Quartz stone
Marble?
Artificial stone
○ fair-faced concrete?
○ solid wood
Other materials.
? So, what kind of material is better for cabinet countertops? Let's take quartz stone under normal use as a reference standard, and make a brief analysis of the above countertop materials from the aspects of antibacterial, durability, aesthetics and cost ratio according to the star rating to see which material best meets your requirements. (For comparison, the higher the star rating in the cost part means the cheaper the cost, and vice versa.)
I. Long-lived quartz stone
Durability: ★★★★★☆.
Antibacterial property: ★★★★★☆.
Face value: ★★★★★☆.
Cost: ★★★★★☆.
? Artificial quartz stone is a widely used kitchen countertop material at present, which is visually elegant and has good gloss. Compared with natural stone, it is more corrosion-resistant and oil-resistant, which can be described as a hundred poisons. The service life can be as long as several decades, and the maintenance period can be extended to 2-3 years.
Quartz stone has a high hardness. Because there are almost no pores on the quartz stone table top, there is no need to worry about oil seepage. You just need to wipe it with clean water every day. (This is our case)
Quartz stone, which is very popular, is slightly more expensive than artificial stone, but its long life and easy care make it the most popular countertop material at present. (Image from the Internet)
His disadvantage is that the design form is relatively simple because it is too hard to process. (Image from the Internet)
2. Cold marble
Durability: ★★★★☆☆
Antibacterial property: ★★ ☆ ☆?
Face value: ★★★★★★?
Cost: ★★★★☆☆
? Marble originally refers to white limestone with black patterns produced in Dali, Yunnan. Later, the name Marble gradually developed to refer to all limestone with various colors and patterns used as building decoration materials. The material is hard and cold, high-end atmosphere, this material is the pursuit of people who like cold texture. ?
▲ Compared with other materials, marble has the advantages of high hardness, which can ensure long-term use without deformation; High wear resistance, not easy to be scratched; After long-term natural grinding, the rock has uniform structure, corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance. ? (Image from the Internet)
▲ The radioactivity of marble has always been controversial, but the radioactivity of natural marble countertops that can be legally listed through national inspection is very low, which will basically not cause harm to human body. If in doubt, this material can be used in a small area. (Image from the Internet)
Practical details of western kitchen countertops (picture from the network)
▲ The disadvantage is that the texture of the stone material is fine, loose and easy to break. In daily cleaning, it is inevitable that some residues and dirt will be filled in the cracks, which will easily become a hotbed of bacteria. Normal use of the kitchen requires closed antibacterial treatment.
III. Economical artificial stone countertops
Durability: ★★★★☆☆
Antibacterial property: ★★★★★★★
Face value: ★★★☆☆ (ordinary artificial stone)
Cost: ★★★★★☆.
? All artificial stones can be called artificial stones, because different fillers have different textures and properties. Most of the commonly used artificial stone countertops are made of resin as cementing agent, natural marble crushed stone and stone powder in a certain proportion, and then added with catalyst, curing agent and pigment, which are mixed, stirred, solidified, demoulded, dried and polished. ?
Embedded drain rack (image from network)
▲ Strong plasticity, various styles and shapes can be made according to requirements, rich colors and small color difference, no radiation and easy cleaning are the same 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. (Image from the Internet)
Integrated high-end artificial stone (picture from the network)
▲ The lines and colors of high-end rock slabs are rich, which can be compared with natural stone, but the cost is too high. Seamless splicing can be realized, so that there is no pore on the surface, and there is no place for dirt and bacteria, which is also a great advantage of artificial stone countertops. (Image from the Internet)
4. Unique concrete
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆☆
Face value: ★★★★★☆.
Cost: ★★★★★☆.
? In the pursuit of maverick, concrete and cement materials with unique rough texture and natural and simple touch have attracted more and more attention and love.
▲ Advantages of concrete: strong plasticity, and various shapes can be realized through molds to meet different functional requirements (see the figure below); Concrete has good heat resistance, and can generally withstand the high temperature of 300℃; High hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. (Image from the Internet)
Concrete countertops that rely on the plasticity of molds. (Image from the Internet)
Practice of stove integration. (Image from the Internet)
Add a variety of colored stone polished concrete countertops (picture from the network)
▲ Of course, the shortcomings of concrete are also obvious: due to the addition of additives, it may contain toxic volatile organic compounds, so special attention should be paid to the selection of materials. Exquisite construction technology of concrete pouring; The surface with relatively large pores is easy to be polluted and colored to breed bacteria; The material is hard, so it needs to be cured to prevent cracking in the later stage. (Image from the Internet)
5. Solid wood close to nature?
Durability: ★★☆☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆?
Face value: ★★★★★★★
Cost: ★★★★★☆?
? Solid wood countertops have a long history, and pure wood is made into different shapes through simple processing. Wood makes people feel warm, close to nature and gentle to the touch. Because of the basic characteristics of solid wood, it is mostly used in western kitchens, cold dining areas, bars and other places, suitable for users who are extremely pursuing taste and have low kitchen utilization rate. ?
Finger-jointed solid wood board (picture from network)
▲ Solid wood has good processing and plasticity, and can easily make complex shapes that most materials cannot make. (Image from the Internet)
Many things in the kitchen need ventilation (image from the Internet).
▲ Its shortcomings are relatively prominent: the joint gap is relatively large, it is easy to hide dirt and shelter dirt, it is easy to rot when it is wet, it is easy to deform when it invades water, and it is not resistant to high temperature. Of course, there are also some wood with good corrosion resistance and long service life, but they all need to be sealed, antibacterial and waterproof. (Image from the Internet)
Other minority countertop materials
6. Strong and rugged natural stone
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆?
Face value: ★★★★☆☆?
Cost: ★★★★★☆?
? After being honed by wind and rain, natural stone has a natural and unique beautiful texture and extremely hard texture. Its simple and natural style and stocky volume also give people a sense of security.
Original stone basin (picture from the network)
▲ The advantages of natural stone suitable for countertops are relatively high density, outstanding high temperature resistance and scratch resistance, good wear resistance and low cost. Some commonly used natural stone materials are only a few hundred yuan a meter, which belongs to an economical countertop material. (Image from the Internet)
▲ Compared with its advantages, its disadvantages are: some materials have poor toughness and are easy to break; Natural stone is short and irregular in shape, and the splicing gap is easy to breed bacteria; Some materials may also be radioactive and release toxic substances. (Image from the Internet)
VII. Antibacterial stainless steel
Durability: ★★★★★☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★★★★★
Face value: ★★★★☆☆
Cost: ★★★★★☆.
? In recent years, stainless steel countertops have attracted more and more attention because of their fire resistance, heat resistance, oil stain resistance, convenient maintenance, environmental protection and no radiation. Stainless steel countertops are a good choice for consumers who are practical or like metal texture.
▲ ? Now, the stainless steel countertop conforms to the development trend of combining beauty and practicality of cabinets, and has been improved accordingly. For industrial style and modern simple decoration style, stainless steel countertops can be well integrated. (Image from the Internet)
▲ Compared with other materials, its shortcomings are: poor wear resistance coefficient, easy to scratch, sag and deform; Pay attention to the construction technology, in order to achieve better results, the cost is higher. (Image from the Internet)
Eight. Modern fire boards
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆☆
Face value: ★★★★★☆?
Cost: ★★★★★☆?
? The rich color and light figure of the fireproof board countertop can match different styles of cabinets and a modern kitchen, which is suitable for users who pursue fashion and simplicity.
Imitation of solid wood countertops (picture from the network)
▲ The advantages of fireproof board are oil stain resistance, acid and alkali resistance, no deformation, easy cleaning, bright color, various types, wear resistance and high temperature resistance. (Image from the Internet)
▲ The disadvantage is that due to the properties of the material itself, seamless splicing is very difficult. The joint is easy to be infiltrated by water, which leads to degumming, deformation and substrate expansion. There are some limitations in the adaptation and design requirements of various room types. (Image from the Internet)
IX. Durable tiles
Durability: ★★★☆☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★☆☆?
Face value: ★★★★★☆?
Cost: ★★★★★★★
? Ceramic tile countertops are widely used in rural areas and early towns. They are a common material with convenient and flexible construction and low material cost, so they are widely used.
Classic retro (picture from the Internet)
▲ Of course, his disadvantages are also obvious. Some tiles with poor quality are easy to be broken, and objects that are too hot or too cold will be damaged if they are placed on them for a long time. If the tile splicing is not handled properly, there will definitely be gaps, which are not easy to clean and easy to breed bacteria. (Image from the Internet)
X. upstart countertop-ultra-thin rock slab
Durability: ★★★★★☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★★★★★
Face value: ★★★★★★★
Cost: ★★★☆☆☆☆
? Simply put, ultra-thin rock plate is a new type of ceramic thin plate made of natural stone and inorganic clay through special process.
▲ As a countertop material, it has outstanding advantages: high face value; Natural, non-toxic, environment-friendly and radiation-free; High density waterproof, can inhibit the growth of bacteria; Lightweight, wear-resistant, scratch-resistant and high-temperature resistant. (Image from the Internet)
▲ Due to the high production process requirements, high price is the biggest disadvantage of this material. (Image from the Internet)
XI. Mixing and matching of materials
Durability: ★★★★★☆?
Antibacterial property: ★★★★★☆.
Face value: ★★★★★★?
Cost: ★★★★☆☆
? In order to meet the design requirements of different functions and styles, material mixing and matching is a good choice.
▲ The advantage of mashup is that the materials do their own jobs. According to the characteristics and functions of different materials, the overall practicality and durability of cabinets have been improved. At the same time, it also mixes different styles, so that the design form is no longer single. (Image from the Internet)
Combination of bar and kitchen (image from the network)
(Image from the Internet)
Concluding remarks?
? Most composite materials are good choices, and their durability and antibacterial properties are improved compared with their own single materials, but some materials have higher requirements for construction. Compared with other materials, quartz stone countertops are more cost-effective, which is the mainstream of the general market at present. With the continuous improvement of various materials, the personalized needs of users are becoming more and more prominent, and it may become a new trend to mix and match different materials on the countertop. Now, you should know how to choose the cabinet countertop that suits you! ?
Finishing: Chengdu Hill Design?
Editor: Zhou You/Yue Dadong?
Refer to some materials:?
[1] Southeast Branch. Artificial stone quartz stone natural stone, how to choose the kitchen countertop?
[2] Baidu Encyclopedia?
[3] Pinterest.com
[3] Houzz.com
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