Kitchen designing and remodelling involve considerable expenditure. While small design elements like cabinet knobs and tray organisers can be replaced every few years, worktops are expected to last at least a decade or more. Stone worktops are often considered a better investment as compared to other worktop materials like wood, laminate, stainless steel, acrylic, glass, and porcelain. But rather than following this advice blindly, homeowners should always enlist their needs and priorities carefully. It should be followed by detailed research and a fair comparison before choosing the apt material.
Categorising Stone Worktops
Stone worktops can be primarily categorised as follows:-
- Natural Stone Worktops– These include metamorphic rocks like marble and quartzite, as well as igneous stones like granite. Soapstone and limestone are also categorised under natural stone worktops, although they are less popular. Natural stone is quarried, transported, fabricated, finished, sealed, and installed as it is.
- Manufactured Stone Worktops– These are industrially manufactured using stone or recycled stone. For instance, quartz worktops are made of 90-95% pulverised quartz and resin binders. Terrazzo is made using recycled marble fragments and other stone fragments with an epoxy-resin binder. Caeserstone, Unistone, and Silestone are different quartz variants.
Kitchen Worktops London: Stone versus Other Materials
- Appearance– Natural stone countertops like marble are globally hailed for their elegance and remarkable charm. Manufactured stone worktops can be customised to resemble marble or granite. They are also available in solid colours to reflect a modern designer vibe. In the realm of non-stone countertops, the appearance can be diverse. Wood has a rustic look, stainless steel is reminiscent of industrial kitchens, and porcelain tiles offer a diverse visual range. All said and done, stone countertops are usually far more visually appealing and superior-looking.
- Durability– Most stone worktop materials are hard, dense, and robust. Even a granite or quartzite slab with natural pits and fissures can be sealed regularly for excellent longevity. While high-quality laminate and porcelain countertops last long, they are less durable than stone. Wood, acrylic, and glass are not long-lasting worktop materials.
- Cost versus Returns– Usually stone worktops are priced higher as compared to non-stone materials like wood, laminate, stainless steel, and porcelain. The only exceptions are limestone and soapstone, but these are less popular choices. Investing in cheap non-stone materials like acrylic and laminate will not yield any returns in the long run.
- Eco-Friendliness– An emerging priority for kitchen worktops London is their environmental sustainability. Stone worktops are considered the most eco-friendly because they are either 100% natural or manufactured from recycled or pulverised stone. While wood is eco-friendly, worktop materials like stainless steel, laminate, glass, and acrylic are not recommended by environmentally conscious buyers. Porcelain is a popular recycled material but using colouring additives can be of ecological concern.
- Ease of Use– Be it sealed natural stone or an engineered stone countertop, they are far easier to use than their non-stone countertops. Owing to the high physical endurance, heat resistance, and moderate chemical resistance of stone. While porcelain has excellent heat resistance, other synthetic countertops are highly prone to scorch marks.
- Maintenance- Maintaining natural stone can be tedious for homeowners lacking the required time or money. Non-stone countertops can be easier to maintain because they don’t require sealing. Wood is an exception that often requires more care than stone.
Conclusion
Even if you are not planning to sell, it is wise to invest in a worktop material that elevates your home resale value. Stone worktops have always been associated with durability, strength, and sustainability. Most natural stone worktop materials like marble, granite, and quartzite are considered high-end and luxurious. Manufactured stone variants like quartz and terrazzo are equally prized for their customizability and resilience. As long as they are maintained appropriately, investing in stone worktops for the kitchen will reap higher returns compared to other materials.
