What kitchen worktops should we choose?

In the kitchen, where activity is always in full swing, the worktop is the most used area in this room, the most prone to dirt and most often subjected to high temperatures. On it we chop, place, wipe, eat and so on.

Under these conditions, it's no wonder that when choosing it, we must first consider the resistance of the material it is made from. Only then can we focus our attention on the design. Therefore, if we emphasize the functional aspect of this surface, we must be very well informed about the properties of the material used in its manufacture.

What is the most popular kitchen worktop?

Currently, thanks to technological evolution, which allows the processing of the hardest materials, there are many types of kitchen worktops on the market:

• from composite quartz;
• from porcelain ceramic;
• from granite;
• from marble;
• from wood.

Without going into too much detail, as we will discuss more extensively in other articles, each model mentioned above has strengths. However, the models made from composite quartz and porcelain ceramic stand out with a large number of advantages, being very resistant, aesthetically distinctive, durable, and easy to maintain. Therefore, they are at the top of buyers' preferences and continue to gain more and more admirers. 

To choose the most suitable model for our needs, we must consider both the quality and hardness of the material it is made from, as well as other aspects. We will discuss these and the importance of each in the following.

Kitchen worktop – the 3 most important criteria to consider when choosing it

Before discussing the three criteria we must consider when choosing a worktop, we need to bring up a very important aspect, namely the degree of kitchen usage.

What exactly does that mean? Well, if this room is used less, only when we have friends visiting or just in the morning when we drink our coffee, there's no point in investing in a kitchen worktop made from an ultra-resistant material that requires a significant budget. Instead, if we are avid cooks and everyone in the family is involved in food preparation, night after night, it's clear that this work surface must withstand stains of any kind, as well as moisture or high temperatures.

That being said, here are the three most important criteria according to which we should choose worktops for cooking in the kitchen:

●     The Material

We have listed above the most common materials from which this product can be made, but which is the most resistant among them? In this regard, the absolute champions are composite quartz and porcelain ceramic.

A work surface made from either of these two materials offers countless advantages, including:

• easy maintenance, thanks to the material with unique characteristics;
• impeccable appearance even after more than 25 years of use;
• high resistance to scratches, stains, and high temperatures (even very high in the case of ceramics);
• special design, which elevates the kitchen, regardless of its decorating style.

Such models can also be found in our portfolio, in special shades and finishes. You can discover them all here.

●     The Design

Beyond its functional aspect, the worktop is also a design element that will give personality to the kitchen. This time, the choice depends heavily on the style in which the space is furnished and decorated.

If it's a vintage-style kitchen, where wood and old-looking furniture predominate, then it is most recommended to opt for a plain or marbled worktop, possibly with milled edge profile treatments that will give a special look to the furniture and even the entire kitchen.

If this space, like the entire home, is decorated in a contemporary, modern style, then a quartz or ceramic model in shades of white, black, or cement grey will integrate perfectly into the decor, offering a touch of preciousness and elegance to the interior. In this case, the edge profile treatments can be simple, with straight, slim shapes or varied thicknesses, the most common being 40 mm. From an aesthetic point of view, such a choice is hard to match.

The most well-known are composite quartz models, available in a wide variety of shades and finishes (glossy or matte, with a marbled or textured appearance, plain or with crystal inserts, in pearlescent or metallic shades).

●     Complementary Services

By no means could we overlook this aspect, without which the value of the worktop itself would be almost null. What are the services that add value to the entire project? These are consultancy, design, site survey, transport, and installation.

When we are not sufficiently informed or simply don't know how to make the best choice, consultancy services are a real help. Based on discussions with the consultants of the chosen company, a more or less complex project is drawn up, which will include all the necessary information for the correct processing of the kitchen worktop (site survey, material shades, appliance and sanitary cut-outs, edge profile detailing, other useful specifications).

Since we mentioned site survey, these are extremely important and concern not only kitchen furniture but the entire space (especially positioning relative to adjacent walls). Basically, this information will form the basis for creating unique custom-sized worktop projects that will fit perfectly into the kitchen space.

Transport and delivery of worktops to the chosen installation location often seems like a trivial service, quite neglected compared to other aspects. However, considering that the operations involve handling pieces that are both delicate (with fragile areas, especially in the cut-out zones) and extremely heavy and sometimes oversized (pieces or islands of considerable dimensions), it is easy to understand that this activity cannot be done by just anyone, especially safely.

And when it comes to locations on upper floors, with more or less narrow stairs, carrying pieces over 100 kg that don't fit in the elevator becomes a real challenge. For these reasons, often, the seemingly trivial transport becomes one of the most important activities, with an amplified effort.

Professional installation, the last stage of the purchase process, is again, essential. For the joints between the various component pieces of the worktop to become as unnoticeable as possible, it is necessary for this operation to be carried out by a dedicated team of experienced professionals, prepared to correctly use the best joining materials, to ensure perfect surface alignment and, consequently, a flawless fit.

And yes, this is a very important criterion for choosing a kitchen worktop, because the total price often includes the aforementioned services. These are the reasons why models made from premium materials (such as composite quartz, porcelain ceramic, or granite) have higher prices than those made from lower quality materials (those from heat-resistant particleboard).

In conclusion, we tell you that Prowest has distinguished itself over more than 15 years of activity in the field, precisely by successfully combining these two essential components: quartz and ceramic kitchen worktops and premium consultancy, site survey, transport, and installation services. So, if you are looking for the best long-term solutions, contact us!