Choosing a kitchen worktop material

The kitchen worktop is an essential element in this part of the home. It must guarantee resistance and aesthetic appeal.

The kitchen, for obvious reasons, is one of the most important rooms in the home. This is where food preparation takes place. This activity requires a worktop that is durable, robust and at the same time in harmony with the style of the kitchen itself. Choosing the most suitable kitchen worktop material is essential for making the most of this important space in every home.

Kitchen worktop: essential characteristics for optimal use

As mentioned above, the kitchen worktop must possess specific characteristics. The lack of these qualities could compromise its use. An excellent, high-performance kitchen worktop should be

• resistant to heat sources and direct sunlight;
• resistant to chemicals and acids;
• impact-resistant;
• scratch-resistant;
• stain-resistant;
• impermeable to liquids and steam;
• antibacterial;
• durable over time;
• practical in use;
• easy to maintain;
• functional in relation to the specific requirements of use.

It is clear that there is no material that truly possesses every single characteristic just mentioned, but there are undoubtedly materials that perform better than others, and therefore, in relation to the needs of those who will be using the worktop, it is a good idea to select the most suitable material.

Quartz kitchen worktops

Quartz is one of the most popular materials for kitchen worktops. Composed of mixed powders of quartz and other stones held together by epoxy resins, it provides a choice of different finishes and colours. It is very resistant. One of the most widely used materials for kitchen worktops made of quartz is Okite, composed of 95% quartz and the remaining 5% resins and oxide pigments. It is resistant to abrasion, chemical attack and heat. It is non-porous. It is hygienic and easy to maintain.

Cosmopolite kitchen worktop

Cosmopolite is a material whose composition includes inerts other than quartz obtained from pre-consumer recycling. Composed of 100% recycled material, it is highly resistant to both scratches and stains: the best performing material in terms of resistance compared to other kitchen worktop materials. It is hygienic, antibacterial and impervious to both chemicals and water. Cosmopolite is available in different shades and tones to suit different style contexts, modern, contemporary, minimal.

Marble kitchen tops

Marble kitchen tops have an elegant and precious appearance. Marble, however, has the disadvantage of being porous and tends to stain more easily. It is resistant to daily use and can withstand heat. Careful attention must be paid to maintenance because, being porous as mentioned, it risks being ruined by acidic and corrosive substances. This is why it must be cleaned with specific products. Furthermore, excessive heat may create cracks on the surface. Thanks to the infinite nuances offered by this material, marble tops are able to meet various aesthetic requirements.

Ceramic kitchen worktops

Ceramic kitchen worktops enjoy unrivalled technical characteristics. They are made of natural raw materials. The ceramic worktop is hygienic, easy to clean, scratch and heat resistant. Impervious to all kinds of liquids, it does not deteriorate on contact with acids and foodstuffs. It is long-lasting and available in a variety of finishes, so as to offer very pleasing aesthetic effects. It is practical in use and maintenance.

Laminam kitchen tops

Laminam slabs are made of porcelain stoneware, a material suitable for contact with foodstuffs, an excellent alternative to materials such as marble and stone, which are more expensive and non-ecological, unlike Laminam which is environmentally friendly and recyclable. It provides excellent technical characteristics: it is lightweight, resistant to UV rays, chemicals, scratches, abrasions, fire and heat. It is easy to clean.

Laminate kitchen top

The laminate worktop is water-repellent and fireproof. Easily modelled, it is customisable not only in size but also in the edges. Available in a wide range of colours and effects, from wood to stone, it adapts well to different kitchen styles. It offers excellent value for money. It is washable with a simple damp microfibre cloth and mild neutral detergent. It is fairly impact resistant but not resistant to heat or standing water.

Fenix laminate kitchen worktops

Fenix laminate is one of the most innovative and efficient materials. The external, opaque part of the Fenix top is obtained with the aid of nanotechnology. It is a surface processed with new generation resins. It is among the most hygienic and easy-to-clean materials. Water-repellent and anti-mould, the Fenix top has antistatic properties and is characterised by a high bacterial count reduction activity. It is anti-fingerprint and pleasant to the touch. It is resistant to scratching, rubbing, dry heat, impact, acid solvents and household reagents. The Fenix top is available in a wide range of nuances to guarantee the possibility of adaptation to the most varied furnishing styles.

Kitchen worktops in stratified HPL

Layered HPL laminate is made up of overlapping cellulose fibre panels, impregnated with thermosetting resins and subjected to a high pressure and temperature process. This process makes it possible to obtain a strong, waterproof material that is highly customisable in terms of colours and finishes. Precisely because of their waterproof characteristics, HPL layered laminate tops allow the creation of flush-mount hobs and integrated flush-mount or undermount sinks. It is practical in use and maintenance, antibacterial and quite impact resistant.

Steel kitchen tops

Steel is a durable, waterproof, hygienic and heat-resistant material. On the other hand, however, it scratches easily. Steel worktops are functional and aesthetically pleasing. Steel is not porous. It resists corrosion, is light, easy to clean and polish. Be careful, however, because limescale can easily stain it and chlorine stagnation can oxidise it. Steel tops are durable and recyclable. The most delicate finishes with little resistance to fingerprints and scratches are polished ones. Matt, brushed steel is aesthetically more elegant and less susceptible to scratches. The steel kitchen worktop is perfect for industrial, modern and hi-tech contexts.