Your Guide to Choosing a Kitchen Worktop Part I: Natural Stone

 

Choosing a kitchen worktop is a big decision and depends on a number of factors. Countertops play a very demanding role, they are the workhorse of the kitchen and need to be durable as well as aesthetically pleasing. Considering a sizeable surface they take, their importance and visual impact cannot be ignored.
They come in a vast array of materials and choosing one can be a daunting task so it is not surprising that for years the majority of people mostly stuck with granite and quartz as if nothing else existed. When choosing your countertop you have to take into consideration your household lifestyle – if you are a lively and messy family opt for materials that are hardwearing and easy to maintain. You might fall in love with a particular material, but you have to be aware that care and maintenance is required to keep them pristine.
Your decisions might be led by ecological and sustainability credentials of materials. Sometimes we opt for natural materials, having in mind their renewability and conveniently forget that some might take thousands years to form. On the other hand there are engineered or composite materials made of post-consumer waste ticking plenty of ‘green’ boxes but are unusable/non-recyclable at the end of their working life.
The biggest decision maker is probably going to be your budget. Do not despair if it cannot stretch as far as you’d like – your worktop does not have to be a single material monolith and this can present you with a great design opportunity. You can combine different worktop materials, colours and finishes to achieve a stunningly beautiful kitchen while cleverly employing material properties most suitable to different working areas of your kitchen. At the same time, keep in mind that engineered materials can sometimes be more expensive than its natural counterparts. To help you with narrowing down and choosing the most suitable one for your kitchen, we created a guide split into material groups.

 

Natural Stone Worktops

 

When shopping for a natural stone worktop, initial excitement can be quickly replaced by fatigue. Like with most large purchases, your knowledge and familiarity with the subject can give you an advantage and focus your research. Apart from the aesthetics influencing your choice, there are some useful investigative tests you can perform on stone samples. The results will help your decision.

Hardness of stone: to test you need a piece of glass (a tile or similar) and a piece of stone you like: scratch the glass with the sharp edge of the stone. If the stone is not hard it will usually just glide over the tile surface. Other method is to scratch the stone surface with a sharp object. MOHs scale (1-10) is used to determine the hardness of various materials, but you should take into consideration other factors to determine suitability. For example, you love Soapstone but it is soft and tests only 1-4 on the hardness scale, which means it is easy to scratch. You might love the build up of patina and scratches can be removed/disguised with mineral oil or, if big, treated with sandpaper. However, for those who are after spotless and gleaming surfaces, this might represent their worst nightmare. On the other hand, some materials can test very high on MOHs scale but if damaged can be exceptionally difficult or impossible to repair.

Porosity can and should be tested on both untreated and sealed stone. Here you need to submerge a part of the test piece into water, edge down and leave for up to 15 minutes. Wipe, air dry and evaluate. Porosity usually appears as a darkened part of the stone and indicates its proneness to staining. You could also test slabs with sprayed water.

Acid test is especially useful for mislabelled natural stones and to show how sensitive a stone is to commonly used acids such as lemon, vinegar, etc. It can be done on either sealed or untreated stone surface as sealers do not protect stones from interacting with acid. Test with few drops of lemon juice or vinegar and leave up to 10 minutes. Wipe dry and evaluate: affected or etched areas will appear dulled.

 

Granite Worktops

 

Granite is the name given to a large group of igneous rocks with similar properties, which simplifies their classification for commercial purposes. Granite is formed deep beneath the surface and makes up the cores of continents. Known as the most robust of all natural stone worktops, with reasonable maintenance it can remain looking new for years. There are claims that it can go in and out of fashion, especially its glossy finishes, but if you don’t care and are after a durable worktop for your busy kitchen, then it is a great choice.

– volcanic origins make it the most robust of all natural stone worktops, it scores 7 on MAHs scale
– can withstand high temperatures so it is safe to place sizzling pots and pans on top of it (although trivets are always recommended for all materials)*
– dense, scratch resistant and doesn’t stain, although there are some reports of lighter granites needing regular sealing to prevent staining
– easy to clean with soapy water and dry cloth
– can be honed and antiqued, adding texture to surface
– patterns and colours differ because of variety of content, some can be quite bold and distracting, others more subtle and unified in appearance

 

Marble Worktops

 

Marble is a metamorphic rock that started its life as a limestone. Through the geological process of heating, compressing and warping it developed into one of the most beloved natural stones to grace our art galleries, palaces and homes. There is a vast variety of marbles and they vary in density, porosity and content. If white, it comprises of mostly calcite, without influence of other minerals to impart their colours (Yule and Thassoss are good examples). Shades of green and red are infused with magnesium and serpentine, pink and gold by iron oxide whilst graphite-rich marble features steely grey shades.

– staining will depend on the type of marble and its porosity – some are like granite but others require sealing
– heat resistant and safe for hot pots and pans*
– often cooler by 4 degrees than its environment making it great for working with pastry and dough
– MAHs scale of hardness places it at 4
– prone to etching or discolouration from acids (if left unattended) which some may consider a lovely patina while others as unbearable imperfection
– can chip or flake if hit with hard object on its edges
– regular cleaning with mild soap or stone cleaner
– can be refinished if heavily damaged

 

Quartzite (do not confuse with Quartz) Worktops

 

This metamorphic rock made almost entirely of quartz is possibly the most confusing and mislabelled natural stone. If you come across ‘soft quartzite’, a misnomer considering that it is one of the hardest rocks (sometimes harder than granite), you are likely looking at dolomite marble, a material with different properties. Essentially, ‘soft quartzite’ does not exist. Quartzite starts its life as a sandstone. Further exposure to natural heat and pressure transforms it into a dense and exceptionally durable rock. Because of its sand content, it is usually light but additional minerals can impart their own hues to create spectacular colours, shades and patterns.

– hard and durable, it is 7 on MOHs hardness scale, it scratches glass and blunts knives used on it
– resistant to acids like lemon, vinegar, etc.
– porosity depends on the type of Quartzite; porous varieties like White and Calacatta Macaubas can benefit from sealer
– care is similar to granite, clean with gentle cleanser and wipe dry with soft cloth/paper towel

 

Slate Worktops

 

Formed from heavily compressed clay exposed to low heat, not all slates are suitable for worktops. Cumbrian slates are exceptionally hard and their performance can be compared to granite. Being a naturally occurring material, no two pieces are the same but, slate is generally characterised by subtle and elegant veining, making it quite a sophisticated choice. For kitchen worktops, slate of the highest grade and quality is a must, otherwise you will be stuck with a difficult to maintain surface prone to chipping and damage from acids. High quality slabs will usually be in darker colours, although the quality must be tested as the darker shade is not a guarantee.

– stain resistant and anti-bacterial
– hard, good quality slate will test up to 7 on MOHs scale, while softer ones test at 2.5 to 4
– can withstand extremely high temperatures of your hot pots and pans*
– easy to clean with soapy water and dried with soft cloth
– feels soft to touch
– slabs are limited in size due to quarrying methods and are rarely longer than 1800mm
– corners can be brittle, scratches can occur and quality varies from slab to slab

 

Basalt Worktops

 

Basalt is a fine-grained volcanic rock produced by lava, composed of minerals and volcanic glasses and sometimes labelled as granite. It forms on the surface of the Earth and the process can be relatively quick, only taking days or weeks to harden, as opposed to granite, which takes thousands to millions of years. Suitable for different interior styles, some varieties appear similar to concrete. It mainly comes in dark shades of greys, blacks and blues due to presence of magnesium and iron during its formation.

– hard wearing, heavy duty, tests 6 at MOHs scale
– resistant to scratches
– can withstand extremely high temperatures
– sealing is advisable to help with marking and stains
– cleaned with soapy water and dry cloth
– warmer and softer to touch than granite

 

Soapstone Worktops

 

Used in science and schools labs, this natural stone is quarried from metamorphic rock and typically comes in smaller slabs. Thanks to presence of talc in its content it feels soft/soapy to touch, hence the name – soapstone. There are 2 varieties: artistic (higher talc % which makes it soft and suitable for carving) and architectural (lower talc levels make it harder and more suitable for worktops). It comes in grey shades mostly, but there are varieties with blue and green undertones which grow dark in time. Hardness can be determined by its colour, greener meaning softer (although colour can be darkened with mineral oil). It is softer than granite or marble, so it can be easer to cut and install.

– durable, non-porous and chemically inert so it doesn’t stain
– tests 1-4 on MAHs scale of hardness
– dense and heat resistant
– no sealant required, marks are removed with sandpaper or disguised with mineral oil
– cleaning: soap and water, it is resistant to bacteria and no harsh cleaners are necessary
– susceptible to scratch marks, so if you are after a pristine worktop use cutting boards or choose different stone
– patterns come in flecks and if with more quartz content – veins

 

Limestone Worktops

 

Most limestone is formed from sediments of hard shells fallen on sea bed. With time, these sediment layers get compressed into a hard stone. Limestone can vary in appearance from smooth and undulating shapes to recognisable fossil fragments and bold patterns. Shades range from soft, sandy hues to pink, red, grey, brown and even black. The test of its durability are architectural monuments including the Pyramids of Giza. However, when used as a worktop it develops patina and requires gentle care.

– it tests 3 on MOHs scale
– prone to acid marking due to its calcite content
– porosity differs and depends on the particular type but should be sealed to prevent staining
– take care with hot pans and abrasive materials

 

Sandstone Worktops

 

When sand particles stick together with the help of minerals they form a sandstone, a sedimentary solid rock mostly composed of quartz. Quartz imparts its paleness and additional colours come from minerals which play the cementing role. There are darker varieties composed of additional elements, formed in sea and river beds, often producing striking patterns. Different types of sandstone vary in porosity and some are like a sponge, while others repel liquids. Perform water, acid and oil test for suitability.

– has to be sealed at least twice
– on MAHs scale certain types can test up to 7, others can be quite soft and prone to scratching
– blot liquids as soon as spilled
– clean using mild soap and damp cloth, buff with soft fabric

 

Lava Stone (also known as brand Pyrolave) Worktops

 

Lava stone is an igneous, natural volcanic rock, quarried and cut like any other natural stone. Finishes can vary: from leaving it as close as possible to its natural state to glazing with hard enamel, enveloping it in a vast array of colours.

– can withstand high heat / cold and temperature fluctuations
– exceptionally hard and durable
– non-porous, does not stain and does not harbour bacteria
– does not require sealant or special maintenance
– does not scratch or chip easily

 

To help with your choice, you can visit our Pinterest board dedicated to natural stone worktop materials.