Material, finish, price…: choose the right worktop © Mobalpa
The worktop is an important part of your kitchen. Constantly in demand, it must combine practicality and resistance, but also aesthetics. Wood, laminate, stainless steel®, glass, granite …? Which material to choose? Advantages, disadvantages, price … A brief overview of the options available to you.
Today, cuisine is considered a real living room. We therefore take care of the layout, from the aesthetics of the plan to the choice of furniture, through household appliances or tableware, in order to compose a harmonious whole. The worktop is no exception, and the trend seems to be a total look: worktop and cabinet fronts coordinate in the same color, underline Morgane Pluchon, designer at Lapeyre, and Elise Besançon, household appliance product manager / kitchens environment.
“The kitchen being open plan, the link with the stay has become essential“ confirms Philippe Miousset, product manager at Ixina. “In the past, kitchens were renewed every 23 years or so, then 21 years for 2 years, maybe every 15 years in the future. Customers change the accessories, the taps, the sink, the fronts (if they are too typed) and the work plane “. The choice of the latter depends on several criteria such as the budget of course, but also the durability, the resistance to impact, stains, heat… A worktop should be everyday proof, but it should also look pretty. And today’s materials adapt to all styles, whether we are looking for a rustic, contemporary or design effect. “Ten years ago, we had less choice and the prices were relatively high” Philippe Miousset analyzes at Ixina. “Since then, we have very good models like compact laminate, or quartz which has become much democratized. We also hope to make ceramics as affordable as other quality materials “. But in front of this vast choice, which material to choose? Wood, laminate, marble, ceramic, glass, stainless steel … All have different properties. The options in terms of finishes are also numerous. “More than ten years ago, shine was in high demand. Today, this is no longer the case, matt has dethroned it” indicates Philippe Miousset. As for the colors, the palette is also vast.
To see more clearly and make an informed choice, zoom in on the advantages and disadvantages, but also the price, of each material.
Material, finish, price …: choose the right worktop
Granite, a resistant stone
Black granite worktop © Lapeyre
Aesthetic and elegant, granite is an ultra resistant material. Strong, this natural stone is not afraid of heat or scratches. Apart from its strength and durability over time, granite offers the advantage of having a wide variety of colors and finishes (veined, plain, speckled, polished, satin), all easy to maintain.
The +: it is stain resistant (when treated with a water repellent) and is very easy to clean with a damp sponge.
The – : the major drawback remains its price, between 350 to 400 € / m2. At that price, you will keep it for life.
Granite, a resistant stone
Quartz, a shock partner
Quartz worktop © Ikea
This reconstituted stone is composed of stone powder and resin. It is an almost “immortal” material, it is unalterable and of high resistance. Thanks to its appearance, it adapts to all types of kitchens, modern or classic. It is also resistant to stains, bumps, scratches and high temperatures.
The +: there are more than fifty glossy or matt finishes.
The – : its price remains high, from 300 to 400 € / m2.
Quartz, a shock partner
The nobility of ceramics
Ceramic worktop © Cuisine Plus
Very resistant and easy to maintain, ceramic is also an aesthetic material, with a very nice effect in an open kitchen. More and more popular, it has dethroned stone and granite in recent years. However, be careful not to use a ceramic knife directly on the worktop.
The +: with a thickness of 12 to 20 mm, it offers around thirty finishes.
The – : its price is still high, from 300 to 600 €, but should decrease due to strong demand.
The nobility of ceramics
The Dekton®, the new kid
Dekton® worktop, © Consentino
Manufactured by the Spanish company Consentino, Dekton® is the result of a technology that combines different materials, including glass and porcelain. Arrived in France less than 4 years ago, it offers a wide range, with different thicknesses (including 12 and 20 mm) and a chromatic range of 52 colors, in mat and polished finish, wood, rust, marble, stone effects. …
The +: there are many of them, the main one being its resistance to impact, scratches, stains and heat.
The – : an arrival at the manufacturers with great fanfare but nevertheless with a high price of € 500 to € 700 / m2. The installation of the Dekton® worktop is carried out by a professional.
Warning : it is an ultra resistant material but not unbreakable.
The Dekton®, the new kid
Marble, the timeless
Marble worktop © OriginalBTC
It is an exceptional natural stone, often associated with luxury or with a refined decoration effect. In the kitchen, it is associated with warmer materials such as blond wood. This natural material has the advantage of acquiring a patina over time. Its color palette is limited, but it offers a wide choice of grain and matt, satin or shiny finishes.
The +: marble is very resistant to scratches and heat.
The – : an expensive linear price, around 600 € / m2, but also a porous texture which requires annual maintenance (sanding and water repellent). Marble is also sensitive to stains and acids (such as tomato juice, lemon juice) and to shocks. For a better quality / price ratio, prefer quartz or ceramic with marbled finishes.
Marble, the timeless
Solid wood, a noble material
Wooden worktop, Artemesia collection © Castorama
Warm, authentic, the wood improves over time. The solid wood worktop is ultra resistant. Scratches or bumps are easily sanded and treated with linseed oil. If in the past it had a rustic connotation, today wood makes original marriages very happy, and is in great demand for the worktop, but also the countertops and the bar tables.
The +: various species such as oak, bamboo, teak, pine … And prices that remain reasonable, especially for beech from € 250 to € 320 / m2.
The – : wood is a porous material which requires regular oil-based treatment. Exotic woods are more expensive and vary around € 500 / m2.
Solid wood, a noble material
The elegance of glass
Glass worktop, Lechner © Cuisine Plus
It represents less than 1% of the market. Despite its classic and high-end appearance, it is mainly used as a splashback, because it requires less cleaning and is not exposed to shocks. Glass nevertheless offers a wide variety of colors.
The +: the glass offers a design and contemporary look with its plain or screen-printed finishes. It also has the advantage of being hygienic.
The – : its price does not drop much over time. It is found between 800 and 900 € / m2. Fragile, it does not resist heat so badly (120 ° maximum).
The elegance of glass
Laminate, better value for money
Red laminate worktop © Leroy Merlin
It is the cheapest work plan. It represents 70 to 78% of the market and is available between 7 and 8 thicknesses (10 to 100 mm). The 39 mm thick is the most requested. This material has an important choice of finishes thanks to the colored veneers and imitations of wood, concrete, metal, all easy to maintain and resistant to stains and detergents. Thanks to its water-repellent protection, a wipe of the sponge is enough to clean it.
The +: it can be easily cut to the dimensions of your kitchen to accommodate a sink and hob. It is also very resistant to heat up to 210 °, although it is rather recommended to use it with a trivet. Finally, its price is very reasonable, between 50 and 100 € / m2.
The – : the laminate is afraid of very high temperatures, scratches and shocks. It requires regular cleaning of the joints.
Laminate, better value for money
The compact, between resistance and elegance
Compact laminate worktop © But
The compact is composed of several layers of resin impregnated kraft. This material is homogeneous and non-porous. It is little known and yet it is a less thick laminate worktop (10, 12 and 20 mm) and more dense. It perfectly imitates natural stone and wood, hence the abundance of shades of gray or cream among kitchen designers. In addition, the sink can be installed underneath for a …
