Hailed as the “workhorse of the kitchen”, it stands to reason that worktops need to be tough, practical, as well as stylish. The choice of material plays a pivotal role in achieving durability, as well as the overall style in a kitchen. Such considerations are especially pertinent for developers who cannot risk installing kitchens with limitations in relation to robustness and durability.
Hardwearing, stain-resistant and, crucially, incredibly stylish, stone is a natural choice of material for kitchen worktops.
There are two types of stone which are typically used for worktops in a kitchen – natural and engineered stone.
Pentangle Kitchens, luxury contract kitchen specialists, explore some of the differences between natural stone and engineered stone and which material provides the best option for developers.
Natural vs engineered stone
Natural stone is, of course, formed naturally over millions of years. Being completely natural, no natural stone worktop is identical to the next, meaning each countertop is 100% unique and has its own characteristics. For many, the uniqueness of natural stone adds to its appeal.
However, using natural stone for kitchen worktops can be risky for the developer, even if the stone is pre-treated. It is inherently less robust thanan engineered stone like quartz. This is less of an issue in a private, one-off kitchen, where the customer selects the worktop material with full knowledge of its limitations.
In contract situations where multiple kitchens are created on one site, developers need to know their kitchen worktops are “bulletproof.”
Engineered stone comprises a large proportion of natural elements and asa result, the look of engineered stone can be similar to natural stone. Engineered stone is a great choice for kitchens centred on a more ‘uniform’ and ‘perfect’ look.
In multi-unit developments, kitchens are developed for a “generic” customer and so the uniform look of engineered stone is a ‘safer’ solution.
Being less robust, and with a greater degree of natural variation, using natural stone in development may give rise to liability claims around “fitness for purpose”, another reason why engineered stone may be a wise choice for developers.
Different types of man-made stone worktops
Quartz worktops
Quartz worktops are proving popular amongst kitchen designers, developers and homeowners. The worktop material is composed of fine grains of natural stone (90% – 95%)with up to 7% polymers and resin to bond them together.
These worktops are non-porous, hard wearing, resistant to heat and scratching, do not require sealing and therefore require very low maintenance.
Another benefit of quartz is that it can be made to look like marble without the price tag of marble and other natural stone. It is also availablein a large variety of colours.
Sintered stone and porcelain
Sintered stone and porcelain are similar in terms of manufacturing process but differ in terms of material composition. Let’s leave the porcelain for sanitary ware and focus on sintered stone!
Sintered stone worktops are proving to be a big hit with architects and designers but less so with developers and quantity surveyors when they discover just how expensive they are!
Sintered stone was originally produced for cladding the exterior of buildings, that required large-format, sheet material with a high degree of durability, particularly to frost and UV light.
Sintered stone is manufactured using a technological process which mimics the form of natural stone. Unlike natural stone which takes thousands of years to form, sintered stone slabs take just a few hours to make.
Stone particles and minerals like the ones found in granite and porcelain are selected on their texture, colour and quality. They are then subjected to extreme pressure and heat to permanently bond.
The durability of the product has led it to be marketed as kitchen worktop material. The fact that it can be manufactured in large sheets has meant that there are products that attempt to mimic real marble veining by printing a pattern on the surface of the sheet. These can look convincing from a distance (the marketing photos!) but closer inspection reveals the pixellation of the printing. It also means the edges of the material, for example around an undermounted sink cut-out, will remain the solid colour without the veining pattern.
It is an expensive material and more likely to crack during fabrication thaneither natural stone or quartz.
A better way forward?
A more innovative way forward is to play to the strengths of the two different materials and combine both engineered and natural stone in a kitchen.
Natural stone splashbacks such as limestone, slate, and marble, make a stunning addition to the kitchen work area and can beautifully complement a more robust engineered stone worktop. It’s worth noting that what you immediately notice looking at a kitchen are the vertical surfaces – the furniture doors and the splashback.
Pentangle Kitchens work closely with developers, architects and interior designers, to advise and agree on kitchen design, specification, and material selection.
To learn more about our services and how we can supply and install property developments with beautiful and robust kitchens, get in touch with the Pentangle team.