Kitchen Benchtops & Splashback

Engineered Quartz (e.g. Caesarstone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Smart Stone) is a man-made composite of quartz (93-95%), resins & colour pigments (6-10%). These are crushed into a powder and combined, much like ingredients in a cake, then cured at high temperatures and polished to form smooth, non-porous slabs. Engineered quartz is the standard go-to for kitchen benchtops. About 7 out of 10 customers will opt for engineered quartz as its non-porous nature is perfect for kitchens/food prep areas. Pros: Stain resistant, non-porous, safe for food prep, consistent colour, fairly low maintenance. Cons: Resins are not UV stable so may fade in direct sunlight, not suitable for outdoor use, cracks and scorches are non-repairable.

Natural stone (e.g. marble, granite) is the least processed of all the different benchtop materials. Massive chunks of rock are taken from the earth, cut into slabs and polished, honed or brushed to create the desired finish, then it's sealed and that's about it. Natural Stone Pros: Each slab is completely unique (i.e. no two are the same), suitable for outdoor use, naturally heat proof /safe to use behind cooktops, different finishes available (polished, honed, leathered or diamond brushed) Natural Stone Cons: Higher level of care & maintenance required, naturally porous & susceptible to staining (red wine, vinegar) & acid etching (lemon juice), requires re-sealing every so often (time dependant on the sealant used), contains natural pits (tiny holes, filled with sealer), not usually recommended for food prep areas due to porosity (despite this it's still a very popular choice for kitchen benchtops.) The two most popular types of natural stone used for kitchen benchtops are granite and marble. Granite Pros: The hardest of all stone types (8/10 mohs rating), less porous than other natural stone types, available in different thicknesses. Granite Cons: Colour options are limited and they tend to all have the same chunky fleck/textured look. Marble Pros: Looks absolutely gorgeous and is the most sought after type of natural stone. Marble Cons: One of the softest natural stone types (3-4/10 mohs rating), during manufacturing it's susceptible to cracking along vein lines, more porous so it's susceptible to staining and acid etching.

Porcelain benchtops (e.g. Neolith, Dekton, Quantum Six) are an all natural product made from clays, feldspar, silica, mineral oxides and colour pigments. These ingredients are ground into a fine powder and then bonded together at super high temperatures to form extremely dense, non-porous slabs. Think of it like a really strong, almost indestructible tile in extra large size. Available in a range of different colours & textures, porcelain benchtops can also have designs that are printed onto the surface that imitate materials such as concrete, marble & timber. Pros: Highly dense, non-porous, can be used outside, heat, extremely stain & impact resistant, great for splashbacks Cons: more expensive & labour intensive to manufacture, limited colour range, can't be repaired if damaged (although unlikely due to it's strength).

Acrylic benchtops (e.g. Corian) are made of acrylic resins...  plastic, basically. But before you turn your nose up, here are a few things you may not know.

Acrylic benchtops can be moulded and formed in one piece using heat, through a process called 'thermoforming'. This means you can have a benchtop and a sink all in one piece with zero join lines. Same with splashbacks and waterfall edges as the benchtop can literally be bent into a 90 degree angle, removing the need for any joins, whatsoever.  They are strong, easy to clean, extremely stain resistant and won't crack or chip easily. 

Pros: No visible join lines, can be moulded into any shape and bent into corners, colour wont fade, extremely strong, won't crack, scratches can be buffed out if neccessary. Cons: Softer material, scratches easily, limited plain/flat color range (no texture or detail).

Timber has a unique and natural richness, full of character that's unlike any other benchtop material. Where stone and porcelain/ceramic surfaces feel hard and cold to touch, natural timber is soft and has a warmth to it that some just prefer. Timber is available in approximately 25 different species, with two different finish options: Polyurethane / 2 pack – a hard wearing acrylic finish with excellent chemical and abrasion resistance. Natural oil finish – an organic look that's economical, easy to apply and maintains the condition and character of the timber beautifully. Pros: Natural, unique product, can be stained in different colours, durable, resilient & practical. Dents, chips or scratches can be easily repaired. Cons: Requires more care and maintenance, needs to be resealed & repolished every so often, absorbs stains more easily than other surfaces, no antibacterial properties so not entirely food safe, not the easiest surface to keep clean.

The word 'laminate' for most people evokes flashbacks of grandma's old kitchen where the edges were peeling back, exposing what looked like swollen, furry pages from an overused phone book. Thankfully, laminates today are in a completely different league. The core board and the laminate material itself are of superior quality compared to predecessor versions so they're more moisture resistant and far less likely to peel back. The lamination process now uses advanced machinery that can achieve a much tighter corner radius, for a squarer look edge profile. Plus, there are stacks of available colours, textures, finishes and prints - some that will have you guessing if it's the real thing. Laminate benchtops are definitely worth considering and especially if your budget is tight. Pros: Extremely cost effective, cheap to replace if necessary, hard wearing, moisture resistant, heat resistant up to 190-240 degrees, plenty of colour options, available in different thicknesses, antimicrobial surface protection, warmer & softer to touch, less noisy & more forgiving when making contact with plates, glassware etc (compared to stone for example). Cons: Can't use with undermount sinks, won't last as long as other materials if not looked after, not ideal for really wet areas, susceptible to scratches and de-lamination on edges over time.

Tiles have been around forever and still remain one of the most cost effective solutions for kitchen splashbacks for those where budget is the main priority. While some might argue that its a dated look, it really depends what tiles you're using and how they are laid. There are some really beautiful tiles being produced today in many different shapes, sizes, colours and textures so it pays to do a bit of investigating before writing it off completely. Small subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern can add a subtle, modern contrast to an otherwise boring kitchen. Or, you could do the opposite and lay jumbo tiles (60 x 60cm, 90 x 90cm) with a tight vertical grout line to achieve a glass look without the high price tag. Pros: Inexpensive compared to other options, plenty of colour choices available, easy to install. Cons: Even with larger tiles there will still be some grout joins

Glass splashbacks great for achieving a smooth, seamless finish and the colour options are practically endless. The glass sheets are painted on the back to achieve the desired colour, so you can basically choose any colour you like from a Dulux, Taubmans or other paint brand's colour chart and away you go. Mirrored splashbacks are great for making small areas appear larger and can be used to bring the outdoors inside, e.g. kitchens facing a garden. Pros: Usually made in one piece (unless your splashback area is particularly large or odd shaped), easy to clean, endless colour options Cons: Not repairable, expensive to replace if damaged

Engineered Quartz (e.g. Caesarstone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Smart Stone) is a man-made composite of quartz (93-95%), resins & colour pigments (6-10%). These are crushed into a powder and combined, much like ingredients in a cake, then cured at high temperatures and polished to form smooth, non-porous slabs. Engineered quartz is the standard go-to for kitchen benchtops. About 7 out of 10 customers will opt for engineered quartz as its non-porous nature is perfect for kitchens/food prep areas. Pros: Stain resistant, non-porous, safe for food prep, consistent colour, fairly low maintenance. Cons: Resins are not UV stable so may fade in direct sunlight, not suitable for outdoor use, cracks and scorches are non-repairable, must be 200mm away from heat source such as cooktop hotplate

Natural stone (e.g. marble, granite) is the least processed of all stone materials. Massive chunks of rock are taken from the earth, cut into slabs and polished, honed or brushed to create the desired finish, then it's sealed and that's about it. Pros: Each slab is completely unique (i.e. no two are the same), suitable for outdoor use, naturally heat proof /safe to use behind cooktops, different finishes available (polished, honed, leathered or diamond brushed) Cons: Higher level of care & maintenance required, naturally porous & susceptible to staining (red wine, vinegar) & acid etching (lemon juice), requires re-sealing every so often (time dependant on the sealant used), contains natural pits (tiny holes, filled with sealer), not usually recommended for food prep areas due to porosity (despite this it's still a very popular choice for kitchen benchtops.) The two most popular types of natural stone used for kitchen splashbacks are granite and marble. Granite Pros: The hardest of all stone types (8/10 mohs rating), less porous than other natural stone types, available in different thicknesses. Granite Cons: Colour options are limited and they tend to all have the same chunky fleck/textured look. Marble Pros: Looks absolutely gorgeous and is the most sought after type of natural stone. Marble Cons: One of the softest natural stone types (3-4/10 mohs rating), during manufacturing it's susceptible to cracking along vein lines, more porous so it's susceptible to staining and acid etching.

Acrylic splashbacks (e.g. Corian) are made of acrylic resins.....  plastic, basically. But before you turn your nose up, there's are a few things you may not know about. Acrylic surfaces can be moulded and formed in one piece using heat, through a process called 'thermoforming'. This means you can have a benchtop, splashback and a sink all in one piece with zero join lines. They are strong, easy to clean, extremely stain resistant and won't crack or chip easily.  Pros: No visible join lines, can be moulded into any shape and bent into corners, colour wont fade, extremely strong, won't crack, scratches can be buffed out if neccessary. Cons: Softer material, scratches easily, limited plain/flat color range (no texture or detail).