Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Nov 25, 2009 11:41 pm I see endless threads for benchtop types and comparisons so I thought I would try and create a sticky thread that can answer all your questions in one go. All costs are indicative only. If you wish to add details, enter below as a comment and will do my best to incorporate them. So, first off the rank is... Laminate What is it? Laminate is resin-impregnated paper, about 7 layers, that is compressed under immense pressure to create that hard impervious surface. It is manufactured in varying lengths and widths and is approx 0.5mm thick Cost? Laminate is very cheap and at the base end of benchtops. It may vary between $80 - $200 a lineal metre (600mm deep) supply Heat resistance? Under no circumstances would you put a hot pot on laminate as it may bubble and burn. A heat trivet is essential. Scratch Resistance? Standard laminate will scratch if used as a chopping board by accident and heavy pointed items will chip the laminate if careless. There are many finishes on top of a laminate product that will enable scratch resistance. Diamond Gloss by Laminex, AR+ by Crea, Armoured Protection by Nevamar etc… are all laminates that have a protective layer that reduces the wear and tear of everyday use. Commonly this layer is aluminium oxide, 9 on Mohs hardness scale (diamond is 10). It is best to confirm with your kitchen rep or builder about these options. Water Resistance? Water will not seep through as the resin in the laminate is impervious. Water will only get in to the benchtop via joins and edges if not done properly. Stain Resistance? Lighter laminates will be more prone to staining than darker colours if your not careful. Cleaning up after yourself straight away is a great habit to start up if you havent done so already, it will save you time and money. Longevity? A good quality postformed benchtop will last you forever if looked after properly. However with less time on our hands to clean and maintain plus styles coming and going, the lifespan is usually between 10-20 years. Easy to clean? Yes! With the humble cotton/microfiber cloth and spray&wipe or diluted vinegar in an atomiser will clean and sanitise very easily. Self Installation? Pre fabricated laminated benchtops are available everywhere through kitchen manufacturers and can be installed by a lay person, with a little patience of course. Take a diagram of your benchtop, with sizes, to the supplier/postformers for an accurate quote…save both parties time and money. Design Options? Laminate is stuck on board of varying thicknesses and can have a front profile of different designs also. Aprons can be made on the front to make the bench appear thicker and also be placed at the back as a small splashback option. Laminate will crack if bent too sharply. Quartz Stone What is it? Quartz based stone, like caesarstone, quantum quartz, essa stone etc… is man made stone consisting of 94-97% crushed quartz stone and the rest pigment/colour and resin. It is all then mixed together and squashed under immense pressure to create wonderful slabs of stone. General slab sizes are approx 1400x3600. Thickness is 20mm and selected colours 30mm. Cost? Quartz Stone is middle of the range to high in cost and will vary greatly. It may vary between $400 - $700 a lineal metre (600mm deep) supply & install Heat resistance? There is a debate about hot pots and trays on quartz based stone. Some people have never used a heat trivet whilst others do religiously. The easy and safe option is to use a heat mat or barrier between the hot item and the stone. If you don’t and you crack the benchtop in half, you may not be covered under manufacturers warranty and have to buy a new one! A costly mistake. Of great interest to bakers and patisserie chefs, quartz stone benches are great for kneeding dough. This stone stays nice and cool, not heating up your dough making it sticky Scratch Resistance? Stone is a hard surface and will with stand low to medium useage without showing signs of wearing. If an area of the benchtop is constantly used for chopping or cleaned with an abrasive, a dulling will occur. This however can be buffed out. Quartz based stone is 6-7 on Mohs hardness scale (diamond is 10) Water Resistance? This particular benchtop is waterproof. Stain Resistance? Immediate cleanup will help prevent staining however if your complacent and clean the next day a red wine spill for example, it may stain. Also if you use food colourings or natural dyes, diligent cleaning will help prevent staining. Longevity? A quartz based benchtop will last a lifetime if looked after. However this material is brittle and will chip is knocked around edges, particularly if the style of bench has larger stones in it. Easy to clean? Yes! With the humble cotton/microfiber cloth and spray&wipe or diluted vinegar in an atomiser will clean and sanitise very easily. Jif and mild abrasives have been used successfully also, but not everyday. Self Installation? No, unless you’re a stone mason. Rather the blame be on the installation team if it goes wrong than you! Design options? Due to the material being manufactured in large flat slabs, shapes are easy to form and thicknesses can be built up on the edges at an extra cost. The surface can also be customised to different textures e.g. smooth polish or leather honed. It however cannot be bent or dyed another colour. Granite, Marble and Natural Stone What is it? Granite is formed from liquid rock (lava) that has been squashed and cooled under huge amounts of pressure under the earths crust to create solid rock. The amount of pressure, types of minerals in the liquid rock and time all contribute to the thousands of colour and pattern variations. The composition of granite is typically feldspar, quartz and mica – tough, hard minerals! Marble and its relatives; travertine, limestone , onyx and slate are different from granite in that they are all created from existing stone or fossilized matter. This is called metamorphic rock . These options look fantastic especially marble and onyx however, generally, these stones are softer and require more maintenance than granite. These stones are generally more expensive due to there decorative individuality. Cost? The cost of natural stones start about the same as man made quartz based stone $400-$700 per lineal metre (600mm deep) and can be up to 10 times that price for unique slabs of onyx or very rare varities Heat resistance? Granite is made from heat so will not be affected by heat, simple enough! Marbles and its relatives are more sensitive to heat and will require a heat barrier between the pot or tray and the countertop. These stones are fantastic for bakers, patisserie and pasta chefs, stays cold for a long time. Scratch Resistance? Granite is very hard due to the presence of quartz. It measures 6-7 on Mohs Hardness scale (diamond is 10). Dulling may occur in high traffic/usage areas however can be buffed up again. Marbles and relatives are softer so more care is needed – similar to laminate. Water Resistance? Most granites are impervious to water however marbles and the like are porous hence a sealant is used. Stain Resistance? Both Granite and marbles are sealed upon installation (double check with installer). This will not make it stain proof; diligence in cleaning will always make your stone happy☺. Some stones are very dense and wont need a regular reseal however softer stones will. The product is silicon based so it will wash away eventually with use. Longevity? Both granite and marble will last forever as long as its looked after Easy to clean? Absolutely, mild cleaners are all you need with a soft cloth. For those darker tops with a high polish finish, try windex or an alcohol based cleaner for a streak free wipe Self Installation? As with quartz stone, if your not a stone mason, leave it to the professionals Design options? As the slabs are cut in standard thicknesses, edges can be built up and cut in endless shapes by machine. Cannot be bent or colour be changed. Timber In progress... Stainless Steel In progress... Solid Surfaces In progress... Glass In progress... Concrete In progress... Recycled Options In progress... If you need a kitchen drawn up, post it on this thread - gotta give me a couple of days though:) viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26892 Re: Ultimate Benchtop Guide...in progress 2Nov 26, 2009 10:05 pm Nice work! Lots of info here. Time consuming too I would imagine to type this out. It'll be helpful to others like it has to me. Re: Ultimate Benchtop Guide...in progress...natural stone added 4Dec 03, 2009 10:13 pm thx guys, i will add bit by bit more info when time permits If you need a kitchen drawn up, post it on this thread - gotta give me a couple of days though:) viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26892 Hi, planning on using the attached stone pieces in my bathroom. I want to remove stains and gloss seal. Can I get some advice on best way to remove stains and best… 0 6700 Hi Courtney The mitred edges are glued up with epoxy so those little holes and gaps are areas that weren't filled correctly. Silicone is the wrong product to fill them… 2 12912 8 6119 |