Natural Stone Vs Manmade Kitchen Worktops
There are so many things to think about when updating your kitchen, from costs and appliances to the design and layout. Your worktops are a crucial consideration when renovating this key room of the house, complementing your décor and providing a space where you can cook and entertain in style.
But when faced with multiple materials for your kitchen surfaces, narrowing down your options can be difficult. Do you invest in natural stone countertops, or opt for contemporary manmade materials? To make your decision easier, let’s explore the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Natural Stone Worktops
Marble and granite worktops are a premium choice for your kitchen, giving your interior a timeless charm with surfaces that have enduring qualities. Natural stone has a beautiful appearance; both granite and marble are available in various colours and patterns.
Handpicked by you, a bespoke kitchen worktop will be a stunning addition to your kitchen. As natural stone is a premium material, it can also add value to your home. A new kitchen can increase the value of your property by as much as 5%, meaning that an investment in your kitchen now can pay dividends later.
Marble and granite are extremely durable and hardwearing. Both are heat-resistant, whilst granite also locks out bacteria due to its non-porous properties. Furthermore, sealing your natural stone surfaces will ensure they are protected from stains and scratches. However, to maintain the long-term appearance and condition of marble and granite worktops, it’s essential to reseal them every few years.
Manmade Kitchen Surfaces
Kitchen worktops are available in various manmade materials too. Whilst these can vary in quality, there are certain types of countertops that can more than match up to natural stone in appeal. For the purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on quartz and Corian.
Quartz and Corian are durable, resistant and stylish options for a kitchen, contending with natural stone on quality and appearance, at a much lower price. Unlike marble and granite, they don’t need to be quarried, making them quicker and easier to produce. As manmade materials, they are also available in a range of colours, and don’t need sealing to provide stain- and scratch-resistant properties.
Corian also offers much more flexibility with the design of your kitchen. Installing appliances, sinks and plugs in your worktops can be difficult to achieve with natural stone due to the cutting process. Manmade materials, on the other hand, can be made to order, offering seamless results and much less risk when customising your design.
Choosing the perfect worktop for your kitchen will depend on several factors, but quality should always be a paramount concern. Whether you’re on a limited budget or money is no object, both natural stone and manmade materials have diverse appeal. By consulting a kitchen worktop installation team and weighing up the options available, you can select a surface that’s perfect for your kitchen, at a price you can afford. I hope this article helps you decide what is best for your kitchen.
This article was written by Kelly G Grassam, she can be found on Twitter @KellyGGrassam. A Yorkshire lass who loves great food, inspiring places and the written word.