If you live in Stevenage and are considering a kitchen makeover, one of the most important considerations is what to choose for your worktops. There are a large number of different materials that you can use for your kitchen worktops and there are a couple of things to take into consideration.

Not the least of these is that, unless you are one of those people who doesn’t do much cooking, preferring to live on takeaways, your kitchen worktops have to be able to withstand a fair amount of punishment. After all, they are called worktops for a reason: you do a lot of work on them. So, you really want a material that is durable.

The second thing is that worktops take up a fair amount of space in the kitchen and are very obvious. They stand out. It follows that it may also be important to you to have worktops that look great in addition to being able take the constant use. That one will be a matter of personal choice, of course. Some people love the look of natural materials such as stone or wood, while others prefer a bland single colour which you can get in a variety of laminates or quartz.

A lot of people like wood for a worktop because of the natural look and warmth that it exudes. However, it does require a lot of care and maintenance because it is very easily scratched. You most certainly cannot chop or cut foods directly on to wood, and you can’t put hot pans down on it either: you always need to use a trivet. Having said that, you should not really put hot pans straight from the hob or the oven on to most types of worktop.

Stainless Steel

Another type of worktop is stainless steel, and this is what is used in many commercial kitchens and places such as hospitals. It is very tough material and can take a lot of hard wear. It isn’t likely to scratch and is one of few materials that you can put hot pans on without fear of damage. It is acid resistant and is totally hygienic and is very easy to clean. However, it is far too clinical looking for most people’s tastes.

You might also choose cement. It doesn’t sound like a vey promising material for your kitchen, but in fact it is available in a variety of colours producing a modern, contemporary look. It is also very hard wearing. However, it is prone to scratches and is porous so it can stain. You would need to use a sealer on it. It is also very heavy, so it might be necessary to reinforce the kitchen units.

Laminate

One of the most cost-effective options is laminate. Again, available in a wide choice of colours. Recent developments have meant that laminate is of a lot higher quality than it once was. However, it is prone to cuts and chips, and the lines and joins can stand out.

Then there is quartz, which is not, in one sense, a real stone, although quartz itself is one of the most common materials on the planet. Quartz worktops are made of about 94% quartz which is ground to a powder and mixed with resins and pigments. This makes for an extremely tough and hardwearing worktop which is very scratch and stain resistant and does not need sealing. You should not put hot pans on quartz worktops though because of the resin content.

If you are looking for natural stone, you might choose granite worktops in Stevenage. Granite is an extremely hard stone and can take a lot of punishment, but it is porous and so it will need sealing. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as there are top quality sealants today that can last ten years. Granite is available in a huge range of patterns and colours.

Another stone that many people love is marble. This too can come in a wide range of colours and patterns, and it has that amazing sheen that makes it stand out. However, it is a soft stone, and it needs love and care. It is a very cold stone, and for that reason is ideal for rolling out pastry.