The 6 Best Countertop Materials

In recent years, wood countertops have become quite popular. Previously, many were afraid to purchase them, considering the material to be too fragile. But now manufacturers offer countertops made of very durable and thick tempered glass, which is comparable in reliability and durability to metal and natural stone. A huge advantage of this material is the ability to give it absolutely any shape. Manufacturers produce countertops of a bizarre look in a wide variety of colors. Designers put photo printing, artistic painting on it, make inclusions, stains.

Despite the strength, it is better to avoid strong impacts, put metal utensils on the countertop very carefully. If the glass cracks, there is only one way to fix it - a complete replacement. Another disadvantage is that stains may remain on the glass surface when washing, it must be carefully wiped dry.

For countertops, hardwoods are used - alder, oak, pine, needles, larch, pine. They are made in the form of a type-setting shield, consisting of wooden planks. Special processing helps to increase the strength and wear resistance of the material. It looks very nice, fits perfectly into the interior of the kitchen of a private house with wood trim. Some manufacturers offer wooden countertops made from exotic woods (tropical, cork, red), but they are also much more expensive.

Wooden countertops are beautiful, but capricious and not the most durable. In order for them to serve for a long time, you need to carefully handle the surface, monitor the humidity of the air, and the temperature regime. Do not use aggressive detergents, use coasters under hot dishes. Since the wood is soft, it can leave marks from impacts. But users in the reviews indicate that the wooden surface can be re-sanded and coated with special compounds.

Not a single artificial material can be compared with natural stone in terms of beauty and durability. Countertops 2-3 cm thick are made from marble, granite and other noble rocks. In terms of performance, this is simply a great material - it is not afraid of high temperature, water, shocks. There are no scratches on it, and the surface is smooth and pleasant. If over time the stone loses its luster, it can be re-sanded.

Natural stone has a lot of advantages - it is beautiful, manufacturers offer a wide selection of shades and natural patterns. This tabletop looks luxurious. But the price is also rather high. It starts on average from 20,000 rubles per linear meter, but is calculated individually, since making cutouts for a sink and hob is associated with additional labor costs. Another drawback is that due to the porosity, the stone is prone to staining.

Metal is considered the most reliable and durable material. At the same time, it costs much cheaper than natural and even artificial stone. Although the cost varies widely depending on the quality of the steel and the manufacturer. To reduce weight, they are made on the basis of chipboard - on top of the plate is covered with a layer of steel up to 8 mm, from below - with plastic.

There are few design options, more often the surface is simply carefully polished to a mirror finish, but there are options with ornaments and stains. This is a fairly common solution for kitchens in a modern style. Steel countertops are among the best in terms of reliability - they are durable, withstand any load, are not afraid of hot dishes and water. In the reviews, users write that if small scratches appear on the surface, the product can be restored to its original attractive appearance by re-sanding. Minor flaws - fingerprints are very noticeable on the metal, over time it nevertheless fades, loses its luster.

Countertops made from laminated chipboard are sometimes called plastic. They are produced using a special technology - postforming. This is the cheapest, most popular and most common option. The technology involves laminating chipboard with multilayer plastic. Qualitatively manufactured laminated chipboard is very practical, resistant to moisture, elevated temperatures, and mechanical damage. It is easy to clean, pleasant to the touch and looks attractive in any kitchen.

Among the advantages, buyers in the reviews indicate an affordable cost, a large selection of textures and patterns, and good performance. There are really a lot of color options - imitation of stone, wood, plain surfaces. But there are also disadvantages - careless installation leads to a gradual swelling of the countertop and the loss of its attractive appearance. This material cannot be called the most durable.

Those who would like to purchase a countertop made of natural stone, but cannot afford it due to the high cost, can be recommended to purchase analogues from its imitation. Artificial stone has an attractive appearance, increased strength, hygiene and costs an order of magnitude cheaper than natural material. It is made from a composite material consisting of mineral filler (stone chips), acrylic resin and pigments. It turns out a dense non-porous surface, resistant to moisture, chemicals, mechanical damage. Also, it is not prone to the appearance of fungi.

Judging by the reviews, many users consider this material to be the best for the kitchen.In addition to high performance, it has another important advantage - it is very easy to maintain. Manufacturers offer two types of artificial stone - acrylic and composite. Acrylic material contains a smaller amount of a mineral component, therefore, it loses in strength to a composite material (agglomerate). Of the shortcomings - only a high price.