The bench top is viewed by many as the most important element of any kitchen design. It is used on a daily basis, whether you are making a sandwich, pouring milk into a bowl of cereal or preparing a three course meal. It therefore needs to be extremely durable, easy to clean and even have an attractive appearance. Bench tops are available in a huge range of different materials, with each one having its own benefits and disadvantages.
Granite bench tops are one of the more popular and standard choices used in many kitchen designs. The best granite bench tops are manufactured from a single slab of stone for a seamless finish that is both naturally beautiful and easy to maintain. It is easy to choose a granite bench top to suit your kitchen design, as the stone is available in a variety of different colours and patterns such as smooth greys, mottled black and whites and deep, golden browns.
Granite is preferred by many for use in kitchen designs because of its extremely hard composition that makes it difficult to break or chip. Granite needs to be sealed and treated heavily, however, to prevent staining and unhygienic absorption of liquids and bacteria. This problematic quality of granite leads many renovators to look for other natural stone kitchen design solutions, including quartz. Quartz bench tops are available in a variety of colours, including smooth and muted neutrals as well as dazzling whites, to suit all contemporary spaces.
Quartz bench tops manufactured for kitchen designs are usually made up of a mixture of more than 95% natural quartz blended with other materials such as resin, recycled glass and natural and synthetic binders. These additions transform the natural product into a material perfect for installation in any heavily used space. The finished product is a smooth slab that doesn't require any maintenance other than a quick wipe down after use. While engineered stone bench tops may not have the same luxury status of the natural granite or marble options, they do offer greatly improved practicality at the same level of visual beauty.
Natural stone products can be quite expensive, however, making them an unreasonable choice in budget kitchen designs. Plastic laminate bench tops are a popular choice for low cost renovations, offering an attractive, versatile and low maintenance preparation surface. For a more durable solution, choose a high pressure plastic laminate for your kitchen design, as these have a harder surface able to withstand cuts and scratches from sharp knives and other implements.
This article is shared by Anne Mehla on the behalf of Master Renovators. Master Renovators provides high end designs for kitchens in Melbourne. Master Renovators are well recognised for creative bathroom renovations and stylish bathroom designs in Melbourne.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Mehla
