Kitchen benchtops are the most used surfaces in any kitchen. There are many options and designs available for you to choose from when selecting a kitchen benchtop for your new kitchen.

Kitchen benchtops set the tone of the whole kitchen. Therefore, when choosing the benchtop for your kitchen you must take into consideration, not only the overall aesthetics, but the many ways in which you’ll use your kitchen benchtop, the maintenance requirements, the durability of the surface, and your budget.

Engineered stone is a mixture of natural minerals and resin binders and is a very popular choice for kitchen benchtops. Engineered stone combines two major ingredients: the “filler” made of natural minerals, glass, metal, and a resin “binder” with additives. These are combined and then cast in a curing process to produce sheets of engineered stone, resulting in rich and durable benchtops. Engineered stones such as Caesarstone and YDL stone were the most popular and widely used benchtops sold in Australia and vary in price depending on the colour, pattern, edge thickness, and edge profile used. But have since been discontinued, alternatives we recommend include crystalline, Silica Free surfaces and porcelain.

Natural stone is a popular choice for kitchen benchtops and is available in a variety of types, shades, styles, and finishes. The most popular natural stone benchtop is Quartzite such as ‘Taj Mahal’ and Dolomite such as ‘Super white’. Other natural stone materials such as marble are softer than quartzite and dolomite and require greater care. All-natural stone benchtops must be sealed to ensure durability and longevity. Natural stone benchtops are available in a variety of colours and textures. No two natural stone benchtops are the same. Granite benchtops are another great natural stone surface. Low-porous, able to withstand high temperatures, and can resist scratches and stains. Granite, a strong and durable stone, is a common and widely occurring type of igneous rock with a grained texture. Although, there is a lack of colour options for granite benchtops.

Laminate is the most cost-effective material for kitchen benchtops and is available in a variety of colours and finishes. Laminate is a type of plastic and is typically fused together with heat, pressure and an adhesive. Laminate benchtops are non-porous and easy to maintain. With advancements in technology, laminate design patterns are now able to mimic the look of stone and timber surfaces.

A solid timber kitchen benchtop is a natural product that gives the kitchen a warm, lived-in feel and wears well with age. It is also environmentally friendly and available in a range of species, with either a satin (oiled) or gloss (polyurethane) finish. Timber benchtops require higher maintenance compared to laminate and granite benchtops, as they are more prone to water damage, scratching and general wear and tear. However, they can often be the perfect choice, either aesthetically or environmentally, for some kitchens.

Other popular choices for kitchen benchtops include concrete, moulded solid surfaces, ceramic tiles, and stainless steel.

Visit our Kitchen Materials page and explore the Kitchen Design Gallery to learn more about the premium materials we use to create kitchens of enduring quality.