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Housekeeping

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Original poster

kitchen work top survey!!!

60 replies

mads1 · 11/05/2007 15:05

Hi, please can you help me decide which worktop I should go for in my new kitchen.
DH & I are in the process of renovating a house and therefore are starting the kitchen from scratch. We have always thought we would use corian but have just been told recently that this can scrath very easily. Is this true? What about stainless steel, wood, granite.....?

Can I please ask.... what work surfaces you have and how easy they are to maintain. Also which ones do you think last better.

OP posts:
babyblue2 · 13/06/2007 21:14

We have laminate and it is a really pain, very hard to keep clean as it gathers dust which you can see in sunlight (despite wiping down each day)

lorca · 13/06/2007 21:34

I think the units have to be really strong to take 60mm granite it's b. heavy.

eucalyptus · 13/06/2007 21:43

We have high gloss laminate - apparantly a pain to fit but reasonably priced and looks good, does not scratch. Joins near a sink can be problematic if you are not careful.

Gingermonkey · 14/06/2007 07:51

You don't need to have granite as thick as 60 mm to get the illusion of it. You get a thick board, the normal 30mm granite lays on top and an edging is put around the front to whatever thickness you want.
I have a granite and resin composite that is heat and scratch resistant and doesn't need as much love and care as 'real' granite. (which is porous so can mark easily).

NKF · 14/06/2007 08:23

Gingermonkey - what is the name of that stuff? And is it cheaper than real granite? You'd recommend it over the real thing I take it.

Gingermonkey · 14/06/2007 08:33

It's called granite transformations and we paid £2500 for 6metres when the granite we wanted was £4500 and upwards (fitted prices) www.granitetransformations.com It sits on top of your old worksurface (or a board) and you can have it so that it looks really thick. It also feels cold like granite and comes in quite a few different colours. We are very happy! Apparently it's used a lot in hotels and bars when you think it's granite it is probably this.

lorca · 14/06/2007 09:22

The prob we have with the worktop is that our new units are curved, so any worktop has to be curved too. Granite transformations can only do straight runs (most places can) but composite stone (corian/himacs etc) can do curves cos they're not cut in the same way (?)

Gingermonkey · 14/06/2007 09:53

yep. that's true.

lorca · 14/06/2007 10:00

So...anyone know anyone who's got black corian?????

Bibis · 14/06/2007 10:05

We have black caesar stone in our kitchen (poor man's granite), it's great . here is an american website for it

Jojay · 14/06/2007 10:05

WE've got an oak worktop from Ikea that we got about 2 years ago and we're really pleased with it. It's not nearly as high maintenance as we thought it would be - we've oiled it with Danish oil about 3 times since it was initially fitted, so not very often at all!

It does have some scratches but you can sand them out if you're that bothered, and I just think they add to the rustic charm!!!!!

Also, my bl**dy mother has put several boiling hot pans straight down on it and it's never left a mark, though I try not to make a habit of it............!

NKF · 14/06/2007 11:18

That Caesar stone is rather lovely.

Gingermonkey · 14/06/2007 11:54

FIL has a white corian bar in a night club he owns, so it must be pretty hard wearing.

lorca · 14/06/2007 12:20

I really like the creamy corian that looks like coconut ice with tiny bits of glace cherries and angelika in....but dh doesn't. says that cream floor, cream units, cream worktop and cream walls might be a bit bland. You think? The black corian is only a prob because it apparently shows scratches easier than the lighter colours. And the units are in front of the window..

NKF · 14/06/2007 12:50

Why corian rather than granite?

lorca · 14/06/2007 14:15

because I want 60mm thick and have been told that granite would be too heavy (half a ton I was told) and anyway corian is actually cheaper.

NKF · 14/06/2007 14:17

I thought it was about the same price.I'm sure i was told that on another thread. I need to do some research. I know the effect I want. I like that dense black look and I need it to be very hard wearing. I won't remember to use trivets for hot saucepans etc.

CountessDracula · 14/06/2007 14:17

why 60mm?

lorca · 14/06/2007 16:03

I want 60mm cos I want the really chunky look, but I also have curved units, so while a straight run of 60mm is quite easy (?) a curved bit is not cos stone don't bend. Actually CD I saw a thread from about 3 years ago with you and the same quandry - what did you go for in the end?

sparkybabe · 14/06/2007 16:08

If you want to put hot pans on it and cut veg up and roll out pastry and stuff your prob. better off with granite. Anything wuld prob mark/scratch/stain. Make sure its sealed tho

mumblechum · 14/06/2007 16:10

We have nice granite ones which are in Kashmir Gold (sounds a bit illegal, I know. I think it was 30mm, whatever's the standard size and it does have a curved end at one end.

Haven't had any probs and I always put hot pans etc straight onto it

twelveyeargap · 14/06/2007 16:15

Had wood worktops in a rented house we lived in and it had warped and gone mouldy round the sink area. Was great in the other areas for food prep though.

Have granite in our new house which would be fab if it wasn't so dark. It shows every water mark and wipe mark. Nightmare. Would get it again, but in a lighter colour.

brimfull · 14/06/2007 16:26

black granite with speckly bits
you can get it curved I think

Gingermonkey · 14/06/2007 18:54

NKF - 60mm granite is more expensive because it's basically 2 layers of 30mm so twice the amount.

lorca · 15/06/2007 09:58

Nah - it's def. got to be corian, either black (looks great but for how long?) or the cream-with-bits-in (i love it but DH doesn't)
They're coming next week to template so I need to make my mind up - is DH going to throw a strop if i don't go with his prefs, or is it my kitchen and my worktop (and i'm the one going to be cleaning it and polishing it)mind you he's the one paying for it!