The different types of worksheets

Which worktop is best for your kitchen? Budget and cooking style often play an important role. Get inspired by these tips and ideas below.

Choice of material

It is important that a worktop is easy to maintain, hygienic and heat-resistant. A worktop generally has to endure a lot. The worktop must therefore also be resistant to daily use, stains and scratches. Here is a brief overview of the different possible materials for kitchen worktops.

Plastic

A plastic countertop is available in all shapes and sizes, so you can fully customize it to your own taste. The bottom layer of the plastic consists of multiplex. On top of this, a wafer-thin layer of laminate is applied so that the worktop is scratch-resistant.

Advantages:

The price is very cheap compared to other types of worktops
Light but strong material
Easy to clean
Available in numerous colours and types
Available in all shapes, sizes and types

Disadvantages:

Plastic worktops are NOT heat resistant
A hard object can quickly cause scratches, dents, or damaged top layers
Difficult but important to seal well, otherwise the wood will rot away. Especially around the sink

Wood

A wooden worktop gives a warm atmosphere in the house. In the past, almost all kitchen worktops were made of wood, nowadays this popularity is decreasing. To create heat, scratch and moisture resistance, a protective top layer is applied.

Advantages:

Natural product with a soft and warm appearance
Unique colours and textures in every kitchen, because no two pieces of wood are the same
Wood types are easy to work with, for example, varnish or stain, so the colour can be perfectly matched to your own wishes
Small scratches or dents can easily be corrected with some sanding
Choice of different types of wood, so the choice is huge

Disadvantages:

Humidity can cause the leaf to expand or cause small shrinkages. It is therefore best to keep the humidity around 55%
A wooden worktop is somewhat more sensitive to stains due to the porosity of the wood material
Not very resistant to scratches, heat or moisture. Always place hot pans on a coaster. Also make sure that you do not open the dishwasher too often in the middle of the process, the steam that is released can damage the top
Requires a lot of maintenance, once a year the top must be treated with the right (maintenance) products. This of course varies per type of wood

Glass

Glass is a relatively new product in worktops, you will mainly find it in modern kitchens where design is central. It is industrially tempered glass which makes it waterproof, scratch and heat resistant. Glass provides an exclusive and luxurious look.

Advantages:

A real eye-catcher. A glass worktop will provide a unique touch to your kitchen
A glass worktop is waterproof ;)
Glass is easy to clean and is of course stain resistant
In terms of sustainability; glass worktops are very durable and low maintenance

Disadvantages:

The edges of the worktop are very vulnerable, dents quickly appear (in the worst case even sharp edges)
Glass worktops must be installed correctly the first time; if they are not installed correctly, the worktop must be slid into place, which quickly causes scratches to appear in the coloured layer on the underside
Despite the fact that a glass worktop is easy to clean, it also attracts stains quickly. Every spot or stain quickly spoils the beautiful picture. Those who are fans of cleaning do not have to worry about that

Stainless steel worktop

If you want a modern, industrial look, choose an Inox worktop. Stainless steel has many advantages, such as easy maintenance and heat and moisture resistance.

Advantages:

Very durable due to good heat resistance
Very hygienic and waterproof. Moisture and food residues cannot penetrate the sheet
Resistant to most (cleaning) products (except chlorine and certain acids)
A stainless steel kitchen top is completely recyclable
Seam-free, ensures complete waterproofness
Long lifespan, can last for decades with proper maintenance

Disadvantages:

Very sensitive to scratches. Therefore always use cutting boards and coasters
Fingerprints quickly visible

Granite

Granite, marble and bluestone are all 3 different types of natural stone. Granite is the most common type in kitchens, because of its rustic and luxurious appearance. A granite worktop is heat and scratch resistant. The disadvantage is that most types are slightly porous, which allows moisture to penetrate and leave stains. If you choose a polished granite worktop, you will no longer have this problem.

Advantages:

100% natural product
The material is rock hard due to the hardening process (sometimes lasting thousands of years) and is therefore cut- and scratch-resistant.
Granite countertops are heat resistant
Impact resistant and wear resistant
Because it is a natural material that is extracted from one piece, the blade will wear out or break less quickly

Disadvantages:

Slightly porous, moisture can penetrate the leaf quite quickly. This can cause irreparable damage
If you need another piece of worksheet at a later stage? That can be an endless search to find something that looks like it
A granite worktop requires a lot of maintenance, otherwise the top will quickly get a matte appearance
Granite countertops are relatively expensive

Concrete

A concrete worktop gives your kitchen a modern and industrial look. Concrete is hard, smooth, wear-resistant and heat-resistant. If you have the concrete polished, the worktop becomes easier to maintain and less susceptible to stains.

Advantages:

Very heat resistant. If a pan needs to stand for a longer period, use a trivet. This protects the special coating of the concrete worktop
Very durable and wear-resistant material that lasts a long time
If the coating is intact, not sensitive to stains. Always avoid acidic or corrosive substances (such as chlorine or ammonia)
Available in various thicknesses and shades (depending on the type of coating you use)
Concrete kitchen countertops are cast, which means there are many possibilities regarding dimensions and shapes

Disadvantages:

Not scratch resistant, so always use a cutting board to protect the coating
Be careful with rough/sharp objects, this is to protect the coating
Regular maintenance required, coating to be reapplied
Kitchen cabinets must be strong enough, concrete countertops are very heavy

Corian

Corian is a versatile material that was developed 30 years ago for industrial use. The material is increasingly used for kitchen worktops. It is a versatile material and there are certainly more advantages to it. The biggest advantage of Corian is that the seams can be finished invisibly. This ensures a beautifully finished whole, which is especially beautiful with a kitchen island. Furthermore, it is easy to maintain and hygienic.

Advantages:

Produced sheet, therefore available in any shape and size
Highly workable material. Can be easily cut, sanded and seamlessly bonded
Small scratches on a Corian kitchen worktop can be sanded away
Sink and splashback can be made of the same material
Durable material
Very hygienic, no dust can penetrate the sheet

Disadvantages:

Not heat resistant, so always use a coaster
Sensitive to corrosive substances and certain acids
Scratches quickly appear on the blade

Ceramics

The ceramic worktop is a fairly new material, but is becoming increasingly popular due to its natural, robust appearance. Ceramic is heat, stain and scratch resistant, and can also be perfectly combined with other materials.

Advantages:

Very stylish, gives a luxurious, cool and timeless look
A ceramic kitchen countertop is more stain resistant than a composite or granite countertop
Because the sink can be installed almost seamlessly, a ceramic worktop is very hygienic
The top layer of the leaf is not sensitive to moisture and dirt residues
Very heat resistant, you can easily place your pans and oven dishes on the top
Very scratch resistant
A ceramic kitchen top is sustainable and environmentally friendly

Disadvantages:

The edges of a ceramic worktop are often vulnerable, but in general a ceramic worktop is strong and can withstand a knock.
Leaf is sensitive to acidic/chemical products

Composite

A composite worktop is very popular. It consists of a composition of plastic and small particles of natural stone. This composition fits in almost every type of kitchen. With properties such as waterproof, scratch-resistant and hygienic, it is the perfect choice for the kitchen.

Advantages:

Very strong material, this is because all granite and quartz pieces are pressed together under high pressure
The pressed material leaves little room for moisture to penetrate the surface, making the worktops very hygienic.
Composite kitchen worktops are heat resistant, they do not crack when you place a hot pan on them
The hardness of the worktops is comparable to that of natural stone, Composite worktops are therefore scratch-resistant, impact-resistant and wear-resistant. They therefore last a very long time
Composite does not 'work', so they can withstand all conditions without stretching or shrinking
Available in any shape, size or color

Disadvantages:

Prone to stains
Although the blades are heat resistant, hot objects can cause discoloration

Dekton

Dekton is a new material that consists of glass, quartz and porcelain. The material is hard, waterproof and suitable for worktops. The advantages of Dekton are that it is heat, scratch and stain resistant.

Advantages:

Very durable material that is very colorfast
Good resistance to scratches and stains
Very low porosity. This makes Dekton countertops impervious to stains. Even chemical or corrosive substances will have little to no effect
Completely heat resistant
Does not discolour
Can even be used as an outdoor kitchen, Dekton is even resistant to freezing temperatures
Available in different colours and sizes

Disadvantages: