What Are The Best Worktops To Have?

There is a broad selection of worktops available today, prices range from a few hundred pounds to over ten thousand pounds.

What’s the difference and which is best?

The short answer is there isn’t a best, they all have strengths and weaknesses. I hope to highlight those so you can pick what’s best for your needs and budget.

Laminate is by far the most popular worktop and is used on around 80% of the kitchens we sell, it’s the least expensive, is hard wearing and with modern technologies can look similar to more expensive alternatives. It’s Achillies heal is that it’s chipboard core can be susceptible to water ingress which can ruin a laminate worktop. However, if properly fitted, sealed and isn’t left wet regularly this won’t be an issue. If you are on a tighter budget look no further.

Compressed laminate has the same surface material as laminate but instead of a chipboard core is made of hundreds of layers of laminate compressed together with an adhesive. This means it is impervious to water. It is significantly more expensive and by the time it’s fitted can be closer in price to some of the more premium options, as a result this isn’t something we sell very often. However, if you want an extremely hard-wearing worktop and can’t quite stretch to slightly more expensive options this can be a good choice.

Wood is a beautiful natural choice and can bring warmth to your kitchen, it sits right in the middle of the price range. The downside is that it requires treatment and maintenance with either oils or varnishes. If you are the sort of person who would willingly take on annual sanding and oiling, then it could be a good fit. If you aren’t likely to maintain it, then avoid.

Quartz has a good balance of many properties, stain resistant, scratch resistant, less brittle than natural stone, luxurious to the touch and very stylish. Its only real downside is that it can be expensive. If you want the high-end luxury look, feel and performance and your budget allow, this is a fantastic option.

Porcelain has many brand names from various manufacturers, but they are all basically extremely large tiles cut to the shape of your worktop. The surface design is printed on to the tile but doesn’t come over the edge, so all edges and cutouts are a flat colour. Highly stain and scratch resistant, sleek, stylish, luxurious. Sitting towards the top of the price scale. It can be more easily chipped than quartz so not an ideal choice for a family kitchen.

Acrylic worktops again come under a variety of brand names, but they are all similar. Joins can be made virtually seamless, and it can be manipulated into many shapes. There are few limits to design possibility with these worktops. Hygienic, easy to clean and luxurious to the touch. These are more easily scratched but are the only worktops that can easily be buffed or repaired. Generally, they are at the higher end of the price scale. A great choice for a very clean precise look.

Granite is natural stone mined from the ground, infinitely beautiful and the ultimate luxury look. It can be prone to staining, and certain varieties can be brittle, so you need to be careful not to impact edges or leave takeaway lids on. Towards the top of the price scale this one is the connoisseur’s choice.



Whichever worktop suits you best we have the skills and knowledge to design, plan and install it to the highest standard.