3 Beautiful, Low Maintenance & Budget Friendly Kitchen Benchtop Materials Options
Posted on: 22 August 2017
The benchtop is one of the defining elements of a kitchen remodelling project. Modern kitchens feature benchtops that are much larger than they have been in the past and they serve as informal dining areas, space for work or study and as a social gathering point when entertaining. Choosing the right benchtop material makes a big impact on the overall look and feel of your kitchen.
While it may be tempting to blow your budget and install a beautiful hardwood or marble benchtop, there are good reasons why they may not be a worthwhile investment. Both timber and marble are vulnerable to scratching and staining and will require a lot of maintenance to keep an attractive appearance. Fortunately, there are many other beautiful and more durable materials to choose from and here are three of them.
1. Composite stone
Composite stone, which is also known as engineered stone, is a great way to get the elegant look of natural stone without the upkeep or the hefty price tag. It's made from small pieces of crushed stone that are often waste products of the natural stone manufacturing process.
The crushed stone is bonded together with resin to form a solid and attractive stone-like finish. Composite stone benchtops come in a wide variety of colours, so you can choose one that fits the decor of your new kitchen perfectly.
2. Laminate
If the first image that springs to mind when you envisage laminate is the dated and somewhat tacky material popularised during the 70s, then you're in for a pleasant surprise. Modern laminate has come a long way in recent years and is now a popular and desirable surface for kitchen benchtops.
Contemporary laminate surfaces are strong, long-lasting and resistant to both heat and staining. It comes in a massive range of different styles, colours and textures including natural stone and timber inspired looks which are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
3. Zinc
Zinc is a beautiful, durable metal that's not commonly considered as a material for a kitchen benchtop. It's an underrated material that provides the strength and longevity of a stainless steel benchtop without the endless polishing that's required to keep stainless steel clean and free from greasy fingerprints or smears of food residue.
Zinc has a matte finish that will darken over time with an attractive patina. It's highly resistant to heat marks or staining and small scratches or marks will actually add to the charm and character of your zinc benchtop.
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