A kitchen worktop is a hugely important element of the kitchen. Aside from the colours of the cabinet doors, it’s one of the first things that people notice when they walk into a kitchen for the first time. It does, therefore, play a large part in determining the overall style and theme of the end design.
Given its importance then, which one is the best? Well, each worktop has its pros and cons with no definitive answer to which is the ‘best’, but we can look at some of the key properties behind the worktop types that we most commonly work with.
Dekton
A sophisticated blend of raw materials, including glass, porcelain and quartz, Dekton is a relatively new introduction to the worktop market. Thanks to its scratch proof and heat proof qualities though, it’s fast becoming a firm favourite.
At present, colour pallets and finishes are slightly limited, but the options are constantly being developed and extended via Dekton’s ‘Sinterized Particle Technology’, which means this worktop choice is only set to get more popular.
Read more on its qualities here.
Silestone
Silestone is a compound made up of 90% quartz – a very hard and resilient mineral, which means these are durable and hardwearing worktops.
A long-standing worktop product that’s noted for its quality, the range of prices available makes it an accessible option regardless of budget. It’s heat resistant, rather than heat proof meaning the use of cooling racks or trivets are advised when handling hot pans. However, it comes in a multitude of finishes and colours which makes its customisability an excellent design choice.
Further details can be found here.
Sensa Granite
Granite is often perceived as the top end of worktops and it is fantastic product with some beautiful finishes. One of its negatives is the porosity of the product so here at Contour we opt for sensa granite, which is essentially a treated coating that provides stain resistance – helping to prevent cooking oils and other liquids becoming ingrained in the surface.
If you’re looking for an opulent finish and a natural product then this is a great option, but be wary of hidden fissures, which, if exposed to high heat, can cause the worktop to shatter – however this is a very rare occurrence.
Its properties can be explored further here.
Corian
The best property about Corian worktops is the fact that it can be moulded into any shape, producing artistic curves within the kitchen design. It also offers seamless joints, meaning long worktop runs with no visible jointing can be achieved.
The disadvantages of Corian are that it’s not heat proof and it can be scratched fairly easily. However, it is repairable, which means damage is relatively straightforward to rectify.
Find out more here.
Spekva
Spekva is a beautiful, natural product, which covers a range of wood types including ash, bamboo, beech, mahogany, oak, teak and more. With solid wood proven to contain natural enzymes that help to kill bacteria such as salmonella and listeria, Spekva worktops help to keep your kitchen preparation areas free of potentially nasty bugs.
Predominantly, we use Spekva for breakfast bars rather than full worktops, however if a customer requires it, we can do it.
Find out more information about Spekva here.