For most Russians, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Here, not only food is prepared for the whole family, many housewives spend most of their free time from work and rest in this multifunctional room, the closest guests are received here, conversations are held, the whole family gathers at the dinner table. When designing a kitchen space, every element is important, every component. In this publication, we will look at the difficult question of choosing countertops for a modern kitchen. The variety of options also hides the complexity of resolving the dilemma – is it possible to find an option that will meet all the requirements of apartment and house owners planning to renovate or alter the kitchen space? Let’s try together to find a simple compromise in a difficult choice.
Requirements for kitchen countertops
The specificity of the functionality of the kitchen area leaves an imprint on the choice of any component of the interior, and the countertops are no exception. Humidity, constant temperature drops, a high level of the likelihood of surface contamination, impacts of a different nature – all this affects the choice of materials from which countertops should be made. But the aesthetic qualities cannot be discounted to create a harmonious, outwardly attractive image of the kitchen interior..
Criteria for choosing a kitchen countertop:
- immunity to high temperature:
- resistance to moisture (low hygroscopicity);
- resistance to mechanical damage;
- ease of care (the ability to use chemical cleaning agents);
- aesthetic appeal, harmonious combination with other interior elements – kitchen facades, surface finishes;
- financial capabilities of the family (some options for countertops have the highest technological qualities, but their cost is also high).
Types of kitchen countertops
In addition to the fact that all countertops can be subdivided by cost (one of the most important types of calibration for most buyers), they can be classified by physical properties and material composition. Let’s analyze the last kind of separation in more detail. By the composition of the material, the countertops can be classified into:
- laminated with plastic;
- artificial acrylic stone countertops;
- made of artificial stone with quartz filler;
- from solid wood of various species;
- from natural stone;
- made of stainless steel;
- from glass;
- from ceramic tiles or mosaics.
Laminate countertops
Chipboard worktops are laminated with plastic, the thickness of which varies from 0.8 to 1.2 mm. Plastic consists of several layers of paper impregnated with special resins and pressed under high pressure. The top layer is a wear-resistant polymer, it is its appearance that is responsible for the aesthetic qualities of the product. The advantage of such countertops is that they are presented in a wide variety of color variations, they can be matte or glossy, they can imitate wood or stone. The thickness of the plastic layer, the quality of chipboard and external qualities affect the cost of the finished product. And even in this very affordable category of countertops, there is a very significant variation in the cost of domestic and foreign products..
The front edge of the laminated worktop can be made in different variations. Radial rounding of plastic on the end of the product from its working surface is called a blockage. This type of leading edge design is very popular. The blockage can also be carried out with a fold – the plastic is bent from the end under the lower part of the product. In addition, the end of the tabletop can be decorated with an aluminum profile or 3D edge. Most often, this method is used when equipping a furniture set with radius facades.
Artificial stone countertops
We can safely say that at the moment countertops with a similar composition are the most popular. The products consist of plywood, on which a layer of artificial stone with a thickness of about 12 mm is glued. In turn, artificial stone is a polymer glue with granules of various colors and sizes, imitating natural material. The resulting material is quite plastic and allows you to create bent shapes, which is often necessary for kitchen furniture with radius facades..
But it is not always possible to give a curved shape to the countertop – the cheaper the material, the less plastic and more fragile it is. But such products can be used in the preparation of straight kitchen facades. Artificial stone is lightweight, smooth and warm to the touch, unlike natural material. One of the main advantages of this type of countertop is that you can create one-piece canvases without joints, cut holes in them for sinks or other elements and at the same time do not load the lower tier of kitchen cabinets with heavy weight..
The end of the artificial stone countertop can also be made using various curly shapes. The product can last a long time if the technological process was not disturbed during its manufacture and the manufacturer did not save on components. That is why when choosing a countertop with this type of material composition, experts advise giving preference to well-known brands that have proven themselves on the market for many years..
Quartz agglomerate countertops
Products of this type are a mixture of quartz, granite and mirror chips with polymer resin binders. Plates for such countertops are made at high temperatures under vacuum on special vibrating tables. The absence of air in the composition of these countertops allows us to speak of high resistance to moisture. Unlike natural stone, products created in a vacuum do not absorb solvents and acids.
The thickness of the worktop with quartz agglomerate is about 30 mm. The product is resistant to breakage and scratches. Thanks to modern technology, the worktop joint can be made almost invisible.
Natural stone countertops
It makes no sense to talk about the beauty of natural material – it is necessary to see it. Obviously, no imitation will overshadow the natural pattern. But you will have to pay a lot for naturalness. And it’s not just the cost of the stone itself. Natural stone countertops are heavy, their installation will require the creation of a reinforced frame for the kitchen cabinets of the lower tier. In addition to high weight and high cost, some types of natural stone have other disadvantages. For example, marble looks luxurious and is capable of transforming even the most ordinary interior by its mere presence. But as a material of countertops it is impractical – it is easily scratched (needs frequent grinding) and gets dirty (high hygroscopicity).
Typically, granite is used to make kitchen countertops. It is less porous and does not absorb moisture well compared to other types of natural stones. But any natural stone requires special attention. The need for special care, as well as the high cost, are pushing buyers towards alternative material options for making countertops. But no one will argue with the fact that in terms of longevity (with proper use) natural stone has no equal. A worktop made of natural material can survive not only the kitchen facades and the renovation itself, but also its owners.
Solid wood table top
Products made from natural wood look great and add a special character to the kitchen interior. They are strong and durable, but only with proper care. The surface of the wooden countertop must be periodically treated with special protective compounds with an oil base. Another feature of natural wood products is the way of cleaning surfaces – only a damp sponge, without any chemicals.
Usually wooden countertops are made of beech, oak, teak and wenge – these are quite dense, durable and incredibly beautiful species. Solid wood countertops look great with facades of any color and are suitable for many stylistic options for decorating kitchen spaces.
Stainless steel as countertop material
Obviously, the main benefit of a stainless steel countertop is its incredibly long lifespan. Such surfaces are not afraid of high temperatures and humidity, it is resistant to the formation and reproduction of fungus. It is not for nothing that such countertops are used in restaurants – they are easy to care for, you can wash them using cleaning agents, achieving sterile cleanliness.
The steel worktop looks great in a modern interior, in a high-tech or loft-style kitchen. But for classic kitchen spaces, such a solution will not work – one of the main disadvantages of this type of product. Another feature is the low resistance to scratching (they are clearly visible on the steel surface). As a result, the countertop must be periodically polished, which leads to additional costs..
Glass and ceramic countertops
Glass is rarely used to make countertops in home kitchens. The high cost and complexity in the course outweigh the obvious aesthetic qualities. Scratches, chips and cracks on glass surfaces are common. That is why it is rare to find this type of countertops in modern design projects of kitchen spaces..
Countertops decorated with ceramic tiles or mosaics are also rare. The surface looks original, creative. But it turns out to be of little practical use in use. The ceramics themselves are able to withstand very high temperatures and withstand the effects of moisture, but grout joints cannot «boast» similar properties. As a result, the surface is vulnerable to the formation and reproduction of various bacteria. Even coating surfaces with special enamels does not completely solve the problem..
Determine the size of the countertops
When designing a kitchen space, choosing a furniture set and distributing storage systems and household appliances, the countertop acts primarily as a functional element, not a design one. That is why it is important at the initial stage to determine the exact dimensions of this interior component of the kitchen space. The shape and size of the countertop must be correlated with the layout of the kitchen set, the placement of work areas, the ergonomics of the processes being produced, and ensuring the comfort and convenience of family members.
One of the most important parameters is the height of the countertop. It is on this value and the correctness of its choice that the convenience of carrying out work processes in the kitchen area depends. It is necessary to select the height of the countertop placement based on the growth of a family member who will carry out most of all work processes. With growth below 150 cm, the recommended height of the countertop is within 76 cm.If the height of the hostess (owner) of the kitchen is from 150 to 160 cm, then the countertop is set at 82 cm.With a height of 160-170 cm, this indicator will be 88 cm if the height of adult family members is in the range from 170 to 180 cm, then the height of the countertop will be 91-92 cm.In cases where the owners of the kitchen are tall enough, from 180 to 190 cm, the countertop is raised 94-95 cm from the floor. For very tall people, with a height of under 2 m or more, the height of the tabletop can be up to 1 m.
Obviously, the selection of the height of the countertop is an individual decision in each specific case, given that the growth of family members is not the same. But it’s easier to decide on the width of the countertop – it directly depends on the dimensions of the room itself and the location of the upper tier of kitchen cabinets. For example, if the width of the kitchen countertop is 65 cm or more, then hanging cabinets can be placed at a distance of 47-50 cm from its surface. In small kitchens, the width of the countertop should be small. But even in a spacious room, you should not get carried away with this value – the width of the tabletop should be such that it is convenient to work on it.
The thickness of the countertop directly depends on the material of manufacture and can vary from 2 to 6 cm. The standard thickness of a chipboard product is 28 mm. Moisture-resistant worktop can be presented up to 38 mm thick.
Features of installing countertops
When choosing a countertop for the kitchen, you must also take into account the installation costs. Installing laminated countertops is the cheapest option. They are attached to the cabinet frame with metal corners and self-tapping screws. In some cases, to hide the gap between the wall and the countertop, it is necessary to install a plinth.
Installing a steel countertop is more expensive. The maximum possible length of such products is 3.7 m. As a rule, the edges of the countertop are folded around the edge of the chipboard or completely encircle the board. Steel countertops are available in rectangular versions only. Installing a solid wood countertop will cost 2 times more than installing a steel one. Such products are fixed with the so-called «floating» way using brackets with oval slots. The services of installers working with natural stone will cost the most. Installation of a countertop made of natural stone can reach 30% of the price of the product itself.
