Getting the right kitchen worktop is key to the look of your modern kitchen. It’s what draws your eye as you walk into a room and a crucial element for tying the room together.

Modern kitchen makeovers can be expensive, particularly if you spring for the high-end appliances. But kitchen design experts still recommend that you spend a good portion of your makeover budget on a good quality kitchen worktop to make a focal point of the room.

But what should you be spending your money on?

You need a kitchen worktop that matches your desired look and your lifestyle.

Your kitchen worktop will ultimately bear the brunt of all your preparing, serving and (hopefully) fine dining – so it needs to be hardwearing. It should be a pleasure to look at it when you come downstairs in the morning so it should also look great and be easy to clean.

Top three modern kitchen worktop materials

Granite

Granite is still one of the most popular choices for kitchen worktops. The timeless style and beauty of granite means that these worktops will always have a place in luxury kitchen showrooms.

No two pieces of granite are the same, because the molten stone is crushed and cooled over millions of years to form a unique pattern.

Because it is made under such a huge strain, granite is very resistant to heat, scratches and staining.

Granite worktop pros:

• Very hard wearing
• Heat resistant
• Easy to clean
• Next to no maintenance

Granite worktop cons:

• Expensive
• Can chip in heavy-use areas (like around the sink)

Quartz

Quartz is a man-made alternative to natural stone worktops like granite and marble. Like granite it is resistant to heat and scratching, but the real reason behind its growing popularity is the smooth sleek appearance as well as the extra sparkle factor.

Quartz is a hybrid worktop comprising natural stone and a special glue-like resin that binds the stone together.

Quartz worktop pros:

• Hard-wearing
• Easy to clean
• Lots of different colours
• ‘3D’ sparkle effects

Quartz worktop cons

• Expensive
• Not fire resistant

Glass

Hardened glass is a very new addition to the modern worktop market. Glass has the sheen and style for a striking modern kitchen unit, but the material can age quickly and requires very frequent cleaning if it is to look at its best.

Glass worktop pros:

• Durable
• Heat resistant
• Stylish and sleek
• Lots of colours

Glass worktop cons:

• Expensive
• Requires regular cleaning
• Can look tired quickly

If you have any questions about Cheshire Graniteline’s range of worktops, please get in touch. Call: 01606 841 074.