Worktops for the kitchen: features, types and subtleties of choice

No matter how original your unique taste in furniture is, no kitchen can do without countertops. First of all, such a surface performs working functions, since it is on it that all the basic work is performed, and it also experiences the maximum impact of negative external factors.

At the same time, it takes up a lot of space and is clearly visible, which means that it simply must look decent. Therefore, in order for the headset to look attractive and to remain functional for many years, you should carefully approach its choice.

To avoid a variety of interpretations, we note that the countertop for the kitchen is the same stove that is mounted on top of the cabinets of the lower row. It is designed in such a way as not only to be a lid for contents inside the drawers, but also to successfully perform the functions of another kitchen table, withstanding loads of any complexity.

A few decades ago, each kitchen cabinet could have its own lid, but over time, the designers came to the logical conclusion that this is not very convenient. Since then, the countertop has been mounted alone on the entire working area, and already if necessary, cooking surfaces, sinks and other useful elements crash into it.

Modern countertops should not only be large, but as solid as possible, made from a minimum number of pieces. First of all, this way increased esthetics is achieved - there is no difference in levels and uneven intervals.

The shape of the kitchen room in our time can be diverse, as well as its size. The same applies to the needs of the owners, who may have their own idea of ​​what size and shape the countertop should be. Sometimes what is desired seems incompatible with reality, but especially for such cases, non-standard types of products are created that allow the most efficient use of space, and sometimes just to enhance the aesthetic effect.

The simplest and most common type is predictably straight countertops - These can be found in most kitchens; they are produced by any enterprise that generally produces stoves of this type. They are rectangular in shape and feature a seamless, seamless type of construction., which allows you to clearly plan the space of the future interior and provides high rigidity and sufficient durability.

Sometimes kitchens are so cramped that it is not possible to place a full-fledged countertop of the required size there. Options for solving such a problem can be completely different. The retractable model assumes that part of a two-tier structure is hidden inside the body of the main part.

An alternative and slightly simpler solution is a folding tabletop. It is already not necessarily multilevel, although much depends on the reliability of the fasteners. In addition, a certain gap between the two parts does not disappear, which means that over time, a space and a more noticeable angle may appear between them. But in terms of organization and maintenance, such a model is very simple - when folded, it looks like two-level or three-level folding transformer board, each layer of which can be shifted to the side.

Folding worktop today you will meet infrequently and yet she also has the right to exist in cramped kitchens. It represents a suspended surface, which when folded practically does not take up space, since it is vertically leaned against any of the walls.

If there are no special problems with the space, but you want the kitchen to look more smooth and unusual, you can abandon the traditional rectangular shape in favor of a more refined one. Rounded and radius models interestingly beat the deviations of the working area from the traditional rectangle and look very soft, creating an additional feeling of comfort. In addition, the semicircular edges of the countertops are also good because they are completely safe for children, who in their pranks often get injured by hitting a sharp jamb.

Almost any modern countertop, unless it comes to an impromptu analogue, should be waterproof. This is understandable, because drops of water from an adjacent sink or from freshly washed products will inevitably fall on it. However, moisture-proof plate is not the ultimate dream, because many modern owners choose anti-vandal models. Such a solution is protected from external influences much more efficiently, which is also very appropriate.

The material is most directly related to how reliable and durable the selected product will be, therefore, this criterion should be paid increased attention. When comparing materials, all characteristics should be taken into account, as well as the potential place of use of the plate. Also note that some models are made of several materials at once - so, in the case there can be an array of wood, while on the surface - veneered wood or laminate.

Nevertheless, each material needs to be considered separately to understand what its operational characteristics are.

This material today is deservedly one of the most common and by all indications it turns out that in the future the demand for such plates will only grow. In essence, this is an advanced chipboard - this material is also made of wood chips, but instead of potentially toxic adhesives, the technology of the most powerful pressing is used here.

MDF boards are almost always covered with a laminated coating, which additionally protects the product from mechanical damage and absorbent dirt. Nevertheless, scratches and spots will still appear over time, because design specialists usually recommend choosing a matte finish with a multi-colored pattern, which somehow helps to mask emerging defects.

Unfortunately, laminated countertops are not seamless, so you have to connect the individual fragments with metal moldings. Pay attention to the issue of sealing such a joint - water, falling into the slot, can reach the base of the plate and provoke its accelerated failure.

A few decades ago, this material was considered one of the most promising, but today it is almost completely out of use and it can hardly be expected that someday it will again become popular. Until our time, it is used only by those owners who in everything and always are oriented towards maximum savings.

As a rule, the advantages of such material are cheap and end. For a more reliable connection, glues and resins are added to the mixture, which, when heated, can emit harmful fumes. Manufacturers, of course, insist that it is their products that are made with the proper attitude to quality, because it is completely safe. We will not argue that even for particleboard there is a gradation of security, but the statement is doubtful, there are supposedly completely harmless types of this material.

If you still decide to save money, choose a countertop from chipboard according to approximately the same criteria as its "colleague" from MDF - A plain glossy coating will surely lose its original appearance faster than a matte pattern.

Two of the above materials are the mass choice of the consumer, but glass worktops are a solution for those owners who are not alien to the individual aesthetic taste. The first is looks pretty original, since your countertop acquires an unusual shine, and if necessary it can even be completely transparent. Secondly, good glass in general is quite practical to use - it does not absorb liquids, and therefore to a lesser extent subject to unremovable pollution.

Theoretically, a glass surface can be made to order in such sizes and shapes that the customer himself considers ideal. Besides, it is quite easy to apply any pattern to the glass, and this gives the consumer the opportunity to make the interior of his apartment unique.

Such characteristics are attracting an increasing number of buyers, but many are stopped by almost the only minus of such a solution - the fact is that such a purchase will be relatively expensive. If you are not ready to invest heavily, the result will not be good, and in the pursuit of savings, you can run into low-quality glass, which is afraid of heat and shock.

Those who pursue solidity and durability often prefer natural stone countertops. Of course, such an acquisition is distinguished by outstanding durability, therefore it is enough to invest money once so that the purchase will serve not only you, but also your children with grandchildren.

Among other things such an interior detail also looks very solid, and for some design styles it is almost mandatory. True, there are so many difficulties in implementing such a plan that without their preliminary study, nothing will come of it.

At least a stone countertop is very expensive, and although such an investment seems justified because of its durability, not every consumer can afford such a purchase. Besides, natural stone must be correctly entered into the rest of the interior - firstly, not to be the centerpiece of the entire room, and secondly, care should be taken to ensure that everything else in the kitchen is also extremely durable.

A separate difficulty is the huge weight of the tabletop made of natural stone. You can’t just take and replace a countertop from any other material with stone. If the emphasis is only on the lockers of the lower row, then they are very likely to simply form like a house of cards. Therefore, the installation involves a preliminary calculation and strengthening of the supports so that they can withstand their heavy load.

Experts draw attention to the fact that natural stone, unlike artificial substitutes, which will be discussed below, has microscopic pores, and therefore visible pollution still remains on its surface. In order to less often encounter such troubles, it is worth giving preference to a darker material - on its surface any pollution is not so obvious.

Wherein in terms of strength and durability, different grades of material are unequal, for example, granite can be safely called the best of its kind, but limestone and even marble are somewhat softer and, if handled carelessly, they can still be damaged.

For those who want a stone aesthetic, there is an alternative option that allows you to replace natural stone with artificial. This can be implemented in different ways - from specific lamination on top of even the cheapest chipboard to more complex bulk imitations.

In this case, most of the minuses inherent in natural raw materials disappear - the stove is relatively light and inexpensive.It’s another matter that one can no longer expect from it either outstanding strength or impressive durability, and the trained eye can easily distinguish a natural product from a fake.

Acrylic is one of the most popular modern materials for making countertops. In a sense, acrylic countertops are the future, not the present, because their use is only gaining momentum, and in the coming years we can still expect an increase in the share of just such products. To understand what caused such a demand, just look at the list of advantages.

• Acrylic is capable of skillfully disguising itself as almost any other popular material, for example, it is often made of artificial stone and artificial wood. The polymer is malleable, at the request of the customer or manufacturer, it can take any shape and can be painted in any shade, its surface can be given any texture.
• Acrylic is considered one of the lightest materials, therefore, it does not need additional support reinforcements.
• It is resistant to any type of exposure, not only spots remain on it - odors and radiation are not absorbed into it either.
• Such a product is easily washed with any detergents, But it looks very aesthetically pleasing not only due to design variability, but also due to invisible seams.

With all its advantages, acrylic also has certain disadvantages. It is not as durable as many of its competitors. - Do not use harsh washcloths or abrasive cleaners for cleaning. In addition, on such a countertop, you can put a cup of tea, but not red-hot dishes, just removed from the stove.

The disadvantages of acrylic polymer include its ability to scratch, although the problem can be solved in two fundamentally different ways: either by choosing a colorful, bright pattern in which scratches do not strike the eye, or polishing, which again makes the plate smooth.

You will not see metal countertops in the kitchen so often, because they supposedly reduce the feeling of comfort. Maybe this is true for most people, but do not forget about the popularity of such interior decoration styles as loft, high-tech or futurism. In all these cases, a stainless steel countertop will not be appropriate - it will seem like no alternative.

note that for typical kitchen conditions, not every metal product is suitable - the material should be made of stainless steel. Such a steel worktop is ideally suited for testing - it does not rust, which means it is not afraid of water, it does not frighten heating up to several hundred degrees, it is quite easily rubbed off from any dirt and has the highest strength. It is extremely difficult to damage such a plate, even if for some reason you are trying to do it purposefully, the potential life of the product can reach several decades.

Perhaps the main drawback that negated the use of metal countertops in the kitchen is their inability to fit into most interiors. The abundance of metal parts is uncharacteristic for human habitation, and therefore there should not be too many of them in the kitchen, and yet there is already at least a stove.

In addition, any metal is distinguished by excellent thermal conductivity, and the fact that the heat from a red-hot oven is not terrible for the countertop itself does not make a person's work more comfortable if the work surface is also heated. Finally, metal has “Voiced voice”, because you either act very carefully, or all the neighbors will know that you are engaged in culinary issues.

The modern world literally requires a person to be original in everything, and this also applies to the decoration of the kitchen. In a situation when all possible options have been invented for a long time and exist somewhere, it remains only to focus on some atypical solution, which, while not being the only or first of its kind, is still very rare.

Of course, the options that we will discuss below have more minuses than pluses, otherwise they would be used everywhere, but for those who are striving for uniqueness, even this may seem to be insufficient reason to abandon the venture.

If we talk about relatively rarely used materials, then start with ordinary wood. If MDF and chipboard, which are also derived from natural wood, were separately considered above, then here we mean precisely solid wood - a single piece of wood. Factors that force people to consider such a solution lie on the surface: This material is environmentally friendly and does not pose any danger to households, and it is incredibly beautiful.

However, the cons are also obvious, because the wood has absolutely no place in the kitchen - it is afraid of moisture and strong heating, relatively soft, supports combustion, absorbs pollution. You can try to deal with all this by treating the original material with impregnations and varnishes, but either you will not achieve the expected effect, or the wooden tabletop will no longer look like itself.

An even stranger solution is a concrete worktop. In principle, if we allow the use of natural stone in the loft style, it is not surprising that someone decided to go even further and use concrete instead. This, of course, is cheaper than the same granite, and such a product is notable for its good durability and can have a much more diverse appearance if you give it an original shape and add blotches of glass and shells or even paint it corny.

Cons, of course, are also enough:

• not everyone will like this solution;
• from sudden changes in temperature, the stove can easily crack;
• pores in the concrete structure contribute to the appearance of stubborn spots, and this problem is solved only by special impregnations;
• the concrete slab is also quite heavy, and the additional processing makes it also expensive - we pay a lot, as for a natural stone, but we get a much lower-quality surrogate.

Of the materials that in the coming years may become so coveted in popularity, ceramic tiles can be distinguished. This solution appeared relatively recently, it is a product from an environmentally friendly material - ordinary clay. The ceramic countertop is not afraid of heat, dirt or chemical reagents; on its surface you can even cut with a knife without attaching a cutting board.

On the Internet, you can also find mention that the countertop can be made of drywall. In a sense, this is true, but you need to understand that this material usually represents only the invisible part of the frame, and on the outside it still needs to be finished with something else. For this reason, a purely drywall countertop, if it occurs, is too pretentious.

Finally, latest original solution - epoxy worktop. In terms of operational properties, such a material seems to be one of the best - it is durable and low price of raw materials, not afraid of moisture and extremely easy to maintain, and also has an impressive appearance and originality. A certain problem is that usually such products are not manufactured on an industrial scale, and although the designer worktop only benefits from this in terms of originality, its cost naturally increases.

There are not many cons, but they are - an attempt at home-made manufacture often ends with an unsatisfactory result in the form of a white precipitate inside the case, and when it comes into contact with hot dishes, the product may release toxins.

Many companies not only produce finished countertops, but also manufacture them on an individual order. The first option is more suitable for those who are not looking for special originality, but agree to standard execution with benefit for their own finances. Custom manufacturing, of course, is more expensive, but it allows you to realize any of your fantasies.

There is no unambiguous standard for ready-made worktops, but most often they are 60 cm wide and 300 cm long. If necessary, the masters involved in the installation of the product can cut it a little to fit the dimensions of the kitchen, but the increase is usually achieved either by individual manufacture, or by joints in the form of moldings. At the same time, many heavy materials have a limit on the maximum length - by exceeding this value, you greatly increase the risk of them cracking under your own weight.

In terms of choosing the thickness, the variety of options is much greater - in the assortment of shops you can find plates of 2 cm and 6 cm. In most cases, the thickness does not affect the performance of the countertop in any way - if you don’t hit it with a hammer, it will even in the thinnest design will withstand all possible loads.

In terms of choosing a shade, the same rule works as in the case of sizes: the most basic options can be purchased cheaper at any building hypermarket, but those who are looking for something truly original will have to fork out for a designer copy. The latter, however, can claim to be truly unique if you decide not just to decorate it with a banal pattern, but choose some completely meaningful image.

By the way, color is directly related to the duration of use of the product. So, experts advise to abandon glossy countertops in favor of matte ones - at least if the material could potentially be scratched with the same knife. The fact is that on a shiny surface, any defects are clearly visible to the naked eye, they themselves will attract the eye, which means that soon there will be a need for re-repair.

By the same logic, it is advised to abandon a solid monophonic coloring in favor of a drawing. Not only that such a stylish design will make the atmosphere of your kitchen indescribable, it will also mask any mechanical damage, because they will be subconsciously perceived as part of the image until they clearly violate it.

But thanks to the colorfulness, you can use sparkles if you really do not have enough of a glossy surface - if such jewelry is illogically scattered on the surface of the countertop, the violation of the structure caused by the scratch that appears will not be noticeable.

A tabletop made of any material, even the most beautiful one, may look like a completely foreign body in the interior if you chose it without thinking about stylistic compatibility.Clear rules have long been spelled out by designers and you just need to adhere to them so that things that are good separately remain the same and combined with each other.

A simple example: styles such as country, vintage, rustic and classic, a priori cannot imply the use of concrete or metal countertops. All these areas of design are guided by those design principles that were available to our ancestors, and even relatively poor, several decades or even centuries ago.

In all cases, the emphasis is only on natural materials, and all accessories should seem home-made, not factory-made. Accordingly, the ceramic countertop is also unlikely to fit into the classic interior - although ceramics were known to people from antiquity, it is unlikely that they made three-meter products from baked clay at home.

In the same way, the incompatible cannot be combined if you are guided by the specific modern styles of loft or minimalism. The loft is characterized by a certain cold design, it should have the atmosphere of an abandoned industrial facility, because cozy wood, and even with warm drawings on the surface, here seems simply inappropriate.

Minimalism does not accept an abundance of details, therefore, for him, in principle, multi-color design is undesirable, and thereby he is fundamentally against the same epoxy worktops.

As you can see, the ideal material from which it would be possible to make a universal cover for the headset does not exist - this is due to the variety of options. Regardless of whether you are looking at beautiful finished samples in the store or coming up with a custom-made design, it is important to focus on the practical characteristics of the product.

In many ways, the requirements for a countertop depend on the conditions in which it will be used, because the ability to withstand not only heating but also cooling is extremely important for a street kitchen, but this is not required in a home.

Evaluate potential “candidates” by the following characteristics:

• resistance to moisture;
• the ability to not deteriorate from temperature extremes;
• susceptibility to pollution and ease of elimination;
• abrasion and cut resistance;
• ability to withstand shock;
• ease of regular maintenance;
• solid structure or the presence of joints - potentially weak points;
• ease of installation;
• probability of success with partial repair of the product;
• ability to fit into the interior;
• purchase and installation costs;
• durability.

The abundance of available options exists precisely because there are a lot of evaluation criteria, and for some, the countertop might seem ideal that I would never have chosen another for my kitchen. Therefore, try not to listen to other people's advice, if they are not supported by specific arguments that are based on the realities of your home, and soberly and thoroughly choose material for a kitchen accessory.

Theoretically, you should have turned your attention to this aspect during the selection process, but if this was not done suddenly, and the countertop has already been mounted, at least now take an interest in how to properly handle the kitchen surface. In the relevant section above, it was clearly shown that any of the available materials has at least one obvious drawback.

It’s good if you guess about it, but there are also frank surprises. So, it is impossible to put hot on the countertop made of epoxy resin, otherwise it begins to release toxins: without seeing this, you may not suspect that you are poisoning the whole family.It, as well as some other types of surfaces, cannot be cleaned with abrasive products, so sometimes, trying to remove a stubborn stain, you can permanently ruin the stove.

Most types of wood will also not appreciate contact with red-hot dishes, but for metal or ceramics this will not have any serious visible consequences.

On how correctly you handle your countertop, its actual life depends. You must admit that if a natural stone easily absorbs dirt and soon becomes covered with clearly visible spots, then it doesn’t matter that it could serve for several decades - it has already lost its original aesthetic appearance, and therefore will no longer please the apartment owners with its presence.

See how to choose the right countertop for your kitchen in the next video.