Best worktop material? Any chance there’s a nice one that looks like wood?

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

We’re redoing our kitchen and just trying to decide on what we want it to look like (cupboard style/colour etc) and I really love the look of a wooden worktop but absolutely don’t want anything I have to oil or maintain. We have three kids and I’m not good at looking after things well. What would be the Best most durable material? Is there one that looks like wood but isn’t?!

Silestone. Nothing like wood, but beautiful and pretty indestructible!

If you can’t look after it then just go for a cheap laminate you can replace whenever you want. There are a few that look like wood.

Do all worktop types need looking after? Or just wood?

@twolittleboysonetiredmum

Do all worktop types need looking after? Or just wood?

Most worktops will need to have spills wiped up more or less immediately (even water) to last a decent length of time. Even silestone can stain and watermark unfortunately (speaking from bitter experience here).

Just go for a wood effect laminate with a square edge. They are pretty durable.

My parents have granite in their kitchen and it still looks perfect after 17 years! It was expensive though...

I find wood worktops mark very easily (even with oiling) - they are much higher maintenance than laminate, quartz and granite.

Providing you don't have lots of joins (which are any surfaces weakest point and can look messy if not done well), and don't want curved surfaces (because then you will need edging strips and they can eventually peel); the high end wood effect laminates can look really good - not plasticky/fake as they used to.

For the price laminate is the most durable and maintenance free (for example Duropal do more than a dozen matt/semi matt, slightly textured wood effects that look pretty good) and is a lot cheaper than quartz or granite).

Stainless steel?
Concrete?
Solid surface?

Thanks all. We had laminate years ago in a rental and all I remember is it peeling off! But that was a long time ago. We don’t have a massive budget so think granite is out of reach. Is silestone expensive? I’m not a total minger and do clean up but things just don’t seem to last very long in our house!

Sole stone is as expensive as a stone worktop.
More expensive than real wood and laminate

I’ve got a wood effect laminate from Magnet and it looks great. They are much better quality these days!