Bench tops elemental forces in the kitchen

I didn't know making a decision about a kitchen was quite so involved until a friend of mine bought her first house. A mutual friend is a builder, so he was not only on hand to give her some good advice, but install it too. Now, we may not all be so lucky, so if you are faced with this decision, here's a run down on the pros and cons of the three kitchen elements: timber, stone and wood.

Timber bench tops

There is nothing more beautiful in a kitchen than timber, especially if you pay a bit more for hard wood or even striking oak. If you're like me and believe that cooking is 50 percent skill, 50 percent feeling, timber will add a little bit of magic into every meal, and can also last a lifetime. Having said that, timber does need to be resealed every 12 months for hygiene reasons and, while it looks beautiful, it can be expensive, depending on which wood you go for. It's worth noting also that timber is not scratch or heat resistant.

Steel bench tops

Stainless steel is by far the most hygienic surface for a kitchen (which explains why millions of restaurants worldwide use the material). It can also be installed as a single unit, so sinks and benches have no cracks and crevices to clean. It won't rust or corrode, and is heat resistant. Unfortunately it's still one of the most expensive options for your kitchen, can be noisy, and shows scratches and cleaning streaks.

Stone bench tops

There are three main types of stone available for the kitchen: granite, marble and the relatively new engineered stone. Granite is perhaps best known for its luxurious look and durability, especially in terms of heat and scratch resistance, and comes in a variety of colours. Colours and patterns can vary from showroom to delivery though, and it also needs resealing often because it is so porous. Marble looks great when first installed, but it needs constant resealing, is not stain or scratch resistant and is prohibitively expensive. While its price tag may be high, engineered stone offers all the qualities of granite but needs no sealing, so it's no wonder that this newer material is highly regarded.

Choosing the right bench top can be a lengthy process, and flooring and overall room (and even house) style will affect the final decision. It's worth considering what your main kitchen activities are and trying to find the best material to match. Your starting point is to visit a few kitchen showrooms before you decide in order to "test drive" the various materials.