A kitchen is an investment for years, therefore the choice of finishing materials, including worktops, should be carefully considered. It is important that they should match the character of the interior and at the same time be resistant to intensive use. If we choose the right material, we can be sure that the countertops will serve us for many years.
A kitchen countertop is a surface that undoubtedly is exposed to many factors that can damage its structure. Scratches, high temperature, contact with water and other liquids, interference of chemical agents and heavy loads... That is why the material used for the worktop should meet all the requirements concerning functionality and maintain an impeccable appearance despite intensive exploitation. So what material should be used to make the countertop to be fully satisfied?
Stone, glass or maybe MDF?
Currently there are many materials available on the market, which can be used to create kitchen countertops. Individual materials differ both in terms of appearance and technical properties. Among popular materials there is natural stone. It is a noble material, but not free from defects. Stone is porous, which makes it susceptible to water intrusion, additionally its considerable weight often necessitates additional ribbing in the construction of kitchen cabinets. In modernist, austere arrangements, countertops made of stainless steel appear.
Calm colors, uniform surface and resistance to moisture and stains are the main advantages of this material. Some users, however, draw attention to the cold, unpleasant nature of this material, which if not properly composed with other finishing elements, can give the interior a sad or even inhospitable character.
In minimalist stylizations, work surfaces made of glass may look impressive - this is a kitchen innovation. Tempered glass is used in the production of worktops, thanks to which the surface is very durable and does not break. In turn, low-budget realizations still use wood-like boards, called MDF. They owe their popularity to the richness of patterns and colors of finishings. In terms of quality, however, they are far from wood, the material from which you can also make countertops.
The strength is in wood!
Wood is a timeless raw material, which, despite technological development in the finishing materials industry, still remains an attractive competition for other materials. Worktops made of wood fit in perfectly with both modern spaces, as well as more traditional ones, bringing natural beauty and warmth to the arrangement.
- Currently on the market we can observe a turn towards native species. Oak, beech and ash are back in favour - and for good reason. These species are characterized by high technical parameters, which is a kind of guarantee for long-term use. At the same time they are very decorative and their natural colours are gaining more and more followers who want to give their interiors an authentic and harmonious character. Oak is an unbeatable classic. Its rich grain, distinctive pattern, especially visible in the floral arrangement of the rings, and warm colour make this domestic species a very popular choice for kitchen worktops. Popularity is not inferior to beech - with a slightly lighter, more delicate colour, even falling in shades of pale yellow and pink. It is a dense and hard wood and thanks to the proper steaming process it also gains proper stability. Another proposal is ash - a species that looks exceptional in its natural shade, but also in the version colored with special oils. It is very hard and durable, and thanks to the possibility of changing its color, it can be matched to any kitchen design.
When it comes to exotic varieties - bamboo surfaces are more and more often chosen, in the DLH offer available in two variants: in a light, natural shade or caramel, obtained through a special thermal treatment. Worktops made of this species differ in construction from all others. Thanks to the layered gluing, they are characterised by high dimensional stability. The advantage is also an even drawing and colouring of the work surface - explains Hubert Plichta, DLH Product Specialist.
European species are experiencing a renaissance after their fascination with exotics. They perfectly fit into contemporary, well-balanced interiors, where users seek peace, harmony and respite for all their senses. Delicate, natural shades of countertops, nobility and timelessness of the raw material classify wooden countertops as still one of the most popular on the interior design markets, both for residential customers and investors of public buildings.
Source:newsrm.tv
Comments (0)