Choosing the right worktop for your kitchen can be a daunting task, given the wide variety of materials available.

It’s important to remember that, along with your handles, your worktop is one of the most frequently used and cleaned surfaces in a kitchen. Worktops serve as places to store items and prepare both raw and cooked foods. Your work surface will get wet, have things spilled on it, and require daily cleaning. It needs to be water-resistant to help combat germs and, ideally, heat-resistant too. Please note that only a few porcelain worktops are truly water and heatproof, such as Decton.

Laminate

Laminate work surfaces are affordable, easy to install, and, when sealed correctly around the edges and cut-outs for hobs and sinks, water-resistant. However, be cautious with hot items, as they can burn, melt, or cause the worktop to warp and discolour. One downside to laminate is that it’s unsuitable for undermount or Belfast sinks. These worktops come in a wide range of finishes, colours, and styles, making them ideal for kitchens on a budget or rental properties.

Compressed Laminate

This material is 100% waterproof and features an ultra-modern thin edge. However, like standard laminate, it is not heat-resistant. Additional downsides include its difficulty in cutting and installing, and the fact that the core material doesn’t match the surface pattern (though this is less noticeable on light or dark finishes such as Carrara marble or lava). Despite these drawbacks, compressed laminate is still an excellent choice for budget kitchens or rentals. Its modern look doesn’t suit Belfast sinks, but it works well with undermount sinks.

Wood

In my experience, wood is best used in specific areas of the kitchen, such as seating or eating spaces. It lacks water and heat resistance and requires sanding and oiling every six months to maintain its finish. While you can pair wood with a Belfast sink or an undermount sink, I wouldn’t recommend the latter.

Solid Surface with Laminate Core

This category includes worktops with a thin acrylic surface over a laminate core, such as Corian and Krion. I recommend avoiding these; they are overpriced, difficult to install, and lack the benefits of true solid surface worktops.

Corian, Krion, and Other Solid Surface Materials

These worktops are 100% acrylic and entirely man-made. They come in a range of colours and finishes, including marble-like and sparkly options. While they generally match the samples, be aware that glitter can sometimes sink during the manufacturing process, leading to uneven distribution or visible marks along the edges. If you choose Corian or Krion, they should be installed by a professional fabricator who can ensure seamless joints, minimising places for germs to hide. If a section gets damaged, it can be replaced and reinstalled seamlessly, making the repair invisible. Scratches can be removed with fine sandpaper, making the surface look as good as new. A version of Krion by Porcelanosa (white) even recycles air in a process similar to photosynthesis, which, when used as cladding on buildings, can contribute to a cleaner environment.

Quartz

Quartz is a composite material made from crushed or ground granite mixed with resin. It offers a more consistent pattern and colour than some types of granite and is less prone to cracking. This makes it a durable choice for those looking for the beauty of stone without the potential weaknesses found in natural stone where different minerals meet.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone cut directly from the earth, making each piece unique. It’s available in a variety of styles, from plain to speckled, veined, or lightly veined, with more colour combinations than you can imagine. I always recommend visiting importers to select your slabs, as no two pieces are alike. Granite is an igneous rock composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, giving it both beauty and durability.

Quartzite

Quartzite offers all the benefits of granite and is also a natural stone. However, it is a metamorphic rock composed primarily of quartz, giving it a distinct appearance. Like granite, quartzite is durable and visually stunning, making it an excellent choice for any kitchen.