Design Tips

Section 5: Worktops

Worktops need to be hardwearing and up to the challenges of a busy kitchen. A decision at an early stage will help you to form your design and also affect your budget as prices between the various types can vary greatly.

The table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of several types of work surfaces:

  Worktop Type:  Laminate
Advantages Disadvantages
  1. Fairly inexpensive
  2. Wide variety of colours
  3. Stain resistant
  4. Easy to install on-site
      
  1. Noticeable joints in corners
  2. If damaged would need replacing
  3. Only partially resistant to heat

 
  Worktop Type:  Granite
Advantages Disadvantages
  1. Hardwearing
  2. Resistant to heat
  3. Variety of colours
  4. Greater aesthetic appeal
    to laminate
  1. Expensive - up to 3x more than laminate
  2. Requires templates & accurate measurements
  3. Extremely heavy
  4. Not easy to install
      
  Worktop Type:  Solid Surface (eg. Corian)
Advantages Disadvantages
  1. Large colour variety
  2. Personalised designs can
    be created
  3. Material is renewable and
    repairable
  4. Virtually invisible joints
      
  1. Cost - up to 3x more than laminate
  2. Templates and accurate measurements required

 
  Worktop Type: Solid Wood
Advantages Disadvantages
  1. Natural look, great for use with
    Belfast sinks
  2. Only surface that will not damage knives
  3. Can be shaped to any design

 
  1. Fairly expensive
  2. Burn marks left by hot pans
  3. High maintenance
  4. Can be unhygienic if used for food preparation