We tell you how to choose a countertop and not miscalculate.
Buying countertops should not start without prior preparation. Even if you imagine how mentally you will cook on a dark wood surface, that's not all. Although the choice begins with the design, it is important to know what material the countertop is made of. Each material has its pros and cons. Without knowing them, you can buy a countertop that requires more maintenance and is not the most practical. This article will help you make the right choice.
5 criteria for choosing a countertop
It will be easier for you to choose a countertop and not be disappointed later if you focus on these 5 criteria:
- Price.
- Design.
- Ease of maintenance and operation.
- Durability.
- Environmental friendliness.
We will consider all these criteria for each material from which kitchen countertops are usually made:
- natural wood;
- a natural stone;
- fake diamond;
- decorative plastic.
Natural wood and stone, at first glance, may seem the most preferable option. After all, it is a living natural material that is so nice to see at home. Or stone and wood textures will work best with your kitchen design.
But natural materials have a number of disadvantages. And if these disadvantages turn out to be critical for you, then countertops made of other materials - artificial stone and decorative plastic - can become a solution.
Countertops made of artificial stone are made from stone chips (for example, granite or quartz) and binder resins. It is important that there are two types of artificial stone - composite (agglomerate) and acrylic stone (acrylate), and the price and practicality of the countertop depend on this.
Tabletops made of decorative plastic are not only made of plastic. They are made like this: a coating of decorative plastic is applied to the chipboard. Therefore, these worktops are also referred to as "chipboard worktops", "laminated plastic worktops" or "HPL laminate worktops".
Countertops made of artificial stone and decorative plastic are better in their characteristics than countertops made of stone or wood. Next, we will consider separately each criterion for choosing a countertop and you will see where these countertops are ahead of others. And we will start with how countertops made of different materials differ in price.
Countertop cost
According to the price difference, countertops can be divided as follows:
- Cheap - up to 5,000 rubles;
- Medium - over 5,000 and up to 20,000 rubles;
- Expensive - over 20,000 rubles.
Keep in mind that countertops made of the same material can be both in the inexpensive segment and cost a lot. This depends, for example, on the size of the worktop, the quality of the material or the manufacturing technology.
A natural wood countertop can cost both 5,000 rubles and 30,000 rubles. Its price will depend on the size and type of wood. You can see the price guides, for example, on the websites of WOODPOWER, RSK-Interior, WOODNEVA.
But still the most expensive countertops are made of natural stone and artificial stone composite. Their cost starts from 20,000 rubles. For reference, you can look at offers for such countertops from Kamenny Bereg, Alive Stone and Ligron.
Prices for acrylic stone countertops are lower than for composite or natural stone countertops. Acrylic differs from the composite countertop in the percentage of stone chips and structure. The composite contains 90–95% stone chips: it is a solid slab of chips and binder resins. In acrylic stone, only 60-75% of stone chips and the percentage of resins is therefore higher. Acrylic is not a solid slab, it is applied to a chipboard frame. All this makes the cost of acrylic countertops lower and affects its characteristics. Acrylic countertops are produced, for example, by Odyssey and Sound Stone.
The most affordable option is countertops made of decorative plastic. It is important that they come in two categories: premium and budget segment.
In the premium segment, the main market share is occupied by three manufacturers: Slotex (Russia), EGGER (Austria) and FAB (Italy). Moreover, Slotex countertops are 20–30% cheaper than EGGER and FAB countertops, and they are not inferior in quality. The Russian companies Ligron, Odyssey and Soyuz (part of the line) also work in this segment. But their countertops, by a number of criteria, lag behind the products of the main manufacturers.
There are much more manufacturers in the budget segment. For reference, you can look at the offers of Kedr, Skif, World of Countertops, AMK-Troy, Soyuz.
Premium segment countertops look more presentable and more practical in everyday life than budget segment countertops. This is achieved through production technology (for example, digital printing of a picture) and the quality of materials - they are more practical and environmentally friendly.
Table top design: its color, texture, shape
The countertop in the design of the kitchen plays no less a role than kitchen cabinets, cabinets and other furniture. It creates visual and stylistic accents. Imagine the Scandinavian style. It often uses light, concise furniture. And the tabletop with a wood texture creates the necessary accents in color and texture in such an interior.
In general, a tabletop with a wooden texture will harmoniously fit into any interior. But countertops made of natural stone look best in spacious rooms; in small kitchens they will be out of place.
As for colors and textures, natural stone and wood have a limited choice. This also applies to the composite.
But acrylic countertops, on the contrary, have a large selection of colors and textures. They can imitate the look of natural stone or be of any other color - even plain (for example, orange), even with decorative details. And to the touch, acrylic countertops are warmer and more pleasant than those made of composite or natural stone.
The maximum scope for choosing colors and textures is at the countertops made of decorative plastic. They are either just plain, or they can depict different patterns and ornaments. Their production technologies have reached such a level that these countertops can accurately reproduce the textures of natural wood or stone.
This effect is achieved through the technology of drawing a pattern on decorative plastic. There are two ways to do this - gross and digital printing. The gross method is more outdated. For example, it does not give a complete resemblance to natural textures, as it repeats the details of the pattern in one product. Digital printing allows you to create a natural, non-repetitive texture pattern, which is just characteristic of natural stone and wood. And in terms of tactile sensations, countertops with digitally printed decor are more pleasant and “alive” than those created in bulk. It doesn't feel like it's made of plastic.
Due to digital printing, premium decorative plastic worktops more accurately and more realistically convey the look and texture of natural stone or wood than in budget options. Of the Russian manufacturers, only Slotex uses digital printing.
Color advice. Consider also the practicality of colors, that is, how noticeable water drops, dust, stains will be on the surface. And in this regard, regardless of the material:
- Matte countertops are more practical than glossy ones.
- Light countertops are more practical than dark ones. If you want dark, then choose with light streaks or blotches.
Table top shape
The most common tabletop shape is rectangular. Its standard width is 60 centimeters, but there are also options over 1 meter. If possible, choose a countertop a few centimeters wider than the lower kitchen cabinets and cabinets. So you will not hit your knees on their doors and handles. The length of the countertops can exceed 4 meters. For small kitchens, corner countertops are well suited. There are also round-shaped countertops or in the form of a bar counter.
Ease of maintenance and use of the countertop
In ease of maintenance and operation of the countertop It is important to highlight 4 aspects:
- How resistant is the countertop material to stains if you do not immediately wipe its surface. For example, what happens to the countertop if you're late for work and haven't wiped up the spilled coffee?
- How easy it is to clean the countertop and what means of any household chemicals are suitable for this. This also affects the hygiene of the surface so that microbes do not breed on it.
- Is it possible to put hot dishes on the surface of the countertop.
- Do you need additional care for the countertop?
Countertops made of wood and stone are not the best in this respect. The tree has a rather weak resistance to dyes, but at least it does not absorb everything in a row. But the stone, due to its porous and loose structure, perfectly absorbs everything. And the coffee stain can forever remain on its surface.
It is necessary to clean such countertops carefully, only with “soft” means. If you rub them with a brush or "hard" powders and pastes, scratches may remain. And at a wooden countertop, “hard” cleaning products also corrode the protective coating.
Countertops made of marble and wood do not tolerate contact with hot dishes. Traces may remain on their surface, and the marble will turn yellow. But granite has a high heat resistance.
Another disadvantage of natural wood and stone is that they require regular additional care:
- Wooden countertops should be treated with oil or wax twice a year. And periodically rub vegetable oil. But such care increases its practicality and durability.
- It is necessary to rub special protective compounds into the marble countertop. This should be done once every one or two months.
V composite and acrylic countertops no stains and dirt are eaten in, since their surface is not porous. But at the same time, they are fundamentally different from each other in terms of cleaning and reaction to hot dishes. Acrylate requires the same care as wood and stone countertops and does not tolerate contact with hot dishes. And the composite can be washed with almost any means, rubbed with the hard side of the sponge and brushes - it will not suffer. And the composite has high heat resistance. You can even put a hot frying pan on it.
At decorative plastic countertops the surface is also non-porous, so they do not absorb dirt and grease and are generally stain-resistant. Like the composite, they can be cleaned with any means. What is important, on budget countertops, unlike premium options, stains and scratches may still appear over time, and the color of cleaning products may change.
To better protect the design on the decorative plastic and improve hygiene, some manufacturers make an additional coating. So, Slotex covers its countertops with a protective and environmentally friendly layer (overlay) with the addition of the corundum mineral. Odysseus uses an overlay with silver ions.
Although decorative plastic is not afraid of hot dishes, it can withstand only short-term contact with it. And the thicker its layer, the stronger it is and the better it reacts to hot. Premium countertops tend to be over 0.5mm, while budget countertops are thinner.
Conclusions. In terms of ease of maintenance and operation, countertops made of composite and decorative plastic (premium segment) are the best option. They have maximum hygiene, do not require additional care and will not be affected by contact with hot dishes.
Countertop durability
In how long the countertop will retain its original appearance, there is 5 main aspects:
- How prone is the countertop to scratches, cracks, chips.
- How moisture resistant is the countertop?
- The tabletop is so durable and impact resistant.
- Can the countertop fade or lose color.
- Can the countertop be repaired?
wooden table top does not take a lot of blows and can be scratched by a knife. And from moisture and temperature changes, it can crack, swell, bend and, alas, even begin to rot. Such a countertop will be durable if you take care of it as we wrote above. And it can also be repaired: the tree can be sanded from scratches, dents, chips can be restored, and stains can be removed.
Countertops made of natural stone - one of the most resistant to scratches, but they do not tolerate blows well. If you drop a cast iron skillet, it may crack or chip. And the stone has the opposite effect: you need to carefully place plates, cups and other fragile utensils on it so as not to break them.
Due to its porous structure, marble perfectly absorbs moisture. This leads to the fact that mold can form in its pores. But granite has excellent resistance to moisture. The colors of natural stone are persistent, they will not fade from cleaning and will not fade from the sun. But it is impossible to repair such countertops.
Composite and acrylic stone countertops behave differently in relation to the appearance of scratches. If an apple or bread can be cut on a composite worktop without a board and there will be no scratches, then acrylic stone is more prone to scratches than other materials.
Due to the non-porous structure, both of these materials have excellent moisture resistance. You do not have to worry that they will swell or mold will start in them. Composite and acrylic countertops are ahead of everyone else in terms of impact resistance. They won't get hurt even if you drop a cast iron skillet on them. And yet they have a persistent color.
But when it comes to repairs, these materials again behave differently. The composite cannot be repaired, and acrylic can be perfectly sanded, and chips and cracks in it can be filled with special compounds.
Decorative plastic countertops, like stone and composite, are scratch resistant. But again, the difference is in the segment. On premium worktops, you can cut food without a board and there will be no scratches. But budget countertops can not always boast of this. Strength is enhanced by an additional coating. As we said above, a number of manufacturers apply an additional protective layer. For example, Slotex covers countertops with a layer of corundum mineral.
The surface of countertops made of decorative plastic is not afraid of moisture. But the internal chipboard can swell without special protection. Therefore, pay attention to the following:
- Chipboard must be moisture resistant. You will understand this by the cut of the wood board. If it is greenish or bluish, then everything is in order. But not all manufacturers, even in the premium segment, protect chipboard from moisture. Here are companies whose chipboard is moisture resistant: Slotex, EGGER, FAB, Odysseus and Soyuz.
- Postformed countertops are less likely to bulge. Postforming is a technology for applying decorative plastic to chipboard: the plastic is stretched over the plate and brought under it. Thus, the plastic takes the form of a plate and wraps itself around the edge of the countertop (its vertical surface). It turns out that there are no seams and chipboard is better protected.
- How is chipboard protected from below. Manufacturers cover the bottom of the countertop in different ways: someone uses plastic for this and this is the best option, someone uses special paper or cardboard that are impregnated with protective resins. Slotex and FAB companies protect their countertops with plastic.
Tabletops made of decorative plastic are quite resistant to impacts. But still, from the fall of the cast-iron pan, a dent can remain on them. And you can’t fix it, these countertops cannot be repaired.
High-quality decorative plastic will retain color for a long time. But budget countertops can lose color if they are often rubbed off stains or “hard” powders and pastes are used.
Conclusions. Wood and acrylic stone suffer most from external influences, but are also best repaired. And countertops made of natural stone, composite and decorative plastic, although they cannot be repaired, are more wear-resistant.
Environmental friendliness
It is important that the material of the countertop does not emit harmful substances. And there are two points here:
- Natural stone (especially granite) may have an increased radioactive background. Therefore, ask manufacturers and sellers for certificates that will confirm that the radioactive background of the stone is neutral. For granite, this is class 1 according to the classification of building materials according to the specific activity of natural radionuclides.
- When buying a decorative plastic countertop, pay attention to the formaldehyde emission class in chipboard. It should be equal to E1 or E0, then the countertop will be environmentally friendly and safe.
Briefly: what to remember when choosing a countertop
- The most practical, but at the same time one of the most expensive countertops are composite. But they have a small selection of colors.
- Natural wood or stone is not always the best option for a kitchen countertop. There are a number of criteria where countertops made of artificial stone and decorative plastic are ahead of natural materials. For example, they are more resistant to moisture and stains, and easier to care for.
- If you want to see wood or stone textures in your kitchen, but natural materials do not suit you, look at premium decorative plastic countertops. Outwardly, they are almost indistinguishable from natural materials. And, touching them with your hand, there is no feeling that this is a plastic surface. And in terms of practicality, they are in many ways not inferior to composite countertops.
- Tabletops made of decorative plastic have maximum scope in terms of colors and textures. At the same time, they are the most affordable. But remember about the segment: not only the price depends on it, but the look and practicality of the countertop.
- Premium decorative plastic countertops also differ from each other. Remember about the moisture resistance of chipboard and its protection from below. And also about the price. Countertops of European companies are more expensive. Of our manufacturers, Slotex has the best price-quality ratio: due to digital printing of a pattern, a protective overlay on top and plastic on the bottom.
6. Ask manufacturers and sellers for environmental certificates for countertops made of natural stone and decorative plastic.
