The benchtop is the most visible part of a kitchen, and when renovating or constructing a new kitchen, choosing the right material is a big decision. The benchtop is not just the central meeting place in the kitchen but also the work area or platform where you and your kitchen utensils and equipment come into essential contact with your foods and other stuff. To arrive at the best decision, you must seek to understand the distinctions between engineered stone kitchen benchtops and natural stone benchtops. Of course, both options are beneficial, each in its way, so you have to decide which option you like most.
Engineered Stone Benchtops:
Manufactured stone for benchtops is quickly gaining popularity since the designs and patterns of the stones are almost uniform in their colours. Being a composite material comprising crushed stones and a resin-based material, engineered stone is sturdy and durable to the common wear and tear on the floor.
Some Key Benefits of Engineered Stone Benchtops Include:
- Similar shapes and colours
- It is highly scratch, stain, and crack resistant
- Waterproof: Doesn’t absorb liquids; smooth, hygienic surface: Does not require sealing
- In general, the price is lower compared with natural stone
- Available in many colours and finishes
- May be produced with recycled content
The essentials of engineered stone benchtops are that they come in a number of beautiful colours in different finishes that are viable for any kitchen. They also have the significant benefit of being recyclable, as they can be produced out of recycled materials, and they don’t require sealing to protect the surface.
Engineered stone benchtops are manufactured surfaces derived mainly from quartz, reinforced with resin and colourant, they are hardwearing, stain-resistant and homogeneous in appearance and therefore suitable for kitchens and bathrooms because they are seamless, impervious and easy to clean, but the problem that prevents it from getting the endorsement it deserves is a danger of silica exposure during fabrication and installation.
Natural Stone Benchtops:
Natural stone benchtops are loved for their organic appearance, and they can add a touch of opulence no other material can offer. Granite, marble, limestone, slate, et al. are forms of natural stone that come with their own characteristics and attributes.
Here are some of the benefits of choosing natural stone benchtops for your kitchen:
- Distinct single forms and less complex forms of textural designs.
- Can be very durable and can survive high temperatures (but can chip or crack sometimes).
- It has a natural porous structure and needs to be sealed often, and it is sensitive to staining.
- Because of all of the processes involved in extraction, they are usually more expensive.
- Gives a classic, elegant touch and was mostly used in kitchens and bathrooms.
- One of the most completely natural materials used for construction, but costly because of the energy required to mine and transport it.
Natural stone benchtops provide the ultimate in style, class, and sophistication suitable for both kitchens and bathrooms. Furthermore, natural stone offers astonishing work face patterns and textures that cannot be duplicated with engineered stone; each benchtop is individual.
Also, natural stone is very hard, and it also has the capacity to stand heat, thus making it ideal, especially for active areas. However, it is very important to know that natural stone needs more attention than engineered stone to be maintained.
Organic materials used in the production of natural stone can make the surface permeable to liquids and stains that may only need sealing and resealing by professional stone cleaners. Furthermore, the extraction and processing techniques of the natural stone bench tops also present some energy-related issues, which result in them being much more costly than their engineered stone counterparts.
Conclusion:
In the case of engineered and natural stone benchtops for your kitchen, be sure to look at some features best suited for the material. Engineered stone is guaranteed to fit within your budget, provide a uniform look and can easily be maintained; natural stone will give an added elegance and distinction to your kitchen. In your case, it is wise to think of your budget, the doable lifestyle you can be able to maintain, and your preferences. If all these factors are considered, then you will be in a position to consider the right benchtop that will assist you in designing your dream kitchen.
