Most practical kitchen work surface please!

[WellTidy]

I am in the planning stages of a new kitchen. Ours gets more use than the average, and DS and DH are less careful than average, shall we say!

So I am looking for a work surface that will stay looking good despite heavy use and having hot things laid on it, sometimes water spilled on it etc. I also don’t want to spend any time buffing it so that it looks good.

Any suggestions please? I understand that there are pros and cons to every worksurface, but I would like to make the best choice given how I know we will use it.

[WellIWasInTheNeighbourhoo]

I used to have a stainless sink and drainer and hated it, hard water leaves marks all over it, you never see that perfect shiny look again after install. Now I have a ceramic sink and drainer and its great, a bit of flash bleach spray takes off any stains, and the water is invisible.

[isseywith4vampirecats]

@lilly7050 thats weird its thicker laminate facing than some ive seen but my son in law who was fitting mine was very impressed with the quality of it for laminate and they didnt break any tools

[1940s]

Anything anything anything but wood aarrrghhh biggest regret ever

[Ffsnosexallowed]

We've got compact laminate, i love it, also have an undermine sink. No cut grooves though

[Murmurur]

@Lily7050 are you still looking at Topshape? We have it in 28mm carrera. It's good for laminate and the ABS edging looks like it will wear well, though ours is only a couple of years old.

However it's USP that it has a finished surface top and bottom is a bit odd. It pushes the price up unnecessarily. It made sense for us because we really like the 28mm (ish) depth and we needed long pieces but I don't think it's a very popular choice. We also looked at Egger board but couldn't source it in time.

I think some square edged laminate can age quickly as water gets in the seal between front facing and surface, so the reinforced corner is great, but that is available in several difference brands.

There really is no substitute for choosing laminate in the shop. They seem to vary wildly in how fake or realistic they look, even within the same brand.

[SueEllenMishke]

We have black granite and I bloody hate it.
Every crumb, smear and fingerprint shows up. I must wipe it down a dozen times a day and looks like it needs doing again immediately.

We're changing It soon and I can't wait!!

[NotABeliever]

Does quartz really burn? I was considering it for a renovation but if you can't put hot pots and pans on it, it's bound to get damaged quickly.

[lakesidefall]

Granite, it seems very tough.
Can't say I like mottled brown but the stuff is tough.

[Bluesheep8]

We've got wood laminate and I'm really happy with it. Had black granite in our previous house and I really regretted it. Impossible to keep clean.

[BlackbirdFirst]

Granite - ours been down 20 years and looks lovely. Also get a granite eco cloth to polish it.
We have a grey one with lots of flecks.

[growingupomg]

Could anyone give a review of their quartz worktops please? We love the look of them, and had just come to terms with the cost, but now keep finding horror stories of scorch marks etc which can't be fixed-would love to hear from any real life Quartz owners!

[fabulousathome]

Just use a trivet. In every other aspect quartz is bullet proof.

[Bluntness100]

Use method black granite cleaner. Honestly those struggling are using the wrong stuff, which is what’s causing the issues.

I just spray it on, wipe it off with a micro fibre cloth, job done, smear free no finger prints anything.

[ToolkitQ]

Interested in recycled glass worktop, anyone any thoughts please?

[WendyHoused]

@SueEllenMishke

We have black granite and I bloody hate it.
Every crumb, smear and fingerprint shows up. I must wipe it down a dozen times a day and looks like it needs doing again immediately.

We're changing It soon and I can't wait!!

I wipe mine with a microfibre cloth and it looks perfect each time.

[NotMeNoNo]

I think there's a line between unrealistic expectations and reasonable use. To expect a surface to withstand scorching, chopping, dropped heavy items, scratching and to remain absolutely showroom pristine with no maintenance is asking a lot. Even granite will eventually show wear. Then there's daily wear and tear vs "accidents".

You might want to think about how your kitchen could be repaired if your family are really that clumsy. Wood can be sanded/filled/re oiled, stone can be polished/filled, I don't know about the plastic surfaces. Normal laminate worktops can have small chips filled but can be replaced cheaply.

Presume you are avoiding sinks and hobs that are glass/composite/ceramic as well?

[AltheaVestr1t]

Has anyone tried iroko? Apparently it has more natural oil than oak so is more stain and water resistant.

[Roussette]

I have had black granite, a lot of it, 12 years and it looks just like the day it was put in.

There must be different types of granite or something because a PP saying water marks it and you can't put hot pans on it... I do all that, and more. I'm a very messy cook. Never a mark that stays.

Yes, every now and again I think... oh it needs a polish, but I can go it in 5 minutes and it's sparkling. I wouldn't have anything but granite

[Bluntness100]

I also don’t understand the comments on black granite either. It’s fairly indestructible, I mean it’s granite for goodness sake and is centuries old, and a quick wipe over with method black granite cleaner and a micro fibre cloth and it’s job done, easiest work top genuinely I’ve ever had.

All I can think is folks are using something like glass cleaner, or something unsuitable on it, which makes it smear, or they don’t actually have it. I really can’t work it out.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I think people are possibly mistaking "granite" overlays with the real thing. Of course you can put hot pans on granite if you want. It's fairly indestructible.

A friend of mine has a granite overlay fitted on top of her original worktops - basically it's a stone and resin mix made to look like granite. It marks horribly and you cant put hot pans directly on it.

[Bluesheep8]

All I can think is folks are using something like glass cleaner, or something unsuitable on it, which makes it smear, or they don’t actually have it. I really can’t work it out.

I did have it and I did use the method cleaner.

[Bluesheep8]

And it was granite, not an overlay.

[fabulousathome]

Mottled granite or quartz shows many less marks /crumbs than a single colour surface.

[unsociableoldbag]

Corian. Doesn't stain, can polish out scratches. A zillion colours/designs.

[Bluesheep8]

Mine were single colour black with no mottling. Might be where I went wrong but I really regretted choosing them and its put me off granite for life.