What kind of countertop to choose for the kitchen?

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any house. This fact can be confirmed by men, the way to the heart of which, as is known, lies through the stomach, and women who spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Each owner has his own ideas about the functionality and beauty of the workplace. But the question of what type of countertop to choose for the kitchen, depends not only on her personal wishes, but also on the financial capabilities of the family. Let's look at the types of countertops that are presented in the stores, and try to find out what they differ from each other.

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What type of countertop is better?

The worktops can be divided into groups in this way:

1. For the price.
2. Composition of the material:
   • Laminated plastic HLP.
   • Products from acrylic artificial stone( Akrilika, Staron, Corian).
   • Made of artificial stone with quartz filling.
   • Natural natural stone.
   • Made from solid wood of noble species.
3. Physical characteristics.

The front edge of the countertops can be made in different ways:

• Blade - Radius rounding of plastic from the work surface to its end.
• Blockage with a hem - plastic from the butt is bent under the lower part of the table top.
• Also the end can be decorated with 3D ABS edge or aluminum profile.

Important! The end with a 3D edge, as a rule, is used for curved kitchens, which have a radial facade.

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What kind of countertop to choose for the kitchen?- We select material

Let's consider some features of the most popular materials so that you can understand what will be preferable for you.

Artificial stone

Wondering which countertop is best for the kitchen, today many people choose artificial stone variants. The basis for this worktop is plywood, which is applied to an artificial stone, as a rule, 12 mm thick.

Important! If you do not know which countertop to choose for an artificial stone kitchen, pay attention to the famous brands - Akrilika, Staron, Montelli, Corian.

Properties:

• This material is ductile, therefore at high temperature it is possible to create various bent shapes from it, which often becomes necessary for kitchens with radius facades.
• Artificial stone is made of polymer glue and colored granules in order to simulate the composition of natural stone.
• These types of table tops are available in a wide range of colors.
• The lower the price for countertops made of artificial stone, the more fragile and less plastic material, so the bent shape can not always be given. But countertops from cheaper material can be used for direct kitchens.
• The main advantage of this material is the possibility of connecting the table top without visible joints. The butt can be made using various shapes.

Important! This stone to the touch is warm, which can not be said about the natural.

Quartz agglomerate

In the composition of such tabletops quartz, granite or mirror crumb, as well as polymeric binder resins. Plates for products made from quartz agglomerate are produced under vacuum at high temperatures on special vibration tables.

Important! As a rule, the thickness of the plate is 30 mm.

The material used for countertops does not get air, so it is resistant to liquids, does not absorb acids and solvents, and this is a huge advantage over natural stone. In addition, quartz agglomerate is resistant to scratches and kinks.

Important! Thanks to modern technology, the joint of the table top can be made almost imperceptible.

Natural stone

Products from natural stone look thoroughly and respectably in the classical interior. The material for these worktops are sheets of stone blocks extracted from the bowels of the earth.

What kind of countertop to choose for the kitchen? Often for kitchens use granite, it is less hygroscopic and more dense than other rocks. Granite does not absorb water, but it requires special care. The downside is the large weight and the high price of such countertops.

Important! It is not recommended to use marble for kitchen countertops, because this material is easily soiled and scratched.

Natural wood

Natural wood products are beautiful and durable, but need special care. Often they are made of beech, oak, merbau, teak, wenge. Such countertops should be regularly treated with special protective solutions based on oils.

Important! Wipe the surface with a damp cloth, without the use of household chemicals.

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Alternatives for

If for some reason, choosing a kitchen countertop, the

does not suit wood, stone or chipboard products, you can choose a version of ceramic tiles, stainless steel or glass.

Stainless steel

Certainly, products from this material are practical, however, to create a warm cozy atmosphere is hardly suitable. Such a surface is resistant to the appearance of fungus, it is not afraid of temperature changes and increased humidity.

These are the options used in restaurants, because they are easy to care for. You can wash these surfaces with various means, so you can keep your kitchen clean.

Important! The downside of this countertop is that it should be polished from time to time, and this can entail additional costs.

Glass

At home, this material is rarely used for kitchen countertops. The reason is low wear resistance of the material, high price and complexity in the care. But this is compensated by the spectacular appearance. Therefore, if the financial issue does not matter to you, and you can afford to replace the product in a year, why not install it?

Ceramic tiles

Also sometimes used as a covering for the countertop, however, it requires special care. Unfortunately, the material is not devoid of minuses - the grout is unstable to external influences, and on the tile itself may appear cracks and chips. But the performance characteristics of the countertop, covered with ceramic tiles, can be improved if the surface is covered with enamel.

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Determine the optimal dimensions of the

To understand which countertop to choose for the kitchen, you need to determine the width, thickness, material and color.

Important! During the design of kitchen furniture, you need to remember that the worktop is originally a functional element, and only then a designer one. Therefore, you need to correlate the size of the kitchen countertop with the layout, ergonomics of work processes, placement of work areas, as well as ensuring the safety and comfort of family members.

Height

This parameter is very important, because it will depend on the convenience of working in the kitchen. The height should be determined by taking into account the growth of the person who will prepare the food so that he does not have pain in the lower back and legs during the work:

• If the height of the person is below 150 cm, the desired height of the tabletop is 76 cm.
• With growth - about 160 cmit is advisable to set the countertop to a height of approximately 83 cm, and with an increase of approximately 170 cm - to a height of 88 cm.
• If the height of the family members is approximately 180 cm - the recommended height of the kitchen countertop is 91 cm, and with height above 180 cm - 94 cm.
• For tall people, the growth of a catryh exceeds 190 cm, the height of countertops should be not less than a meter.

Important! The recommended dimensions in each case require additional analysis. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the growth in all members of the family is different, so the selection of height requires an individual approach.

Width

It is necessary to take into account the ratio of the width of the tabletop and the existing distance from its surface to the hinged lockers. In the event that the width of the countertop is 65 cm, the bottom edge of the curtains can be fixed at a height of about 50 cm from the table surface.

Important! If you can not afford a wide table top because of the small size of the kitchen, then the convenience and visibility can be achieved by the width of the hanging lockers.

Thickness

Thickness can be chosen different - from 2 to 6 cm:

• The standard thickness for kitchen countertops from chipboard is 28 mm.
• The thickness of the moisture-resistant product can reach up to 38 mm.

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Installation and maintenance of

Specialists say that the shape of the table tops should be chosen based on the layout of the room, the configuration of the headset, and the organization of the work area.

Important! Try not to overload the kitchen with extra corners - nothing should stop it from moving around.

You can experiment with material and color, you do not need to use one color or material. For example, a natural stone, perfectly combined with ceramic tiles and mosaic, and wood - with frosted glass. Also, an interesting design move is the illumination of the work area, because it's beautiful and very convenient.

Also, when choosing a kitchen countertop for quality, consider the cost of its installation:

• Laminated products are comparatively inexpensive. They are fixed to the pipes using metal corners and self-tapping screws. The skirting board, which covers the cracks between the top and the wall, is installed last.
• For wood products use brackets with oval slots fixed in a "floating" way.
• The installation of a natural stone countertop is expensive and time-consuming.

Important! With regard to care, then you can wipe the surface of the countertop with a wet rag in circular motions.

Buying kitchen furniture, one way or another, is connected with the countertop. What it will be in shape, color, size, and what will be made of - depends on you. We hope that our article will help you to understand the question of what table top is better to choose for the kitchen.