Kitchen work surfaces

Laminate
Laminate has been around since the invention of the modern kitchen and it’s still the cheapest, most cost-effective work surface product. The beauty of this material is that there are literally hundreds of textures and colours in most DIY stores, some which mimic stone and marble, and even better, its smooth surface is easy to keep clean. The drawback is that any damage such as chips or scratches are hard if not impossible to repair, so always use a chopping board to protect it when preparing food.

Stone & slate
This option is one of the most expensive, but as well as giving your kitchen an air of luxury, you’ll be investing in a classic product that outlives trends, and that is built to last. The beauty of choosing a beautiful piece of stone, slate or marble is that you can have it crafted to be streamlined and incorporate a hole for a recessed sink and grooves for a draining board. It’s extremely heat resistant, but all stones have a porous surface, so check with your supplier regarding information on sealing to avoid stains. For instance, soapstone, which is smooth and dark grey in colour, needs to be treated regularly with an application of mineral oil.

Composite stone
Some manufacturers are achieving interesting effects by mixing quartz particles into a bonding agent such as epoxy resin to form composite stone. Composites are still quite expensive but because they are man-made, you can buy them in so many more colours and textures, and they don’t require sealing as real stone does. Sometimes it’s impossible to tell the difference between say granite, and a composite granite-look or real marble and the synthetic version. Manufacturers claim they are scratch resistant, but they can stain like the real thing, so consult your supplier on how to avoid marks.

Tiles
You can use porcelain or ceramic tiles to achieve almost any look you want, but they’re especially effective when you’re after a more traditional, rustic style as hand-made tiles can vary in colour, giving a faded, time-worn finish. They’re more expensive, but choose porcelain for a tougher surface, as these are the most hard-fired tiles you can find. All tiles are heat and stain resistant as well as being easy to keep clean, but be aware that keeping the grout looking pristine will require a lot of maintenance and elbow grease. For this reason, it might be wise to choose a darker tile with matching dark grout.

Granite
If you're looking for a high-end product, granite is ideal as it never dates and is virtually impossible to damage – either by sharp knives or by dark liquids. It’s so coveted in kitchens in fact, that you might find it makes your home more appealing to potential buyers. You can get a variation in price though, as there’s a sliding scale in cost and quality. And if you’d like to keep costs down even more, take a look at investing in granite tiles instead, and installing with a charcoal-coloured grout.

Stainless steel
For a kitchen that the Ramsay's and Oliver's of the world would be at home in, take a look at the professional cook’s style stainless steel. It’s expensive but you can have it tailor-made into a seamless, single run of worktop, including your sink, which can look spectacular. Choose high-grade steel that lasts a lifetime, but be aware that even though this is one material that can withstand stains and burns, it will lose its shine and eventually be covered in fine scratches. Over time though, the fine scratches will merge together to give your steel a dull, brushed look – worn, but still attractive.

Corian
Corian is a man-made product that can be formed into one long streamlined run of worktop to fit your kitchen exactly. Popular among designers, this is known as a solid surfacing material. Made from either pure acrylic or a polyester-acrylic mix, Corian comes in some fantastic colours and textures to either mimic plastic (a solid colour such as orange looks incredible), or flecked stone. Manufacturers say it is heat and stain resistant, but should you get a slight stain or scratch, you can lightly sand it out. And if there’s any major damage, the area can be removed and a new piece put in.

Wood
Still one of the most popular worktop materials around, wood now comes in a fantastic choice of colours, including more exotic and now fashionable darker woods. For a beech chopping board area, you should keep the surface untreated. It will withstand the heat from pans and a daily bashing from chopping and it even scrubs up well after staining. It’s hygienic too as wood contains an antibacterial agent. If you prefer a more polished look however, make sure you treat your wood every few months with something such as Danish oil that soaks into the grain and helps to repel water and staining.

Concrete
Usually poured on-site then polished, finished and sealed, concrete is an expensive but aesthetically beautiful, minimalist surface. Some manufacturers are even offering a colouring service so you can match it exactly to your units.