TRENDS ON TOP

Kam Bharadwa, sales and operations manager at uk.kutchenhaus.com, on choosing and caring for your work surfaces

LAMINATE WORKTOPS

Laminate worktops are budgetfriendly options but offer many design choices – get the style right and your kitchen can look incredible. They are hard-wearing and low maintenance, but can be damaged by water ingress as they have a chipboard substrate, while too-hot pans can also mark them.

SOLID WOOD WORKTOPS

A wooden worktop feels rustic and homely. It changes colour subtly with age or if you apply different oils. Wood needs upkeep, so it’s recommended to oil it every six months (your supplier or fabricator can recommend which oil to use). This will keep your worktops waterresistant, hygienic and will prevent stains or watermarks forming.

GRANITE WORKTOPS

Granite is a natural stone; it’s tough and each piece is unique. A slightly more expensive choice, granite has high heat resistance and is highly scratch resistant. Clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Avoid exposing it to citrus and acidic foods and solventbased liquids. Granite worktops usually come sealed when installed, but should be resealed every year as they’re porous.

QUARTZ WORKTOPS

Quartz is an engineered stone worktop with designs to suit all tastes and budgets. It is highly durable, non-porous and scratch resistant. As it’s not natural stone and is mixed with a resin, avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning; use water and a mild detergent.

CERAMIC WORKTOPS

Ceramic offers a huge range of styles, is scratch resistant and easy to clean. However, porcelain is more susceptible to chips and breaks than others. It can also be one of the more expensive options, so the choice will depend on your budget.