the main contenders
NATURAL STONE
Of all the natural stones, granite and marble are the most sought after. Both come in an array of largely neutral hues from light to dark, with beautiful markings that give them unique interest. For wow factor, marble is hard to beat – however, its natural porosity means it needs careful maintenance and regular sealing. “Even when looked after well, you will get natural wear and tear,” says interior architect Sally Rhys-Jones (sallyrhysjones.com). Granite is more durable but still needs sealing. Both are at the high end of the price scale, and are very heavy, so your cabinetry will need to be able to support the weight.
ENGINEERED STONE
Made from widely available quartz bonded with resin, engineered stone is cheaper than the natural version, at prices from around $450/sqm plus installation. It’s durable, and quite di icult to distinguish the newest incarnations from the real thing, whether that is natural stone or concrete.
Caesarstone’s new Metropolitan collection mimics industrial-style inishes with three designs ( – ‘Airy Concrete’, ‘Topus Concrete’ and ‘Excava’ – added to the range. “Each surface has been designed to re lect the authentic textures of manufacturing,” says Linda Hannah, brand manager at Caesarstone (caesarstone.com.au). Engineered stone is fairly low-maintenance, but it won’t cope with just anything you throw at it. Avoid harsh cleaners, don’t chop directly on the surface and use trivets for hot pots.
PORCELAIN
The newest kid on the benchtop block, porcelain panels are created from natural materials such as clay, silica and quartz. They are very dense, so spills aren’t easily absorbed, and are also scratch- and heat-resistant. They mimic natural stone and even inishes such as oxidised metal well, and can be supplied in extra-large panels, meaning fewer joins. As thin sheets (typically 3mm, 6mm and 12mm depths), they need to be itted to a substrate.
They are costlier than engineered stone, and can be susceptible to chipping, so need careful handling during installation. Some (but not all) porcelain panels are only surface-printed, which means any routed sections – for example, for drainage next to a sink – will show the plain colour beneath.
LAMINATE
Budget-friendly, high-pressure laminate benchtops are typically crafted using layers of paper bonded to medium-density ibreboard or moisture-resistant particle board. Resistant to stains, impact and heat, and water-repellent, laminates are available in myriad colours and patterns – and the inishes on the better-quality products, such as those from Laminex, look increasingly authentic.
“Wood grains and dark colours continue to be on-trend for kitchen benchtops,” says Rachel Oakley of Laminex (laminex.com.au). “They create a sense of luxury and can be used to complement other materials in the kitchen.” Laminate is pretty resilient, but use a cutting board, avoid resting hot objects on it and be aware that if moisture gets into the sub-layer it can cause the material to swell, so wipe up spills quickly.