As an important part of the cabinet, the countertop is used very frequently in the kitchen. Therefore, the choice of kitchen countertop materials, in addition to ensuring practicality and aesthetics, also directly affects people's dietary health. The common countertop materials currently include the following:
○Quartz stone
○Marble?
○Artificial stone
○Clear water Concrete?
○Solid wood?
○Other materials
? So, which material is better for cabinet countertops? Below, we use quartz stone under normal use as a reference standard, and conduct a brief analysis of the above several countertop materials according to the star rating from the antibacterial properties, durability, aesthetics, and cost ratio of the materials to see which material is the best. Meet your requirements. (For the convenience of comparison, the higher the star rating in the cost part, the cheaper the cost, and vice versa)
1. Long-lived quartz stone
Durability: ★★★★☆
Antibacterial: ★★★★☆
Appearance: ★★★★☆
Cost: ★★★★☆
? Artificial quartz stone is currently a widely used kitchen countertop material. It is visually beautiful and has good gloss. Compared with natural stone, it is more resistant to corrosion and oil stains, and is invulnerable to all poisons. The service life can be as long as decades, and the maintenance cycle can also be extended to 2-3 years.
Quartz stone has high hardness. Since quartz stone countertops have almost no pores, there is no need to worry about oil stains penetrating. You only need to wipe it with clean water every day. (This is our case)
The popular quartz stone is slightly more expensive than artificial stone, but its longevity and easy care make it the most popular countertop material at the moment. (The picture comes from the Internet)
The disadvantage is that it is difficult to process due to its excessive hardness, so the design form is relatively simple. (The picture comes from the Internet)
2. Cool marble
Durability: ★★★☆☆
Antibacterial: ★★☆☆☆?< /p>
Appearance: ★★★★★?
Cost: ★★★☆☆
? Marble originally refers to white with black patterns produced in Dali, Yunnan Later, the name marble gradually developed to refer to all limestones with various colors and patterns that are used as building decoration materials. The material is hard and cool, with a high-end atmosphere. This material is the pursuit of people who like cool texture. ?
▲ Compared with other materials, the advantages of marble are: its high hardness can ensure long-term use without deformation; high wear resistance coefficient, not easy to be scratched; the rock has been naturally polished for a long time and has a uniform structure , corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance. ? (Pictures from the Internet)
▲ The radioactivity of marble has always been controversial, but the radioactivity of natural marble countertops that can pass national inspections and are legally listed on the market is very low and will basically not cause harm to the human body. If in doubt, use this material in small areas. (Pictures from the Internet)
Practical details of Western kitchen countertops (Pictures from the Internet)
▲The disadvantage is that the stone texture part is fine and loose and easy to break. During daily cleaning, It is inevitable that some residue and dirt will fill in the cracks, which can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria. Normal kitchen use requires closed antibacterial treatment.
3. Economical artificial stone countertops
Durability: ★★★☆☆
Antibacterial: ★★★★★
Appearance: ★★★☆☆ (ordinary artificial stone)
Cost: ★★★★☆
? All artificial stones can be called artificial stones because of different fillers , the texture and performance presented are also different. Most of the artificial stone countertops commonly used indoors use resin as a cementing agent and natural marble gravel, stone powder, etc. in a certain proportion, and then add catalysts, curing agents, pigments, etc. through mixing, solidification, molding, drying, polishing, etc. Processed. ?
Embedded drain rack (picture from the Internet)
▲It has strong plasticity and can be made into various styles according to needs. It has rich colors and small color difference, no radiation, and is easy to clean. The unique advantages of artificial stone countertops. The disadvantages of traditional artificial stone are that the hardness is not high enough, it is easy to scratch, and the texture is not natural enough. (Pictures from the Internet)
Integrated high-end artificial stone (Pictures from the Internet) ▲High-end slate has rich textures and colors that are completely comparable to natural stone, but the cost is too high. Seamless splicing can be achieved, so that there are no pores on the surface, and dirt and bacteria have no place to stay. This is also a major advantage of artificial stone countertops. (Pictures from the Internet)
4. Unique concrete
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★☆☆
Appearance: ★★★★☆
Cost: ★★★★☆
? In the pursuit of being unique, it has a unique rough texture, Concrete and cement materials with a natural and simple touch are getting more and more attention and love from everyone.
▲ Advantages of concrete: strong plasticity, various shapes can be realized through molds to meet different functional requirements (see the picture below); concrete has good heat resistance and can generally withstand high temperatures of 300°C; high hardness , wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant.
(Pictures from the Internet)
Concrete countertops that rely on mold plasticity. (The picture comes from the Internet)
Integrated stove approach. (Pictures from the Internet)
Concrete countertops polished with various colored stones (Pictures from the Internet)
▲ Of course, the shortcomings of concrete are also obvious: due to the Additives may contain toxic volatile organic compounds, so special attention must be paid to the selection of materials. Concrete pouring requires careful construction techniques; the surface with relatively large pores is prone to contamination, coloration, and breeding of bacteria; the material is hard and requires subsequent maintenance to prevent cracking. (Pictures from the Internet)
5. Solid wood close to nature?
Durability: ★★☆☆☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★☆ ☆?
Appearance: ★★★★★
Cost: ★★★★☆?
? Solid wood countertops have a long history, and pure wood has been Simple processing into different shapes. Wood feels warm, close to nature, and gentle to the touch. Due to the basic characteristics of solid wood, it is mostly used in Western kitchens, cold dining areas, bars and other places. It is suitable for users who are extremely pursuing taste and have low kitchen utilization. ?
Finger-jointed solid wood board (picture from the Internet)
▲ Solid wood has good processing and plasticity, and can easily make complex shapes that cannot be made with most materials. (The picture comes from the Internet)
Many things in the kitchen need to be ventilated (The picture comes from the Internet)
▲The shortcomings are relatively prominent: the seams and gaps are relatively large and easy to hide dirt. It is susceptible to dirt, is prone to rot when exposed to moisture, is prone to deformation due to water intrusion, and is not resistant to high temperatures. Of course, there are some types of wood that have good corrosion resistance and will last longer, but they all need to be sealed, antibacterial and waterproof. (Pictures from the Internet)
Other niche countertop materials
6. Strong and rough natural stone
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆?
Appearance: ★★★☆☆?
Cost: ★★★★☆?
? Natural stone has been tempered by wind and rain, and has naturally unique beautiful texture and extremely hard texture. Its style is simple and natural, and its solid volume also gives people a sense of security.
Original stone basin (picture from the Internet)
▲ The advantages of natural stone suitable for countertops are relatively large density, outstanding high temperature resistance and scratch resistance, and good wear resistance. Lower cost. Some commonly used natural stones only cost a few hundred yuan per meter, making them an economical and affordable countertop material. (Pictures from the Internet)
▲ Compared with its advantages, its disadvantages are: some materials have poor toughness and are easy to break and break; natural stones are short and irregularly shaped, and the gaps between them are easy to breed bacteria; some materials May also be radioactive and release toxic substances. (Pictures from the Internet)
7. Antibacterial stainless steel
Durability: ★★★★☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★★★< /p>
Appearance: ★★★☆☆
Cost: ★★★★☆
? In recent years, stainless steel countertops have become more and more popular due to their fire resistance, heat resistance, and heat resistance. Oil pollution, easy maintenance, green environmental protection and no radiation are becoming more and more popular among everyone. For consumers who are more practical or who like metal texture, stainless steel countertops are a good choice.
▲ ?Nowadays, stainless steel countertops follow the development trend of combining the beauty and practicality of cabinets and have made corresponding improvements. For industrial style, modern and simple decoration styles, stainless steel countertops can be well integrated. (The picture comes from the Internet)
▲ Compared with other materials, its shortcomings are: poor wear resistance, easy to scratch, dent, and deform; it pays attention to construction technology and wants to achieve better results, and the cost is higher . (Pictures from the Internet)
8. Modern fireproof board
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★ ☆☆
Appearance: ★★★★☆?
Cost: ★★★★☆?
? The fireproof board countertop has rich color and lightness The shape can be matched with cabinets of different styles to create a modern kitchen, which is suitable for users who pursue fashion and simplicity.
Imitation solid wood countertop (picture from the Internet)
▲The advantages of fireproof board are oil resistance, acid and alkali resistance, no deformation, easy to clean, bright color, diverse types, and resistance to Wear resistant and high temperature resistant. (Pictures are from the Internet)
▲ The disadvantage is that due to the properties of the material itself, seamless splicing is difficult. The joints are easily infiltrated by water, leading to degumming, deformation, base material expansion and other consequences. There are certain limitations in the adaptability and design requirements of various room types. (Pictures from the Internet)
9. Durable ceramic tiles
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★☆☆?
Appearance: ★★★★☆?
Cost: ★★★★★
? Ceramic tile countertops are commonly used in rural areas and early towns. A common material with convenient and flexible construction and low material cost, it can be widely used.
Classic retro (pictures from the Internet)
▲ Of course, its disadvantages are also obvious. Some ceramic tiles with poor quality are easy to break, and overheated or cold objects are left on for a long time. The above will also cause damage; if the joints of the tiles are not properly treated, there will definitely be gaps, which will be inconvenient to clean and easy to breed bacteria. (Pictures from the Internet)
10. The upstart countertop—ultra-thin slate
Durability: ★★★★☆?
Antibacterial: ★★ ★★★
Appearance: ★★★★★
Cost: ★★☆☆☆
? To put it simply, ultra-thin slate is made of A new type of ceramic sheet made of natural stone and inorganic clay through a special process.
▲ As a countertop material, it has outstanding advantages: high appearance; natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, radiation-free and recyclable; high density and impermeable, which can inhibit the growth of bacteria; thin, wear-resistant, scratch-resistant and high-temperature resistant, etc. . (The picture comes from the Internet)
▲ Due to the high production process requirements, the high price is the biggest shortcoming of this material. (Pictures from the Internet)
11. Mix and match materials
Durability: ★★★★☆?
Antibacterial: ★★★★☆
Appearance: ★★★★★?
Cost: ★★★☆☆
? In order to meet different functional and style design needs, materials are mixed and matched It is a good choice.
▲ The advantage of mixing and matching is that the materials perform their own duties. According to the characteristics and functions of different materials, the overall practicality and durability of the cabinet are improved. At the same time, different styles are also mixed and matched, so that the design form is no longer single. (Pictures come from the Internet)
Bar and kitchen combination (Pictures come from the Internet)
(Pictures come from the Internet)
Conclusion?
? Most composite materials are a good choice. Their durability and antibacterial properties are improved compared with single materials. However, some materials have higher construction requirements. Compared with other materials, quartz stone countertops are more cost-effective and are currently the mainstream in the general market. With the continuous improvement of various materials, users' personalized needs are becoming more and more prominent. Mixing and matching of different materials on countertops may become a new trend.
Now, you should know how to choose the cabinet countertop that suits you! ?
Arrangement: Chengdu Hill Design?
Editor: Zhou You/Yue Dadong?
Reference and quotation of some materials:?
[ 1] Dongnanzhi. Artificial stone, quartz stone and natural stone. How to choose kitchen countertops?
[2] Baidu Encyclopedia?
[3] Pinterest.com
[3] Houzz.com
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