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How to Choose the Best Work Surface For Your Kitchen

When choosing a new kitchen, the first decision to be made is the material you will use for your kitchen worktops. Your countertops have the potential to make or break your kitchen design and will work with the other elements of your kitchen to create the overall aesthetic.

Not only from a stylistic point of view, the functionality of your work surface and the material that you choose is very important. The most practical and cost-effective countertop materials tend to be laminate whereas pricier options include solid wood, marble and granite.

 

Kitchen Usage

How you use your kitchen will have an impact on which work surface you should choose. If you are a frequent cook and regularly cook meals which require a lot of cooking and clean-up, this will differ from if you only use your kitchen occasionally. For example, for frequent chefs, a low-maintenance work surface will save time on the daily clean-up.

Also think about the type of dishes that you cook. If you regularly cook with hot pans, consider whether you typically put these pans straight down on the work surface or whether you will use a mat to protect your surfaces.

For those with young families and / or pets, you might want to choose a work surface which is easier to wipe down.

 

stone veneer worktop

 

Granite Worktops

Granite is a favourite when creating a stylish look for your kitchen and is often used in high-end, luxurious designs. It is loved for its low-maintenance and durability; granite need only be resealed once per decade as it is difficult to scratch or chip and can withstand heat from pans.

Another reason people love granite worktops is because they are very easy to clean, needing only a wipe-down with a cloth and mild soapy water.

On the other hand, it is one of the pricier options on the market. That being said, because you do not need to replace it frequently, it can be a very worthwhile investment.

 

Hard Wood Countertops

Wooden countertops are aesthetically very nice, helping to achieve a traditional look for your kitchen. Depending on the type of wood chosen, this option can also work out to be fairly budget-friendly. However, it is worth noting that they are not necessarily the most durable option; wood can fade from sun exposure or become stained with frequent use. This makes them a less easy-to-maintain option as they can become easily damaged.

 

Home-Study-Gallery-9

 

Quartz Work Surfaces

Quartz countertops lend themselves to creating a stunning kitchen. They are also known for being very durable and easy to maintain. Not only are they easy to clean daily, they do not chip easily and do not require regular resealing. That being said, they are not durable when it comes to heat so cannot withstand hot pans or trays.

The biggest downside associated with quartz is the cost, with this material costing around £500 per square metre, before factoring in any installation costs.

 

Laminate Surfaces

For a cheap and cheerful option, there is no better choice than a laminate surface. The most budget-friendly option on the list, this material typically costs as little as £35 per metre. Additionally, they are easy to fit meaning that you might be able to save the installation costs by fitting them yourself. Additionally, they are easy to maintain and fairly resilient to stains. However, they are easily scratched which will leave permanent marks.

 

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Customer Reviews

The Wood Works

Customer Reviews

Honor

HOUZZ
What a wonderful experience from beginning to end. We certainly weren’t the easiest customers , we weren’t sure what we wanted or when ! However Donna, Richard, Rich and their amazing team guided us through the process with utter professionalism as well as warmth and patience. The results exceeded our expectations, particularly the attention to every detail. They wouldn’t rest until they knew we were happy with everything. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them or use them again.

Leighton Home Style

HOUZZ
Thanks to all the team at The Woodworks for working with me on yet another great project.
Beautiful design managed and delivered on time and VERY happy clients

Look forward to our future projects together!

Alan Burton

HOUZZ
Woodworks provided us with excellent service, from planning and design to finished kitchen

Build quality is excellent and it really does give the house the WOW factor

Our kitchen was part of a new build process for house we have built from scratch. Deadlines constantly moved, and Woodworks worked around everybody to get the job done on time and in full

After sales is very good, with tweaks to doors and cupboards all part of the service!

Sarah Innes

HOUZZ
It has been an absolute pleasure to deal with The Wood Works. Our existing kitchen was 20 years old, and the layout of the room did not make use of the available space. Josh produced inspired ideas for re-designing the whole area, and really listened to what we wanted to achieve, patiently fine-tuning the plans to our particular requirements. We are now the proud owners of a stunning and practical new kitchen which has completely exceeded our expectations. When my sister visited for the first time, she said "it looks like the kitchen of a celebrity chef!" (which I am not). What a transformation. The Wood Works is a family-run business, and that really shows in terms of their professional service, quality of fittings, attention to detail, reliability and easy communication. Nothing was too much trouble. At the start of the project, Josh promised we would have our kitchen by Christmas. I was sceptical as we were in the midst of the pandemic, but they delivered as promised, with no hitches. Thoroughly recommend.

John

HOUZZ
Brilliant Service!
They designed, built, and fitted my new kitchen.
Extremely happy and will be recommending to my friends and family.

Sian Baker

HOUZZ
Over the moon with our new kitchen!
The design is exactly what we wanted, the fitters were excellent, and the craftsmanship is fantastic.
Everyone at The Wood Works helped to make the process as smooth and as easy as possible.
I would recommend them to anyone looking at getting a new kitchen.

Ruhel 4 November, 2021

HOUZZ
We are delighted with the kitchen supplied and fitted by The Woodworks. The design, look and quality is brilliant. The designer (Tom Dodd), the project manager (Andy Neville) and the fitters were all brilliant. Always helpful and responsive. A really pleasing experience with Woodworks and a brilliant finished kitchen.

The design collated by Tom was brilliant and tailored brilliantly to our exact requirements.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Sue Finegold 22 December 2021

HOUZZ
We have a beautiful kitchen of the highest quality The company are efficient friendly and nothing is too much trouble.
Richard and Donna designed everything for us to perfection. All their staff are really great.