Kitchen Benchtop Materials Guide - Porcelain & Marble
When renovating your kitchen, an important question which needs to be addressed is:
Which material should be used for kitchen benchtops?
There are a few important factors like cost of installation, durability, cost of maintenance, and so forth, which are required to be considered while making this decision.
Here, we shall be discussing two of the most popular materials for benchtops:
Porcelain and Marble.
Porcelain Benchtops
Porcelain is a widely used and preferred material for kitchen benchtops in European and Australian markets, especially in Melbourne. This informative guide will help you understand everything you need to know about porcelain benchtops.
What is Porcelain?
This ceramic-like material is manufactured from various raw materials combined together to achieve hard and glass-like quality when baked at high temperatures. The resultant product, porcelain, is used to make tiles and slab that is non-porous.
What are the Benefits of Porcelain?
Some of the advantages of porcelain are as follows:
◆ Durability
It is resistant to ultraviolet rays and high temperatures, making porcelain durable. It does not get damaged very easily and can withstand the use of strong appliances.
◆ Size
Porcelain slabs are appropriate for a bigger and longer kitchen island.
◆ Colors & Pattern
It is available in various colors and patterns for you to choose from according to your requirements and kitchen designs. Moreover, discoloration is not a problem you need to worry about with this material.
◆ Lightweight
Porcelain slabs weigh relatively very less due to which they can be made into thin slabs, which are trending now, with a thickness of around 5mm.
◆ Maintenance
Its non-porous characteristic makes it easier to clean porcelain benchtops. Just a damp cloth is sufficient. You can also use chemicals like bleach to wipe the surface once in a while.
◆ Environment-friendly
Since it is made of naturally occurring raw materials, porcelain is eco-friendly and recyclable.
Marble Benchtops
Known for their beauty, marble benchtops are very popular in Australia, especially in Melbourne. Here is everything you would want to know about using marble benchtops in your kitchen.
What is Marble?
It is a naturally occurring rock, limestone to be specific, turned into a beautiful stone by subjecting it to a great deal of pressure and heat.
What are the Merits of Marble?
The reasons for increasing popularity of marble benchtops in Melbourne are as follows:
◆ Beauty
Its elegant and spectacular look makes this material well liked. It gives a warm and sophisticated outlook to your kitchen.
◆ Heat Resistant
Being resistant to heat makes it ideal for kitchen usage. Moreover, this also makes it possible to install gas cooktops in marble benchtops easily. Its cooler nature makes it apt for baking purposes too.
◆Designs
Marble is a relatively softer material to work with. So, it is perfect in case you require more fabrications on your kitchen counter. Marble islands can be designed as per all your needs.
◆ Durability
Marble is a softer yet strong substance. Thus, it is highly durable. This is why marble is a widely used material for kitchen benchtops.
◆ Money’s Worth
Even though marble is a little expensive, the cost of maintenance is relatively lower. Ultimately, you will get your money’s worth by installing a marble benchtop.
◆ Maintenance
It is easy to maintain marble benchtops. Regular cleanups using a damp cloth, warm water, and less harsh cleaning agents will do the trick.
Now that you are aware of everything about porcelain and marble, you can easily decide the benchtop material for your kitchen.
For more information about kitchen benchtops in Melbourne, do not hesitate to contact us.
You might also want to check out our blog on ‘How to Decide on a Material for Your Kitchen Benchtop’.