Best Finish for your Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets in the kitchen are the most essential components and the finish adds aesthetic appeal to your kitchen. So it’s very important to take some time to choose the best finish for kitchen cabinets.  There are a number of finishes available in the market such as laminates, acrylic, polymer etc. Laminates and acrylic are the most popular choices. They differ in terms of aesthetics, pricing and durability.

Acrylic finish is non-toxic and reflective high gloss finish which can give a perfect smooth finish to the cabinets. It is available in an array of colours and will give a mirror like resemblance to the kitchen cabinets.

Laminates are made by pressing together thin layers of flat paper and plastic resins. The upper layer is printed with a decorated pattern. Laminates for kitchen cabinets are pressed with high pressure.

You will find more variety in laminates than acrylic finishes. Laminates for kitchen cabinets are available in matt, gloss and ultra-high gloss too. Apart from colours, laminates are available in various textures like wood.

Laminates are heat and moisture resistant. They are hard-wearing and durable when compared to acrylic finish and can be treated for antibacterial properties.

Acrylic is more expensive when compared to laminates. Laminates offer durability and variety at a lower cost, making them ideal for those on a budget. 

Home is the Reflection of Your Personality

It is an accepted society norm today that your lifestyle choices, the way you dress up, your home and the environment you live in reflects your social standing. The concept of luxury living has evolved and is here to stay for sure. In the end, what everyone wants is a perfect home and lifestyle that becomes your comfort zone and extension to your personality. 

In today’s times, home décor and styling has become intrinsic to expression of self and is also becoming a story told through design. In reality, the home space has been converted into a possession reflecting the social status of the owner his personality too.

To fulfil this new demand, architects, interior designers and developers are continuously raising the bar by providing international standards in terms of architectural and landscape design, facilities and services offered to the consumer. This trend of luxury living has led to an influx of luxury designs, cutting edge designs and high end projects.

Homes have now becomes luxury segments. New and innovative materials are being explored without caring about the cost. Furniture is now pieces of art and art is being adapted to add elegance.

So when thinking about building or renovating your home, do not forget about laminates for your home décor. Yes, laminates can be used at various places in your home - furniture, wall panels, flooring and kitchen.

There are a number of laminate designs available in the market. Decorative laminates give a great aesthetic appeal in terms of patterns and finishes. Laminates are available in solid wood textures and natural materials. They are also available in bright colours.

Simple laminates or decorative laminates are also available in an array of finishes – gloss, matte, metallic etc. The most important thing is that laminates are durable and scratch resistant. They are resistant to moisture, heat, wear and tear. But when exposed to excess water, they warp. Laminates are also easy to maintain. You just need to dust the regularly. Everyone is ready to go the extra mile to express their living or lifestyle choices. 

Laminates for Kitchen Design

Kitchen is the heart of every home. It also needs some styling. Every now and then, the kitchen needs to be revamped with a touch of creativity. But it is quite a task to select the best material from plethora of options available in the market. Right from the flooring to door, kitchen cabinets and countertops, kitchen laminates design highlight grandeur of your kitchen area.

There is a variety of kitchen laminates design available which are affordable, sturdy, easy to maintain and are suitable for all types of kitchens.

Let us have a look at some top laminates for kitchen design.

1.       ColorCore:

·         ColorCore are solid colour laminates introduced by the Formica Group. This range of kitchen laminates design offers a new facet to designer and decorative surfaces.

·         The laminate is thick and strong, scratch resistant and can tolerate heavy pressure. The durability makes it and excellent choice for kitchen laminates design

·         This range offers creativity with 5 beautiful new decors and choice of 8 surface finishes. These are sophisticated textured laminates. 

2.       Jeans Finish:

·         Denim Fiber is an award winning laminate design, introduced as part of Formica’s Global Series. It has Gloss and Jeans Finish.

·         It’s amazing true to touch feel due to its classic denim diagonal twill creates a directional texture.

·         Jeans finish laminate is a good choice for your kitchen as it gives a distinctive look and also protects it from daily wear and tear caused due to various kitchen activities.

3.       Stone Texture:

·         The stone texture is very close to the look of a real stone and the precise consistency in the surface makes its appealing.

·         This texture has two finishes – A) Snowcrust – The fine texture and a light colour base creates an effect of illusory depth of shadows and cracks. B) Alabastar finish has a dark base colour having natural texture of alabaster imprinted.

All these laminates for kitchen are durable and are resistant to high pressure, wear and tear. 

Laminates Vs Granite

Granite is a very elegant stone and it's natural beauty captivates everyone. But the realities of the material are often distorted and lost in visual appeal. Laminates offer great alternatives and are cost effective too. Here are some myths about granite and facts about laminates that shed light to some misconceptions about both the products.

Myth 1: Granite is easy to clean and maintain

Fact: Granite requires deep cleaning on regular basis. Granite cleaners are very expensive and is advisable to not use the common household cleaners to avoid ruining the surface.

Laminate sheets are easy to maintain. They can be cleaned with a clean, damp cloth and mild liquid detergent or any household cleaner.

Myth 2: Granite is resistant to bacteria and stains.

Fact: Granite being a porous material, it can be highly susceptible to bacteria growth from food and liquid. Standing water, grease, wine can leave stains on the granite countertops which can be difficult to remove.

Laminate sheets are non porous and non resistant too.

Myth 3: Granite being a real stone is good for the environment

Fact: Significant fuel and energy is required to mine granite or any other stone from earth. Granite is non-renewable resource and it is found that some less expensive granites emit radon gas which is not good for health.

While laminates on the other hand, especially Formica laminates are made from FSC wood and recycled papers, both of which are sustainable.

Myth 4: Granite adds resale value to your home

Fact: Adding granite countertops may help a home sell faster, but it won't necessarily change the value. It costs only 20-25% of its cost to the overall home value.

Formica creates stone, granite, quartz ad wood inspired laminates. These laminates add an amazing visual appeal to the home at a great value.

Exploring more and more options and deciding a budget will help define a solution which is best for your home.

Why Laminate Sheets for Home Decor?

One of the most affordable ways to refurbish your home is through the use of  laminate sheets. These are available in a variety of shades and patterns with wooden textures or designer prints that can be customized. High pressure laminates are considered to be one of the most durable decorative surface materials and help renovate living spaces into a plush, classy and modern urban space.

Following are some of the advantages of using laminate sheets to help you choose better.

Firstly, laminate sheets guarantee good quality products as finest quality logs are sent to companies that manufacture sheets.  Secondly, laminates add to the overall strength of the product. In modern day flush doors, which are not cut out of solid wood, but manufactured from a variety of materials ranging from cardboard to scrap-wood, laminates are the best products that can be used to ensure durability. Hence, laminate sheets raise the standard of the finished goods.  Another worth mentioning quality of laminates available today is that they are fire-retardant. Special chemical treatment is applied to these laminates which delays temperature rise, for them to be effectively used in kitchens & other high traffic areas like cinemas.

Now let us have a look at how laminates enhance interiors.

Laminates are commonly used to make furniture pieces such as beds, sofas, tables etc. They are a popular choice because of their aesthetic appeal, economical nature and easy availability. Like in bedrooms, laminates are used as wall highlights that serve the purpose of creating a partition which is functional and attractive at the same time. Other areas where laminates are applied are in wall shelves in bathrooms, kitchen, and bookshelves. Like it is seen in kitchen cabinets, where plywood is used with decorative laminates.

Hence, these are some qualities that make laminate sheets worth a buy.

Preparation for Installation of Laminates

Installing laminates for flooring is a big task. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional, it is better to know and understand common problems that may occur. You can avoid some problems if you know what to look for and how to properly handles the laminate sheets.

Always check the sub-floors as they are typically cement or concrete and develop weakness over time. If you place the laminate sheets on uneven and weak sub-floor, the new floor will be compromised, damage the laminate locking system, creak and create micro gaps in the new floor. Use a level to see how flat the floor is. If there are gaps larger than 1/8", then you may need self-levelling mortar to level the surface. Any areas that peak higher than 1/8" will need to be lowered to create an even surface. Wooden floors need to be sanded down and concrete floor will need grinding.

Cheap laminate flooring has a higher chance of being defective, so always choose a quality material. Purchase approximately 15% more laminates than you expect will be needed.

Install a proper underlayment of a thin, hard layer of cement board, foam or wood. It protects the floor from moisture and prevents warping and buckling. Plywood underlayment is easy to install and usually cheap.

Remember to monitor the temperature of the laminates. If the flooring has been left outside or in a cold atmosphere is fully contracted. If you install the laminate sheets while it is cold, it will later cause cracks and humps in the floor. Let the floor warm up overnight before installing.

Do not forget to inspect each piece of the laminate and follow the manufacturer's installation directions. Leave a small amount of space around edges of the room where you are installation the flooring, else the floor may warp.

Changing Trends in Laminates

The homes of new generation are being built with style and unique design. Nowadays people don’t like compromising in giving out money for their home interiors. It can be either a sofa set or the laminates, everything should be good.

This demand of style and design has created a demand for laminates in the global market.

Laminates can be used in different ways in home or office. It can be used on wall panelling, kitchens, study room, on the wall panelling etc.

Laminates are now being used widely in hotels, gyms, lounges, restaurants etc. Laminates give a very different kind of feeling to the owner and also the person who sees it.

Now people are usually purchasing thin laminates instead of plywood as the plywood has become too old fashioned and plywoods are too thick in comparison to laminates.

Colour core

The best and easy way to replicate the seamless look every one love can be done with Colour core with acrylic in laminate interior surfaces. Colour Core removes the dark line sometimes associated with laminate edges.

The Matt finish colour core can increase the levels of wearability and is able to reduce the visual impact of chips and scratches. Colour Core can be used perfectly for applications such as bench tops, countertops, point of sale units and work surfaces.

High Pressure Laminates

High pressure laminates are mostly wood fibre. The demand for high pressure laminates in India has increased over the years. High Pressure Laminates can be used for churning out a variety of building components such as cabinets, countertops, store fixtures and wall panels.

Cabinets, furniture, and store fixtures were the biggest markets for laminates in the year 2012, accounting for a combined 60 % of the total demand.

The three key features of laminates that drives the market are:

Design and style trends

Coordination

Global accessibility

Different Styles of Kitchen Laminate Countertops

When I hear the phrase "laminate countertop", I can remember all the images of my grandmother's outdated kitchen. But now there various styles available for kitchen laminate countertops. When you are renovating a kitchen, the choice in a countertop is often a major decision as it is a big focal point of the room. The designer laminates are very much appealing and diverse. Also, laminate is the most cost-effective option.

Organic and Natural: If you are looking for an earthy, outdoor ambiance then you can explore laminate designs with and organic or natural appearance. If you want to re-create the look of real wood, you can look for laminates created that mimic's dark walnut, rich mahogany, knotty pine etc. Add an organic touch to your kitchen with kitchen laminate that remind of you crane, bamboo or natural seeds.

Funky and Colourful: You can have a contemporary style white kitchen with lemon green countertop sprinkled with pristine white polka dots. Create happy kitchen vibes with sunny yellow laminate strewn with swirling lines in bright orange.

Simple and Modern: If you want minimal decor in your kitchen, choose countertops in a simple style with modern appeal. Laminates with glossy finish have an edgier design over lower luster finish. For a modern touch, add laminate counters with metallic look of stainless steel. or shiny copper.

Upscale and Luxurious: Faux granite laminates can look like and authentic granite slab counter and are available in a number of exotic stone colours. Give your kitchen countertops the rich character of gold coloured travertine or the elegance of classic marble.

Renovating Your Office On A Budget

Gone are the days when offices used to be plain, unimpressive spaces where employees spent eight hours every day in a quiet, unimaginative environment. Nowadays, immense importance is being given to office design so as to me sure that the place where every employee spends the largest part of his/ her week goes in an enjoyable, relaxed and mentally stimulating fashion. One of the ways of doing this is to use designer laminates. Office space designers are looking for materials that are tough, durable and easy to install, like laminate sheets. They offer easy maintenance and long lasting solutions to all your office design challenges.

Wood, tiles and other generic material offer distinct advantages but also have a couple of grave disadvantage- they take long to install and in case they get ruined, it needs significant time and investment to repair them. Compared to this, laminate sheets are much more pliable and cost friendly. Decorative laminates are usually chemically unreactive, which makes them perfect for usage on kitchen counter tops and dinner tables. They are water and scratch resistant, making them perfect for office usage as well. Designer laminates are available in a wide variety of colours, finishes, designs, and textures, making them the ideal answer to all office design issues. Laminate sheets are available at all home design and interiors stores, they can offer finishes unmatchable in quality and durability. What’s more, with an extensive amount of research in this area, decorative laminates are now produced in finishes as unheard of as suede and crayon.

Hence, should you start looking for a quick, lasting solution to your office design problems, laminate sheets might be a great option. Colour schemes have started playing a very crucial role in office interior design. Colours influence employee morale, build the atmosphere in tune with the nature of work being done in the workspace. If you are looking to renovate your workspace with designs that generate fresh ideas, for example, vibrant colours and schematics are recommended.  On the other hand, process driven companies prefer simple yet cheerful designs with straight and simplistic aesthetics. All these can be implemented effectively with laminate sheets. There is a plethora of options available for those looking for innovative laminate designs which compliment the purpose and mission of the company. 

How to Clean Laminate Floors?

Laminate flooring needs to be cleaned regularly in order to prevent them from getting warped or scratched. Using harsh cleaners can create streaks or damage the laminates. Cleaning with a dry mop should be done regularly. You can use warm water or mild cleaners for intense cleaning.  Here are some tips to clean laminate floors.

1. General Cleaning:

Regularly sweep the floor with a dry mop or use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment. Even though laminate sheets used flooring is fairly scratch resistant, excess dirt, debris and hair can cause scratches, hence regular cleaning is required. Sweep in the direction that the laminate tiles were laid, as you can pick up any debris that falls between the grooves of laminate flooring pieces. Never allow any liquid to sit on the floor for prolonged period as it can damage the protective wear layer of the flooring.

2. Hot Water:

You can wash the entire floor laminates with hot water every few months. Hot water is one of the best ways to clean as it does not leave streaks and is least likely to damage the protective layer since water is the mildest cleanser possible. Let the floor air dry or use a dry cloth. Don't use an abrasive cloth.

3. Vinegar:

Vinegar is too abrasive to be used in its pure form, it must be combined with water. Add 60 ml of vinegar in a 30-32 oz spray bottle and fill the rest bottle with plain water.  Spray the solution onto the laminate sheets on the floor a little at a time and wipe off immediately with a dry cloth. Allow the floor to air dry.

4. Gentle Soap:

You can add a mild liquid dish detergent or baby shampoo in hot water. Do not use scented or dyed dish detergent as it can create streaks. Soak a sponge in the solution and clean. Wipe the floor and then let it dry.

5. Removing Stains:

•          To remove blood stains, spray window cleaner and wipe it with a warm damp cloth.

•          Scrap away chewing gum with a plastic knife. Do not use a metal knife as it is rough.

•          Soda, wine, crayon marks can be removed with a mildly damp cloth.

•          Apply ice pack to the greasy area on the laminates and leave it until the grease hardens. Scrape the frozen grease off with a plastic knife.

How to Paint Kitchen Laminate?

Step 1: Before you start painting, clean all the surfaces with a cloth and a laminate cleaner. Once the laminate dries, lightly sand the kitchen laminate to give the paint a better surface to stick to. Sweep away any dust on the surface and mask off the surfaces you don't want to paint.

Step: 2: Use a paint brush to paint close to the walls and along the edges. After you have painted in detailed areas, paint the larger areas with a roller. When you are painting doors and drawers of the kitchen laminate, keep them a little ajar so the paint doesn't dry them shut.

Step 3: Sand the primed laminate surface. Once the primer dries and cure properly, use a fine grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Sand gently by hand so you don't strip off the primer you just put on. Dust off the surface with the brush and wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Step 4: Apply topcoat to kitchen laminate surface. Stir the paint. Pour half into a paint try and other half in a working pot. Use paint brush to cut along your walls and edges and use the roller to paint the larger surfaces. If the surfaces have a few knocks and dints in them, consider choosing a satin finish rather than a full gloss paint to disguise any rough areas.

There are a variety of laminates for kitchen cabinets available in the market. Kitchen is a very important area in your home and it is important to design it properly. Laminates give a very different and elegant look.

How to Choose the Right Decorative Laminates to Style your Home

These days there are a variety of materials available in the market to anyone who is planning to redesign his home. Laminates is one of the best options available to style your home.

Laminates are made artificially from paper and plastic resins. They have emerged as a popular alternative to hardwood. They provide the look and feel of wood without the disadvantages of real wood. Laminates are known for their unique features and properties and can be used for doors, furniture, kitchen countertops etc.

How Laminates are different from Veneer?

Both are laminates and veneers overlay materials used for decorative purposes. However, veneers are natural and laminates are artificially made. Veneer is a thin layer of wood peeled from logs obtained from trees. On the other hand, laminate is made of synthetic materials. Many laminates give the look of a wood. Laminates are available in a wider range and the cost is usually lesser than veneers.

Choosing the Right Laminates:

When it comes to selecting laminates for your home, you will find many options. Decorative laminates are available is variety of patterns and textures. Choosing the right decorative laminates depends on where you are planning to install it. For the kitchen countertop, you should look for laminates that are scratch resistant. Anti-bacterial laminates are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms. The overall decor of your home must be kept in mind while selecting the right decorative laminates.

It's important to use a reliable laminate manufacturer that has good quality product. Formica is one of the leading laminate manufacturers in India. You can visit : http://formica-india.com/ 

How To Repair a Chipped Laminate Counter

Laminates serve as economical and low-maintenance alternatives to granite or solid-surface countertop finishes. Plastic laminates are one of the best options for daily kitchen demands as they are vulnerable to chips from dropped objects or sharp impacts. Now let us look at some simple patch and repair methods to restore the look of the laminates.

Repair Chipped Surfaces:

1.      Clean the chip and the surrounding area with acetone applied with a sponge or a rag.

2.      Squeeze a small amount of laminate paste or filler that matches that your laminate counter onto the edge of a stainless steel putty knife.

3.      Apply the filler to the chipped area using your putty knife. Allow the filler to dry for 15-20 minutes and then scrap away excess filler from the surface. You may need to reapply the filler. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

4.      Wipe the patched section with a rag dipped in acetone to help blend in the patch.

Fix Chipped Edges:

1.      Cut the section of damaged edge using a sharp utility knife. Remove the damaged section with a sharp wood chisel.

2.      Purchase a replacement piece of laminate in the same finish as the one you removed. You can take your damaged sample to a laminate dealer for assistance.

3.      Apply contact cement to the substrate along the edge of your counter and also o the back of your replacement section of the laminate. Allow the cement to dry for 15-20 minutes, then carefully line the replacement piece up and press it into place.

4.      Filled the edges of the patched area.

5.      In order to complete the repair, fill the perimeter of the patched area with a seam filler that is available for laminates.

There are a number of options available if you choose laminates to design kitchen cabinetry. Now, laminates for kitchen cabinets come in a variety colours, textures and finishes. They are easier to clean than wood. Laminates offer durability over time and end to get fewer scratches than cabinet doors or solid wood cabinets.

HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN LAMINATE CABINETS

Painting the old, dated kitchen laminate is an easy way to renovate the kitchen without breaking the bank. As long as the laminate surface is well adhered and is in a good condition, it can be repainted. First you need to properly prep the surface and then apply an appropriate primer to make sure that the new paint sticks to the laminate’s smooth and silk surface. Read below the instructions on how to paint laminate cabinets.

1. You will need to remove all the visible hardware from the cabinets, including knobs and pulls. You may also remove the doors of the cabinet if the hinges are visible or easily removable. This will allow you to paint the cabinet face and shelving thoroughly and separately.
2. Cover un-removable hardware with painter’s tape.
3. Clean all laminate surfaces with a degreaser such as tri-sodium phosphate. Apply the chemical carefully as per the instructions. Once clean, rinse all the surfaces with water and allow the kitchen laminate to dry completely.
4. To create a rough surface for the paint to stick to, sand all the laminate surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper. After finishing this, first clean all the dust away and then allow the laminate to dry.
5. Apply an appropriate primer and allow to dry it completely.
6. Apply oil based paints as they are a better choice for kitchen and bathroom and are easier to clean. Use a roller to apply the paint to avoid brush strokes on the laminate surface.
7. After the paint gets fully dried, replace all the hardware and the cabinet doors.

You need to very carefully take care of the laminates. Maintaining the painted laminates properly can make them look new for years. Make sure yo use the correct products for cleaning them. You need to keep cleaning the dust and touch up the paint as needed.

LAMINATES AND WOOD VENEER

What are Laminates?

Laminate is a blend of paper and plastic. It is a thin hard decorative sheet whose thickness usually ranges from 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm.Sheets of paper are soaked in phenolic resin and melamine resins are pressed together under high temperature and pressure to make decorative laminate sheets.

These decorative laminates are used as an overlay over wooden furniture. These sheets are fixed to a plywood base with adhesives.

What is Wood Veneer?

While laminates are engineered products made using synthetic materials such as resins, wood veneers are more natural substances.

Similarities between Laminates and Veneers:

The main similarity is the way these two materials are used. Both laminates and veneer can be glued over plywood or any other wood.When wood veneers such as teak veneer is attached to the base wood, it gives a teak wood look to the furniture, though inside wood of lower cost can be used.

The other similarity between the two is that decorative laminates being artificially created can have a variety of designs and patterns on them. The most popular laminate designs are those that look like wood. You can have a laminate that has a teak wood design.

Differences between Laminates and Wood Veneer:

The main difference is the material. Laminate is a blend of paper and plastic, while wood veneer is a thin sheet or a slice of wood.

Another most important difference is in the availability of designs. Laminates being artificially created are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns and texture. Wood veneer will always have wood grain designs and a wood appearance.

Table tops and other furniture with a laminated on top are not easily affected by water. The surface is quite resistant to scratches and other wear and tear. Wood veneer on the other hand has to be taken care off.

Many people these days prefer more natural look and feel of veneers compared to artificial looking laminates.

Veneers vs Laminates

Veneers and laminates are two of the most commonly used materials for decorating plywood or any other wooden furniture.

Let’s see what veneers and laminates are, and how they are made.

What is a Veneer?

Veneer is basically a very thin slice of would, usually thinner than 3mm that are glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, panels and tops for cabinets and parts of furniture. They are also know as wood veneers.

How are veneers made?

The tree logs are mounted horizontally on a machine and rotated against a knife which peels off layers from the log. This process produces veneer sheets. Such type of veneers are called rotary-cut veneers. In sliced veneers the logs are sliced instead of being rotated and peeled.

What is a laminate?

Laminates - decorative laminates or designer laminates are produced artificially from paper and plastic resins. These are also used as an overlay over wooden surfaces.

How are laminates made?

Laminates are made of three layers. The bottom layer is a brown paper which is coated with phenolic resin. The second layer is a decorative layer which has some design pattern printed. This decorative paper is soaked in transparent melamine resin. The topmost layer is a clear translucent paper.  Resins are used to make the paper had and brittle. All the papers are hard pressed under high temperature and pressure to manufacture the laminate sheet.

Veneers vs Laminates:

The question of whether to choose veneers or laminates arises when we are redecorating our furniture. Another question that often arises is whether to go for Laminated Plywood or Veneered MDF for kitchen cabinets or other such furniture.

1. Which looks better?

Both veneers and laminates are meant to increase the beauty of underlying wood. Both are decorative overlay materials. If you prefer a natural look, veneer is a good choice as its a wooden material. There are many good looking wood veneers obtained from different trees. e.g. cherry, oak, maple, teak etc.

There is a wide variety of decorative laminates available in the market. They are made from designs printed on paper. There are also laminates available that resemble wood patterns and look exactly like wood, though they are not.

Veneers are natural and laminates are artificial materials.

2. Which is costlier?

High-quality veneers are costlier than laminates. The cost of laminates depends on quality and brand.

3. Which are easier to maintain?

Laminates are scratch-resistant, waterproof and usually, retain their look for years. Hence, laminates are easier to maintain. On the other hand, veneers require more maintenance. They need to get polished time to time.

4. Which one is better. Laminated plywood or Veneered MDF?

Good quality waterproof plywood which is made from phenolic resin is considered better and stronger than MDF.

In kitchen cabinets, veneered MDF is generally used in making doors and plywood is used in making the box frame.

Veneered MDF looks better than laminated plywood. But laminates have a wide range of designs and colors. 

5 Alternatives for your Kitchen Countertop

The choice of kitchen work tops seems to be overwhelming, but it's worth taking some time to get the right surface for your kitchen. Here are some pros and cons of the main materials available in market.

Laminate: A laminate worktop is probably the cheapest option available, but unfortunately there can be reasons for that. Though laminates for kitchen surfaces come in an array of designs, the quality can also vary greatly. Some laminates are heat resistant and completely waterproof, while the cheaper ones will mark easily and can look cheap within months. Always choose a laminate carefully and get it professionally fitted to make it last longer and look better.

Wood: Wood is easy to cut and fit. It can be damaged by heat and can be vulnerable to moisture problems. However, wood can be rubbed down if burnt and repaired if damaged. Wood is an excellent choice for kitchen worktop and is not difficult to maintain.

Glass: Glass being heat resistant and impervious to water is a great choice for kitchen surface. It can add a lot of style to your kitchen, but it requires a great deal of cleaning to remove all the finger marks and can look very bad if scratched. There is a great variety of colors and finishes available to suit most color schemes and tastes.

Natural Stone: Marble, slate and granite are the mostly used natural stones. Slate and granite are hard wearing and highly water resistant, while marble requires regular treating to prolong its life. Marble needs to be protected from thinks like alcohol and lemon juice. Natural stones are expensive and should be fitted by professionals.

Composite: Composites are more expensive than marble. There is a great selection of colors to choose from and are highly resistant to heat and water. They are as hard wearing as the stone mixed with resin, but can still be scratched and damaged depending on the base material.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is a really good option for kitchen surfaces. It is resistant to heat and water. Satin and matte finished stainless are easy options to keep clean, but you will have to be careful about the scratches that can build up over time. If you are looking something that is not too expensive and can last for a longer time, stainless steel is the best choice.

I personally prefer using lamintes for kitchen. There is a wide range of designer and decorative laminates available in the market.