Kitchen benchtops are the prime working space that you will have to prepare most of your meals throughout your time in this house, so you should get it right when making your choice. But what separates good kitchen benchtops from the rest? Well, there are several indicators that what you are getting might be a great value or something to avoid at all costs. Always make sure you see the benchtops in person before making a decision, as that will make it easier to spot three of the best features to look for in a long-lasting purchase.
Avoid Porous Materials
Wood might look great for many other design purposes but as a benchtop, it brings with it a lot of risks. Although it is likely well treated, over time this treatment will not stop everything from getting into the more porous material underneath the surface. This can breed bacteria, which is something you really do not want in a meal preparation space. Harder materials, whether they be stone or metal, should always receive preferential treatment to wood. The only time wooden kitchen benchtops make sense is if it is purely for decoration, but even then there are many more alternatives that are both naturally beautiful and less susceptible to bacterial growth.
Thick Surface
Some budget-friendly metal kitchen benchtops are not as thick as you might think and this can lead to them flexing when pressure is applied. For example, when chopping onions or flattening out some meat for a schnitzel you might feel the metal benchtops slightly give way to pressure before returning to their frame. A stable base is very important in cooking, which is why so many people prefer thicker stone and marble kitchen benchtops, as there is no chance of them ever giving way like this and causing you to make a mistake.
One Continuous Piece
Having a single piece of material making up your entire kitchen benchtop ensures a more durable surface in almost all cases. If two or three pieces have been artificially joined together then those connective spaces become weak points and, over time, they can break down. Having a single slab of stone or quartz means that there are far less likely to be structural weak points no matter what part of the benchtop you are preparing your meals on. If you can, always look for continuous slabs, especially if you intend to live in this house for a long time.
If you're ready to add a new upgrade to your space, contact kitchen benchtop contractors.
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