Kitchen - bench tops
Porcelain as Furniture and cabinet facades Thinner porcelain slabs and tiles are ideal for use on indoor furnishings such as kitchen cabinet fronts and tabletops. It can be placed directly on the existing surface, making it the ideal product to use when renovating because there is no need to remove existing surface finishes first.
Porcelain is a dream benchtop material High temperature resistance and unmatched durability mean that kitchen benchtops will be one of the most popular uses of porcelain slabs in our homes. In addition, they are easy to clean and won’t scratch, so you can chop directly on the surface of the benchtop. And because it’s non-porous, it’s a hygienic choice for busy kitchens – every homeowner’s dream. Another exciting feature of this new material is the size of the slabs and tiles. Large 12-millimetre-thick slabs, measuring up to 3200 x 1500 millimetres for use on benchtops, give homeowners and designers the flexibility to design much larger single-piece kitchen islands than would be possible with most natural or engineered stone slabs. These jumbo-size pieces also mean that a larger kitchen island won’t require as many benchtop joins as a smaller one.
Porcelain has multiple applications The idea of being able to use such a hard-wearing product inside our homes and on kitchen benchtops is really exciting designers and homeowners alike – and the list of applications it can be used for is astounding. There are numerous areas in our homes for which porcelain slabs and tiles can be used, both indoors and outdoors, with no special sealing or treatment required. Thickness varies from five millimetres to 20 millimetres depending on the supplier. Which thickness you choose will depend on what you intend to use the material for.
PROS - Porcelain It is virtually indestructible This environmentally friendly and completely recyclable product is lightweight, resistant to high temperatures and ultra-violet light, and is largely unaffected by wear and tear. It doesn’t stain and isn’t damaged by harsh chemicals. Durability tests have included the use of hammers, blow torches and graffiti paint – none of which have damaged the material.
WHAT IS A PORCELAIN OR SINTERED COMPACT SURFACE? The science behind it Porcelain is defined as a ceramic product that has been baked at high temperatures to achieve a glass-like, permanently hardened, virtually non-porous material. It is manufactured from a sophisticated blend of natural raw materials, such as powdered clays, using sintered particle technology. This high-tech process involves fusing the raw materials together using intense temperatures and extreme pressure, much like an accelerated version of the processes that natural stone undergoes in the ground over thousands of years. It combines raw materials that are found in glass, ceramic and quartz together to form a new material in both slab form and tiles. The result is an ultra-compact surface that is virtually indestructible. Plus, there are no harmful chemicals or resins used in the manufacturing process.
Stainless steel Stainless steel is a fantastic choice for a kitchen island bench; after all, there’s a reason why they use it in commercial kitchens – it’s easy to maintain and a really durable surface for your kitchen. It performs great against kitchen nasties like heat from pots, water and steam. Don’t go down the steel route if scratches freak you out, stainless steel will most definitely scratch over time, and there is nothing you can really do to avoid it. PROS: You can buff out minor scratches with a Scotch-Brite, rubbing in the direction of the grain of the steel. But, unless you enjoy spending your time doing that more than using your benchtop for, y’know, kitchen things … there’s not much point. So embrace the scratches as one of the factors that add to the charm of using the material! Stainless steel is pretty much the only material that you can place a pot or pan off the stove straight onto the surface of, without adverse affects to the benchtop. As an added bonus, you can make your kitchen sink out of your stainless steel benchtop, which can be fabricated as one piece, so you won’t even have any joins anywhere in your bench surface. Very cool. Contemporary Kitchen by...
Tile Bench tops This is an unusual benchtop choice, but a great one. You can create interesting patterns and textures by being clever about the tile formats used, and the way they are laid. Tiles can also give you a ‘seamless’ finish, as there are multiple edges to break up the surface of the top. PROS: If you don’t have a straight substrate (the layer below the tiles), there’s a chance that your tiling can be uneven. This can be a charming attribute, but might prove difficult if you’re trying to cut those cookies on the benchtop! CONS: Although tough against heat and general wear and tear, tiles can be tricky to clean, as the grout between the tiles are a potential spot for getting food stuck. If you’re looking for tiles, go for larger format tiles with glazed surfaces – the less grout you need, the easier they will be to clean. WHO DOES IT WORK FOR? I like the texture that a tiled surface can bring to a kitchen. This option is also quite cost effective and one that avid DIYers can try themselves at home.
Don’t limit yourself to using one type of wood or furniture stain in your kitchen. While creating a cohesive design with multiple timber tones and finishes can be difficult to pull off, the trick is to orient the grains so they run in the same direction (in this room they run horizontally). This will tie the look together and ensure the space doesn’t look too busy.
Acrylic polymer bench top If you have a family with small kids and a pet or two you’ll appreciate this affordable surface that can handle everyday wear and tear from drips, spills and knocks. CARE LEVEL: Low, especially on materials with a fleck design. Take care with hot or sharp items. It can be easily repaired.
Stainless steel Are you looking for a material that’s stylish and on-trend for a streamlined, contemporary kitchen – and are you prepared to maintain it? If so, stainless steel is the surface for you. This industrial-chic look is ideal for bachelor pads or those with minimalist tastes. Keep in mind the size of the area to be covered as it can be expensive. CARE LEVEL: Moderate. It will tolerate hot dishes, but fingerprints can be quite visible, so go for a brushed or textured finish or invest in specific stainless-steel cleansing wipes or cream.
Timber-effect laminate bench top (or stone-effect) Do you appreciate the beauty of nature and wish to feature it in your home, without a lavish price tag? A laminated surface is easy to install, provides a neat, chic look and is available in a wide range of colours and effects. CARE LEVEL: Moderate. Avoid placing hot dishes directly on the surface and use gentle cleaning products with a light pressure to prevent loss of shine.
Recycled glass bench top Recycled glass is another green building material that’s becoming increasingly common. Woodmeister Master Builders checked in with the homeowners whose kitchen is pictured hereand they gave it this glowing review: “These counters are very easy to clean. I use a light Scotch-Brite sponge and soapy water, or Method all-purpose cleaner and a sponge or paper towel,” says the home owner. “Nothing – including oil, coffee, juice, etc. – has stained these counters.”
Laminate You may associate this material with the word Laminex or Formica, which are brands of laminate. Laminates are one of the most commonly used benchtop materials around as they are relatively easy to source and easy to work with. This material is, quite simply, layers of compressed paper, which is why it comes in such a great variety of colours and textures. The paper is then pressed together and bound with resin and then applied to a board (such as MDF) to create your benchtop. If you’re wanting to use this as benchtop, think about the size of your island because as a panel product, you are limited to board sizes, which could limit you with what you can do with your design. Anything that extends beyond the size of the board will mean having to deal with a (potentially) nasty join!
Laminate Laminate is the most cost-effective of all benchtop materials, and has been a trusted choice for many years. Laminate benchtop manufacturers offer a much more extensive choice of colours these days, and one would be forgiven for mistaking some stone-effect laminate benchtops for the real deal. A budget laminate benchtop can cost you as little as $120 per square metre, with mid-to-high-end options setting you back around $330 per square metre. Laminate benchtops are easy to install if you fancy some DIY too. Lengths of laminate benchtop can be bought from your local hardware store, ready for you to cut to size to suit your own kitchen. If you don’t want to install the benchtop yourself, a cabinet maker or handyman will charge you an hourly or daily rate, depending on the size of your kitchen. Expect to pay around $55 per hour for the services of a professional tradesperson.
Solid surface A solid-surface benchtop is a man-made material manufactured from a blend of pure acrylic resin and natural minerals. This material can be used for an endless list of applications around the home, though kitchen benchtops are the most common use. Solid-surface benchtops are hygienic, easy to clean, completely non-porous and also renewable. Scratches and minor damage can easily be buffed out to bring the bench back to its original state. Perhaps the most appealing feature of this material is the ability to have two pieces of benchtop mitred together, in a corner for example, with an invisible seamless join. This means that island benches with waterfall ends have the appearance of being covered in one continuous piece of material. Sink bowls can also be integrated seamlessly into the benchtop. Solid-surface benchtop manufacturers offer an extensive range of colours to choose from. Expect to pay an average of $1,100 per square metre, including installation by a specialist fabricator.
Polished concrete Polished concrete benchtops are becoming very popular. Concrete is an incredibly solid material, and benchtops can be fabricated with a wide variety of textures, colours, shapes and inlays to add a completely unique feel to your kitchen. Concrete benchtops are fabricated using a mould, and while it’s possible to make your own concrete benchtop, you’re better off leaving this one to the professionals. Due to the heavy weight of concrete, depending on the thickness of your benchtop, it may be necessary to have specialist supports incorporated into your kitchen design to prevent damage to the cabinets under the bench. While the materials used to manufacture a concrete benchtop are relatively inexpensive, the labour-intensive processes involved in the fabrication, installation and polishing of this material bump the price up considerably. Expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $1,750 per square metre, including fabrication and installation.
Stainless steel Stainless steel is one of the most durable and hygienic materials that you can choose for your new kitchen benchtop. The fact that it’s used in commercial kitchens is a testament to this. Sink bowls can be welded to the benchtop, giving you a seamless and hygienic finish that is easy to clean. Stainless steel isn’t a look that appeals to everyone, but if you’d like to add an industrial feel to your kitchen, this is the ideal choice. The installation of a stainless-steel benchtop is one best left to the professionals. It will cost you somewhere around $900 per square metre, including templating, fabrication and installation by a specialist stainless-steel supplier. Add approximately $300 per sink bowl integrated into the bench.
Solid timber Solid timber benchtops are not quite as popular as they used to be. This is most likely due to the care required to maintain them, as well as the relatively affordable price of alternatives such as quartz. However, solid timber has a beauty and warmth that just can’t be matched by any other material, and is increasing in popularity once again. It’s creeping back into people’s kitchens as we try to add a homey feel to our minimalist open-plan homes. A timber benchtop is something that you could consider installing yourself, without the need for specialist tools. DIY slabs of solid timber are available from hardware stores, which you can then to cut to size to suit your space. A 35mm-thick raw bamboo benchtop will cost around $300 per square metre. You can then choose to either oil or lacquer your new benchtop, depending on your preference. If you don’t fancy the DIY option, you can choose to have your solid timber benchtop supplied, already oiled, and have it installed by a professional. Expect to pay somewhere between $550 and $1,600 per square metre for an oiled benchtop, depending on the species of timber that you choose. This includes having your benchtops cut to ...
Quartz Quartz is probably the most popular material choice for benchtops these days. This is due to the availability, reasonably affordable price and the huge range of colours available. Also known as engineered stone, quartz benchtops are manufactured from a combination of crushed granite and resins. Quartz is much more consistent in colour than natural granite, which is another reason why it appeals to so many people. The price of a quartz benchtop will depend on a couple of different factors. The main one is the colour you choose. Most quartz benchtop manufacturers will categorise their colours by price range. Expect to pay more for a benchtop that has a marbled look, while speckled benchtops will be considerably less. Another factor that will determine the price of your quartz benchtop is the thickness. Quartz slabs are usually manufactured with a thickness of 20mm, but you can have the visible edges of your benchtop built up to 40mm. If you would like a chunkier look, however, this will cost more. A new quartz benchtop will cost you somewhere in the region of $520 to $1200 per square metre, including installation by a professional stone mason. As with granite benchtops, you...
Marble Marble is a beautiful and classic natural benchtop material that has been used for many applications in interiors for hundreds of years. It’s more porous than granite and therefore needs to be carefully sealed before being installed in your home. When choosing your marble benchtop, it’s advisable to visit the stone mason’s factory to choose your own slab. This way you know exactly what you’re going to get. As with granite, there are many many different marble colours to choose from – each slab is completely unique. Prices for marble benchtops vary quite a bit. You can pay anywhere between $800 and $2,200 per square metre, depending on the colour you choose. Once again, an under-mount sink cut-out will set you back around $250, and drainer grooves an additional $350, if desired.
Granite Granite is a beautiful, natural stone that has always been a popular choice for kitchen benchtops, due to its durability, availability and timeless look. There’s a huge choice on the market and each slab of granite has natural variations in colour and pattern, making every piece unique. The availability of a particular colour will depend on what can be obtained from granite quarries around the world. Expect to pay anywhere from $700 right up to $1,700 per square metre for a new granite benchtop. This includes having your new benchtops templated, manufactured to size and installed by a professional stone mason. Most stone masons will charge a bit extra for an under-mount sink cut-out, due to the extra work involved in polishing the exposed edges. This will set you back around $250. To complement an under-mount sink, a great addition to any stone benchtop is having drainer grooves routed into the surface so that water runs straight into your sink and doesn’t pool on the benchtop. Adding these grooves is very labour intensive and the process is likely to cost you an additional $350.
Patterns Designs and patterns are printed on the surface of the product. You can expect to see some exciting designs and patterns such as woodgrain, cement, metallics, rusted steel and marble patterns that rival the look of natural stone, as well as the ever-popular white. These realistic designs and patterns mean you can now incorporate the look of natural and raw materials you might not ordinarily choose to have in your home. For example, now you can choose the look of rusted steel without the drawbacks. We can also expect to see more unusual colours and patterns introduced in the not-too-distant future.
Q