There are various natural or technical options that you can choose for a kitchen counter. Some materials are more expensive than others and some materials are more durable than others.
Below we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of all the materials that one can choose for a kitchen counter:
– Bakelite / Laminate
Advantages:
- It is a material with a very low price, accessible by all consumers.
- Low weight for kitchen furniture
- Wide variety of designs and colors
- Easy installation by professionals who install kitchen furniture
Disadvantages:
- It does not exist in thin thickness
- Sensitive to high temperatures
- Vulnerable to scratches
- It will need to be replaced after some time due to its wear and tear (detachment, swelling)
- It has compounds
-Quartz/technogranite/quartz
Advantages
- Scratch resistant material
- Zero absorbency in colored liquids (such as coffee, red juices, etc.), oils, etc.
- It does not react with acids
- With antibacterial protection, it does not create foci of germs
- Resistant to all kinds of cleaners
- Variety in colors and styles
- Possibility of adjusting its thickness from 2cm to 10cm or even more, depending on the requirements of the construction.
- Resistance to high temperatures
- Possibility of creating a single sink
Disadvantages:
- High price compared to Bakelite
- A special installer – marbler is needed for its installation
- It has compounds
-Natural granite
Advantages:
- Scratch and break resistant material
- It does not react with acids
- Resistant to all kinds of cleaners, chemicals, moisture.
- Not affected by liquids (such as coffee, red juices, oils, etc.)
- Variety of colors
- It is a porous material, but with the right finish, it does not let stains through and is highly resistant to time and scratches.
- Possibility of adjusting its thickness from 2cm to 10cm or even more, depending on the requirements of the construction.
- High resistance to high temperatures
- Possibility of creating a single sink
Disadvantages
- It has compounds
- High cost compared to Bakelite
- A special installer – marbler is needed for its installation
- A disadvantage could be considered the unevenness of the waters of the material, as a natural material
- There is no white coloring
- It needs deep cleaning because it can collect bacteria
-Natural marble
Advantages:
- Natural beauty of natural rock, each piece unique
- Affordable prices on many natural marbles
- Wide variety of colors, designs and styles
- Special style in the space
- It is waterproofed to resist absorbency
- It can be repaired/polished and returned to its original form
- Possibility of creating a single sink
Disadvantages:
- Less scratch resistant
- Sensitive to acids
- A special installer – marbler is needed for its installation
- It has compounds
– Wood
Advantages:
- Hot stuff
- It is easily combined with wooden colors of the kitchen furniture
- Recyclable material
- It accepts grinding of its surface
Disadvantages:
- Low moisture resistance with risk of swelling in a short period of time
- Not resistant to high temperatures
- Low resistance to deep scratches
- It needs deep cleaning because it can collect bacteria
- Sensitive to acids
- It has compounds
-Forged cement
Advantages:
- Low cost
- Modern and contemporary trend
- Variety in shades and textures
- Resistant to high temperature and scratches
Disadvantages:
- Sensitive to acids
- Regular maintenance with application of varnish
-Corian
Advantages:
- Variety in colors and designs
- It has no compounds
- Possibility of creating a single sink
- Resistant to bacteria
Disadvantages:
- Quite high cost, higher than natural materials, even quartz
- Sensitive to scratches
- Sensitive to high temperatures
- The white color turns yellow in a short time
Porcelain/ceramic/sintered plates
Advantages:
- New material on bench surfaces
- Modern and contemporary trend
- Variety in shades and textures
- Scratch and stain resistant material
- Resistant to high temperatures
- It does not create foci of germs
- Resistant to acids and cleaners
Disadvantages:
- Sensitive to breakage
- It has compounds
- Quite a high price
- The polished surface does not properly render the natural luster of the materials it imitates