is harder than both these stones. Moreover, ceramic worktops are cheaper than their counterparts when it comes to cost and don’t need a replacement for years.
Maintenance: Clean with soapy water using a clean cloth.
Price of ceramic: £5 to £50 per square foot