A quality worktop can be the beautiful focal point to your kitchen, the pièce de résistance to your design. However, a bad choice of worktop can negate all of your hard work and turn time spent in the kitchen into a chore with unsightly seams, maintenance issues and constant worry over possible worktop damage.
Laminate worktops are simply wooden bases coated with synthetic plastic. They are relatively easy to clean and not overly expensive, yet tend to deteriorate over time. They are the most common form of kitchen worktop but can leave a lot to be desired in the overall aesthetic. They are prone to damage from cutting, chopping and hot pans and, due to the nature of the material, such damage can be very hard to rectify and may leave the whole worktop needing to be replaced. Seams can often be visible on a laminate worktop too, detracting from the attractiveness of your kitchen. And whilst Laminate worktops are available in a large selection of colours and styles that often mimic natural stone, the Ultimate Kitchen deserves better, it deserves the real thing….
Granite worktops are cut from huge slabs of natural granite, often picked by the customer personally, so as to fit in with their Ultimate Kitchen design. As the stone is all natural, no two granite cuts will ever be the same, resulting in beautiful and unique worktops every time. And whilst granite is often more expensive than other worktop choices, the quality is what sets it apart. Granite is one of the toughest materials on Earth (behind only diamond, sapphire and ruby), so knives and hot pans are going to have trouble damaging these worktops. Also, as there are no seams in the natural stone, granite worktops are a breeze to clean as there is nowhere for dirt to collect.
Due to the porous nature of natural granite, it is recommended that granite worktops are sealed twice a year. This is a quick and easy procedure, simply spray a natural stone sealing solution over the worktop, leave for a few minutes then wipe away. With low level maintenance, an elegant and unique granite worktop will last a lifetime and become the centrepiece of your Ultimate Kitchen.
Quartz worktops are crafted from manmade stone, using natural quartz found in granite. As such, it retains the natural look and feel of granite, but doesn’t require sealing, as it is non-porous. Quartz worktops are almost as tough as their granite counterparts and won’t be easily damaged by knives or hot pans, retaining a natural look and a smooth surface and keeping your kitchen a beautiful and worry free place to cook and entertain.
Granite and Quartz worktops can bring ease of use and a sense of beauty and individual personality to any Ultimate Kitchen; it’s the investment that lasts a lifetime.
For more information on Granite and Quartz worktops and how they can compliment your perfect fitted kitchen, visit the ultimate kitchens web site, see in store or call 01925 255500 for more details.
