6 best materials for countertops
Kitchen countertops are subject to increased loads, so when choosing, you must first of all pay attention to their strength and durability. Now manufacturers offer users options from a variety of materials - expensive and cheap, reliable and not so good. Outwardly, they may all look good, but each material has advantages and disadvantages. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the rating, which contains all the materials known today for the manufacture of countertops.
Top 6 best materials for countertops
6 Glass
In recent years, wooden countertops have become quite popular. Previously, many were afraid to purchase them, considering the material too fragile. But now manufacturers offer tabletops made of very strong and thick tempered glass, which in terms of reliability and durability is comparable to metal and natural stone. The huge advantage of this material is the ability to give it absolutely any shape. Manufacturers produce fancy-looking countertops in a wide variety of colors. Designers put photo printing, art painting on it, make splashes, stains.
Despite its strength, it is better to avoid strong impacts; place metal dishes on the tabletop very carefully. If the glass cracks, there is only one way to fix it - a complete replacement. Another drawback is that when washing, streaks may remain on the glass surface, it must be thoroughly wiped dry.
5 Tree
For countertops, solid types of wood are used - alder, oak, pine, pine needles, larch, pine. They are made in the form of a type-setting board consisting of wooden planks. Special processing helps to increase the strength and wear resistance of the material. It looks very beautiful, fits perfectly into the interior of the kitchen of a private house with wood trim. Some manufacturers offer wooden countertops made from exotic woods (tropical, cork, red), but they also cost significantly more.
Wooden countertops are beautiful, but moody and not the most durable. In order for them to serve for a long time, you need to carefully handle the surface, monitor the humidity of the air, and the temperature regime. Do not use aggressive detergents; coasters must be used under hot dishes. Since the wood is soft, impact marks may remain on it. But users in the reviews indicate that the wooden surface can be re-sanded and coated with special compounds.
4 Natural stone
No artificial material can compare with natural stone in beauty and durability. Tabletops 2-3 cm thick are made of marble, granite and other noble species. In terms of performance, this is simply an excellent material - it is not afraid of high temperature, water, shock. It does not scratch and the surface is smooth and pleasant. If the stone loses its luster over time, it can be re-polished.
Natural stone has a lot of advantages - it is beautiful, manufacturers offer a wide selection of shades and natural patterns. This tabletop looks luxurious. But her price is also rather big. It starts on average from 20,000 rubles per running meter, but is calculated individually, since making cutouts for a sink, a hob is associated with additional labor costs. Another disadvantage is that due to the porosity, the stone is prone to staining.
3 Steel
Metal is considered the most reliable and durable material. At the same time, it costs much less than natural and even artificial stone. Although the cost varies widely, depending on the quality of the steel and the manufacturer.To reduce weight, they are made on the basis of chipboard - on top the plate is covered with a layer of steel up to 8 mm, from below - with plastic.
There are few design options, more often the surface is simply carefully polished to a mirror shine, but there are options with ornaments and stains. This is a fairly common solution for modern kitchens. Steel countertops are one of the best in terms of reliability - they are durable, withstand any stress, and are not afraid of hot dishes and water. In the reviews, users write that if small scratches appear on the surface, the product can be restored to its original attractive appearance by re-grinding. Small flaws - fingerprints are very noticeable on the metal, over time it still fades, loses its shine.
2 Laminated chipboard
Countertops made of laminated chipboard are sometimes called plastic. They are produced using a special technology - postforming. This is the most inexpensive, popular and most common option. The technology involves laminating chipboard with multilayer plastic. Qualitatively made laminated chipboard is very practical, resistant to moisture, high temperature, mechanical damage. It is easy to clean, pleasant to the touch and looks attractive in any kitchen.
Among the advantages, buyers in the reviews indicate an affordable cost, a large selection of textures and patterns, good performance. There are really a lot of color options - imitation of stone, wood, plain surfaces. But there are also disadvantages - careless installation leads to a gradual swelling of the countertop and the loss of its attractive appearance. This material cannot be called the most durable.
1 Artificial stone
Those who would like to purchase a countertop made of natural stone, but cannot afford it due to its high cost, can be recommended to purchase analogs from its imitation. Artificial stone has an attractive appearance, increased strength, hygiene and is much cheaper than natural material. It is made from a composite material consisting of a mineral filler (stone chips), acrylic resin and pigments. The result is a dense, non-porous surface that is resistant to moisture, chemicals, and mechanical damage. Also, it is not susceptible to the appearance of fungi.
Judging by the reviews, many users consider this material to be the best for the kitchen. In addition to high performance characteristics, it has another important advantage - it is very easy to maintain. Manufacturers offer two types of artificial stone - acrylic and composite. Acrylic material contains less mineral content, therefore, in terms of strength, it loses to a composite material (agglomerate). The only drawback is the high price.
