Choosing the best kitchen benchtop: Natural stone and porcelain panels Artedomus
Given the diversity of kitchen benchtop products available, it can be difficult to know what the best choice is when fitting out a new kitchen. Some kitchen benchtops may appear to be suitable but won’t be robust – drop something heavy on them, and the surface will chip on impact; some will not be UV-stable and will change colour with exposure to direct sunlight; and others are not recommended for installation close to heat sources.
Natural stone and porcelain panel products avoid these pitfalls, and are functional and beautiful in the kitchen.
Natural stone – limestone, marble, granite and quartzite
Natural stone benchtops can add a strong sense of authenticity to a kitchen, with different stones bringing their own aesthetic qualities and physical properties. Limestone, marble, granite and quartzite get progressively stronger in that order, and the choice between them is often determined by the desired look, feel and longevity.
All natural stone products intended for use in the kitchen should be sealed to mitigate the risk of staining and acid degradation. The good news is that stains on natural stone generally fade over time, and even acid etching, which isn’t as noticeable on lighter surfaces, can be polished out.
Marble has long been considered the king of natural stone, and for good reason – marble products like Artedomus’s Elba stone are incredibly strong and display natural markings that make for striking interior design elements. Granite has also been popular for a long time, and it’s certainly a very robust material; but it’s slowly falling out of favour, a victim of fashion more than anything. At the same time, quartzite, the strongest of all of the natural stone benchtop materials, has risen in prominence, with unique products such as Artedomus’s Cortona offering richly veined patterning that rivals the beauty of marble.
Porcelain panel – the strongest benchtop of all
The newest benchtop material on the market is porcelain panel. Made from all-natural materials and available in large-format slabs, it’s practically impervious to damage, doesn’t stain and doesn’t etch. It’s completely UV stable, so can even be used outdoors, and because it’s so strong, it can be produced in thinner profiles than other benchtops – six millimetres and twelve millimetres, as compared to the standard twenty millimetres. It is also light enough for vertical applications like splashbacks and wall cladding. This makes porcelain panel products, such as Maximum porcelain panels from Artedomus, ideal for modern design treatments.
As awareness of products like Elba, Cortona and Maximum grows, more and more architects, designers and homeowners are choosing them. Strong, beautiful and safe – there’s no argument, really.