While designing new kitchens or renovating old ones, countertops have a major impact on the final look and feel of the space. They are also one of the most expensive components of modular kitchen design, making it essential to choose the right material, type, size and finish for kitchen tops. Continue reading to understand the considerations for selecting the right worktop and the different materials that can be used to make kitchen countertops, their pros, cons and cost.
What is a Kitchen Countertop?
A kitchen countertop or worktop is a flat surface that enables the smooth functioning of kitchen activities like cooking, cleaning and storage. In traditional kitchens, worktops were formed by monolithic plastered surfaces that continued upwards from the open shelves. However, in modern modular kitchens, different materials are often used for making the cabinets and countertops, making these surfaces stand-alone elements that may be supported by the walls and/or cabinet edges.
Ideal Properties of Kitchen Tops
The best countertop material has the following properties:
- Strong: It must have a high strength to weight ratio, meaning that it can bear large loads without experiencing cracks or breakages even when its thickness is low.
- Resistant: The countertop must be impervious and resist the absorption of oil, water and stains. Resistance to scratches and moderate heat are also important.
- Smooth Finish: A smooth finish enables easy cleaning and maintenance.
- Impeccable Joints: When two or more slabs have to be joined to make a kitchen countertop, these joints must necessitate minimal filling to be invisible or visually negligible.
- Safety: There must be no toxic or harmful elements used in the manufacture or installation of the worktop, making it safe to be used as a surface for food preparation.
Kitchen Countertop Materials
Countertop materials can be categorised into two main types- natural and manufactured. Some of the commonly used types of countertops based on these classifications are:
Countertops Made of Natural Materials
Marble Kitchen Countertops
Marble is a metamorphic stone composed mainly of Calcium Carbonate. Although it is generally white, shades of pink, green and blue are also available. It is purchasable in two forms for kitchen countertops- solid slabs and tiles.
Pros:
- Has unique grain patterns and a luxurious aesthetic quality.
- Extremely strong and resistant to cracks and breakage.
- Natural and sustainable material.
Cons:
- Frequent sealing or repolishing is required.
- It is porous and can absorb stains quite easily unless polished very well.
- Good quality varieties are very expensive.
Granite Kitchen Tops
Granite is a natural material most often used in stone flooring applications. It is one of the most widely used materials for kitchen worktops, especially in residential construction.
Pros:
- Available in multiple colours and patterns, has a unique aesthetic quality.
- One of the cheapest countertop material options.
- White granite countertops can resemble marble in looks, but are more cost-effective.
- Extremely durable.
- Can be reused and recycled for alternative uses in the future.
- Resistant to chemicals and scratches.
Cons:
- Heavy weight, requires additional support for stability.
- Needs regular repolishing or sealing.
- Has brittle edges that can get chipped easily.
- Can accumulate water stains.
Terrazzo Countertop
Terrazzo countertops are made by mixing small stone chips with cement and resin, applying this mixture uniformly and polishing it to obtain a smooth surface. Different types of stones and colouring pigments can be used to suit the required aesthetics.
Pros:
- Utilises waste materials like stone chips, enhancing sustainable building practices.
- Extremely unique patterns with the desired colours can be obtained.
- They can form monolithic surfaces with no joints.
Cons:
- Can crack when not properly cured, compressed or polished.
- Requires skilled labour and is time-consuming to produce.
- Expensive
- Terrazzo surfaces are cold to touch, which may not be ideal in regions with cold climates.
- Resistance to stains depends on the labour quality.
Wood Countertops
Wood kitchen countertops can be made from different hardwood types of wood like oak, teak, maple and rose.
Pros:
- Gives a natural and luxurious finish to kitchens.
- It is a natural, non-toxic material that assures safety in cooking processes.
- Minor physical damages like scratches and dents can be repaired by filling and refinishing.
Cons:
- Typically more expensive than other conventional kitchen countertop materials.
- Even with frequent resealing, wood can experience rotting and warping due to the constant exposure to moisture in the kitchen.
- High expenditure on maintenance to prevent termite infestations is required.
Countertops Made of Manufactured Materials
Stainless Steel Countertops
Stainless steel is a metal alloy made by mixing iron and chromium, making it rust-free. For use in kitchen countertops, it is available in multiple smooth finishes like brushed, matte, antique matte and mirror finish.
Pros:
- These are stainless countertops as they are completely impervious and do not absorb any oil, water or chemicals.
- Have smooth finishes that enable quick cleaning, especially beneficial for large-scale commercial kitchens.
- Extremely lightweight.
Cons:
- Stainless steel fabrication requires extremely skilled labour and specialised equipment.
- Very expensive, especially for small-scale applications in residences.
- May experience scratches or dents upon strong impacts, which may be difficult to repair.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are engineered stone countertops made by binding natural quartz crystals with resins and chemical pigments. Sometimes, small glass chips and metal pieces are added to this mix to create unique patterns.
Pros:
- More cost-effective than natural stones like marble, while maintaining similar aesthetics.
- Requires minimal maintenance.
- Has a glossy, polished finish.
- Since it is a manufactured material, properties like quality, strength and aesthetics can be controlled.
Cons:
- Joints are typically sealed with resin binders, which are not heat resistant and can peel-off with heat.
- Strong chemicals and products like turmeric and oil can cause irreversible stains.
- Its colour and finish can fade over time.
Solid Surface (Corian) Countertops
These are synthetic countertops made of mineral dust and chips combined with acrylic resins, pigments and binders. Although it has constituents that are similar to quartz, the proportions of these constituents are different, giving it different properties.
Pros:
- Can visually mimic natural stone.
- Smooth, matte-like finish.
- Invisible or negligible joints, giving it a seamless appearance.
Cons:
- Harsh chemicals and oil can cause stains.
- Cutting and similar processes on the worktop can cause scratches.
- Can get deformed by heat.
Concrete Countertops
When polished, concrete (a mix of cement, sand and aggregates) can be used to create durable kitchen countertops. Concrete countertops can be cast on site and then polished or fixed as precast slabs.
Pros:
- Extremely strong and durable.
- Resistant to heat, scratches and stains.
- Can take on organic shapes and curvilinear forms.
Cons:
- Extremely heavy and needs additional supports with masonry piers or steel brackets.
- Concrete countertops cast on site require intense manual labour and are time consuming to complete.
- Edges can easily get chipped.
Laminate Kitchen Countertops
Such countertops typically consist of core layers made of engineered wood products—such as MDF, particleboard or plywood—that are finished with laminate coatings.
Pros:
- Extremely versatile finishes with laminates that can imitate any material (such as wood, steel or stone) being available.
- Cost-effective options are available.
- Lightweight.
- Resistant to oil, water and spills.
Cons:
- Difficult to judge the quality as they are manufactured in factories and the core materials are often unknown.
- When flexible laminates that can bend around corners are not used, the edges and joints can accumulate dust.
- Not as durable as stone countertops.
- Heat can cause delamination or detachment of the laminate layer.
Cost of Kitchen Countertops
The typical countertop prices in India currently are as follows
| Countertop Material | Cost Per Square Foot (₹) | Thickness (mm) |
| Marble (Indian) | 120 – 900 | 15 – 30 |
| Italian Marble | 750 – 10,000 | 15 – 30 |
| Granite | 100 – 2,000 | 12 – 25 |
| Terrazzo | 700 – 1500 | 20 – 40 |
| Wood | 500 – 2500 | 15 – 30 |
| Stainless Steel | 3000 – 6000 | 20 – 50 |
| Quartz | 200 – 650 | 10 – 30 |
| Solid Surface | 600 – 1200 | 5 – 15 |
| Concrete | 200 – 700 | >30 |
| Laminate | 120 – 3000 | 20 – 40 |
These costs are only for the material. Labour charges for installation of kitchen worktops are additional and may vary between ₹250 – ₹2500 per square foot depending on the material, shape, size and complexity of the design.
All the values mentioned above are only approximate and may vary widely with changing locations, availability, type, design and project requirements, manufacturers, brands and suppliers.
Finding the Best Kitchen Countertops Near Me
With so many feasible options available, choosing the right type of countertop material can be a confusing task. It is thus advisable to hire experts in the field, such as Brick & Bolt, which is an end-to-end construction service provider in India. With 7000+ completed homes, the company has a team of qualified designers who have vast experience in designing kitchen countertops. The organisation also collaborates with the leading manufacturers and brands in India to assure premium building material supply in all its projects. Get in touch with Brick & Bolt today to ensure that your dream home has the best kitchen worktops!
Apoorva H P Achar