With kitchen countertops, as is the case with almost everything today, there are countless alternatives in terms of both design and resistance, as well as the types of material.
The kitchen is one of the main rooms in homes, since many hours are spent here at the end of the day carrying out one of the basic processes of the human being, such as eating, preparing and preparing it.
Likewise, one of the main elements of kitchen furniture is the countertop.
For all this, below we will see the main types of kitchen countertops so that, from here, you can make the best choice with some knowledge of the facts.
Kitchen worktop in solid slatted wood
Types of kitchen countertops
When choosing a kitchen countertop, not only must the aesthetic aspect be taken into account, such as color, texture, grain, but the material itself must also be evaluated, since depending on what it is, the countertop will tend to behave differently in the face of different external agents. Even its duration and useful life may vary significantly.
Wood and derivatives
Formica
Formica is one of the most traditional materials. This type of worktop is made up of a chipboard board, veneered with synthetic material. It has a wide variety of textures and colors.
Their main advantage is that they are quite cheap countertops. In front of an important weak point, its low resistance to humidity and liquid splashes.
Solid wood
They are usually made of hard or semi-hard wood, such as walnut or oak, among other species.
They provide great beauty, but require a certain delicacy, especially in the face of heat and abrasion.
Glass kitchen countertop
stone and glass
Crystal
Glass countertops are one of the great trends in modern kitchen decoration, since they contribute to enlarging spaces, as well as the elegance they provide.
They are made of tempered safety glass, which can be translucent, opaque, or with different textures.
It has unbeatable resistance to humidity and heat. On the contrary, it has a weak behavior against bumps and scratches.
lava stone
This material is very new, and all are advantages. It has a high resistance against scratches, heat, scratches, stain absorption,…
The only drawback is its price, since it is not exactly cheap.
Granite
This is a traditional material for kitchen countertops. It has unbeatable resistance to heat, scratches, abrasions and bumps. The only drawback is that it is a porous material and therefore absorbs stains. Although this problem can be solved by applying a treatment that seals the pores.
Marble
It is a very elegant material but, at the same time, delicate. It has low resistance to heat, causing stains by direct contact with very hot objects, scratches and bumps.
Corian kitchen countertop
Other materials
Stainless steel
This type of kitchen worktop, traditional in hotels and restaurants, is increasingly being introduced in family kitchens. This material has excellent resistance against humidity and heat, as well as against fungi and germs. However, scratches and bumps are its weak point.
quartz and resin
They are highly resistant to scratches, bumps, stains and fungus. However, this is not the case against heat, so it is advisable to place protectors between very hot objects and the countertop.
synthetic resins
This type of kitchen countertops behave practically identically to the previous ones, both in terms of advantages and weak points.
porcelain
It is one of the materials for kitchen countertops that best fulfills its function. It has excellent resistance against any external agent.
corian
This material is made up of a third of acrylic resins and two thirds of minerals and pigments. This composition allows the creation of continuous surfaces without joints, even with integrated sinks.
It has a good behavior against humidity, but a low resistance against high temperatures and scratches.
Infogram of the resistances according to the different materials
Below, I leave, as a summary, this infographic so that, at a glance, you can get an idea of the suitability of each of the materials as a whole.
However, if you still have doubts, I advise you to contact a professional or company that is experts in kitchen countertops, such as Álvarez y Lastras.
Resistance of kitchen countertops according to the material
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