Rising to the surface

There are a number of worktop styles that can be an impressive and practical addition, says Kya de Longchamps

SCALDING pots and pans unceremoniously dumped, the gouge of a thousand knife blades, an ocean of spills and smears — a dedicated worktop should be able to withstand abuse, retaining its looks and performance for years with little more than a hot wipe down.

WOOD

Wood gifts a textural, traditional feel. Set on contemporary cabinets it won’t appear overtly rustic and can be tailored into clean cut-outs and elegant curves by any competent carpenter. Generally kitchen designers like end grain wood which is glued together in blocks or strips. Beech, oak, cherry and ash are the top choices for their durability and natural anti-septic properties. Tropical hardwoods offering a gallery of delicious figuring and tones, like Iroko, wenge and teak, will cheerfully slough off water splashes with their oil-rich timbers.

Stain or wax up the surface of wood counters to maximise their look. The wood will be engineered to resist bowing, but the thicker the profile the more stable it will be. Prices for solid wood in 38cm profiles off the rack start for as little as €76 for a 1.26m length of beech Numerär at IKEA.

Elsewhere expect to pay in the area of €100-€150 per linear metre of 40mm. The greatest challenge with wood is protecting it from water ingress that can warp and stain its surface. New counters must be sealed with Danish or linseed oil once a day for the first week, followed by a treatment once a week for the next month. Don’t cut down into a wood surface.

STONE

Scratch, heat and stain resistant, stone is a durable, ancient material with a cool, clean finish. Highly impervious to liquids, it makes an attractive cut-out, forming integral draining boards that will not suffer from repeated sloshes. It’s ideal for rolling out pastry and other culinary adventures requiring a cool work surface, but its toughness is lethal when bouncing down towers of fragile dishes. Granite, marble and limestone are particular favourites here in Ireland, their dark light swallowing colour offset by a high mirror shine or light honing.

All stones are heavy and best installed by a professional team who will also ensure the carcasses below are stout enough to carry their weight. Prices start in the area of €400 per linear metre for polished and matt honed varieties. Get a quote for a long length or complete kitchen and it may come out as low as €300 a metre. A 15mm profile of granite over an MDF support edge will look as deep as 40mm for far less. Consider investing in a flush fit granite area or board for €300 to €400.

Composite stone counters are made up of a mixture of resins and a high quantity of natural stone, offering the look of stone in a wide spectrum of colours. Standard lengths of Speedstone Quartz, (93% natural quartz), tough and attractive from B&Q, start at €403 for a 1.04m length. In-House offer Ionite. 021-4391199. www.in-house.ie.

Granite and marble is notoriously smeary, especially in dark varieties, and best kept clean with a wipe over followed by a polish with microfibre cloth.

MINERAL/THERMOPLASTIC COUNTERS

Developed by the kings of synthetic counters, Corian by DuPont, natural minerals and acrylics are bonded together to give the dense weight and durability of stone but with the malleability to pour. These non-porous materials can be moulded into just about any shape using a process called thermo-formation. Bespoke seamless choices in Corian, Surell (by Formica), Getacore or LG Hi-Macs (Solid Surface Ireland) can be bonded to other surfaces, delivering a worktop of more than one material. Resistant to staining, where a thermoplastic worktop does suffer the sling and arrows of domestic fortune, the surface can be repaired and refurbished using a simple sanding kit.

Similar to stone, this material’s scratches can be sanded out.

STEELY GLANCES

With its industrial-chic edginess, stainless steel remains a glittering favourite. By welding the worktop into the sink, a stainless steel surface has a unique visual flow.

Prices vary depending on your supplier, but steel generally falls into the same price league as top-flight natural materials. Consider a splash-back in steel, a seamless hygienic solution to that dreaded gap between counter and wall.

Suppliers include Poggenpohl Dublin www.dublinpoggenpohl.com. 01-2352222.

Steel shows smears and scratches easily and is best fitted in a satin finish. Earth a stainless steel surface to ensure against faulty electrics, and fit the steel over a dampening material to minimise its clatter.

INEXPENSIVE ELEGANCE

Laminates are an intelligent choice in most kitchens and if you want to fit your own kitchen are easy to cut and fit. Made from layers of paper impregnated with resin, under a transparent layer of melamine, laminate is economical, durable and installed as a gap solution, can be replaced with a new design with little cost. A 40mm laminate is designated ‘high pressure’ and is highly heat resistant. Prices start at about €100 per linear metre for super thick 50mm laminate. Look out for edging choices such as bull-noses to individualise your kitchen. Seams and end pieces must be properly finished to keep the internal wood core dry. Protect with trivets and chopping boards.

GLAZED GORGEOUS

A toughened glass counter-top properly installed makes a dramatic ingredient. Colours sing out, painted on the reverse side, and counters can be back-lit for atmospheric illumination. You also have a choice in matt textures or high shine beauties plus an antimicrobial ingredient in the glass that will never wear out. Consider marrying the counters to glass splashbacks, or slender upstands on the wall for a unifying finish (the less joints the better). Glass compares in price to top natural counter choices but will show every streak and smear. Be prepared to neurotically polish your surfaces just about every time you linger in the kitchen.

CONCRETE CHOICE

Poured concrete is an unexpected but beautiful choice. It can carry inclusions from stone chips to glass and fossils before being polished to a mirror shine. Every counter is unique and poured in situ into a shutter from a mixture of cements and silica sands, and profiles vary from 15mm to 100mm. The counter can be tinted to almost any colour, flowing into organic forms with crafted bevelled edges, embracing sinks, and extra detailing such as drilled out draining boards. Try www.renobuild.ie for examples of great work. It compares to granite in price, depending on the installation. Once sealed, concrete counters are a warm, anti-microbial surface that need no further maintenance.