Stone Benchtops

Stone has been the material of choice by architects for thousands of years. Today it is still widely used but more commonly seen to be engineered and polished to display supreme finishes and colourful effects both exterior and interior. One of the most common places for stone to be seen used in a private home is in the kitchen as a benchtop, splash back and apron.

There are a number of types that are preferential for this purpose, one being the many types and colours of Granite and there is also Marble that has its range of patterns and colours. Then there is a range of Quartz Stone and greater range of Engineered stone.

Granite was traditionally an expensive material of choice for the average kitchen but as its popularity grew, and the availability of colours infiltrated our market, competition and the trade-skill industry brought with them the finishing machinery, which brought down prices. This gave a new look and a very afforable option to modern kitchens.

I am not prepared to elaborate too much on the many options of granite as a product but instead will leave you with a few links to websites that can stimulate your imagination on the product and set you into a course for your own research.

Timber Benchtops

Of all the materials to be used for benchtops timber, today, would be the least seen and yet there are still some being made. The old original benchtops of traditional farm homes and, for that matter, the Victorian Homes of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, generally had timber benchtops. I think the mistake was, that many of these got painted instead of being scrubbed and sanded as was the traditional way of maintaining them. They became scruffy and old-looking and when the kitchen was upgraded laminate was the new look. From this perspective, timber moved into the background and even for a few decades virtually disappeared. I thought they were a thing of the past 30 years ago, until I visited a homestead isolated in a valley, and here they were still baking their own bread in an old coal range and the busy kitchen had a large wooden benchtop that had been scrubbed and sanded for years. These were benchtops designed for work, lots of work.

I know many cabinetmakers who would have loved to get their hands on that bit of timber, - it was solid New Zealand Kauri and originally would have been more than 2 inches thick. It had been reduced somewhat, over the years, with the scrubbing and sanding and now a much slimmer version of its former self.

The timber benchtops built today are designed for the contemporary look and usually have a water-resistant finish to them, even highlighted with a stain to accentuate the grain and generate a warmth in colour. Australia is a big producer of really fantastic-looking timber benchtops; the interesting thing about timber like this, I notice, is everybody is drawn to run their hand over the timber. The look seems to take control of the senses as though something magical is going to transfer from the timber to the body.

Stainless Steel

Just the sight of stainless steel benchtops today will take many of us back to our childhood. Stainless Steel benchtops were an era themselves that seemed to come with every budget home and state-owned homes from back in the 1960's. And what hospital wouldn't be hygienic without stainless steel benchtops; they were easy to clean reliable and hardy; they could take any amount of tough treatment and even today almost every home that has a kitchen will have a stainless steel sink in the benchtop.

But now, stainless steel has made a bit of a comeback in benchtops and is being used in combination with timber and even to create the entire top. It has its own look and appeal with a very serviceable surface. They are a good choice for a hard-wearing kitchen; especially good if your kitchen is a very busy workplace for family and friends. They are amazing for exceptional custom designs. It will take more than a fad to get rid of stainless steel.

Concrete Benchtops

Concrete is a very versatile medium to use; your benchtop's appearance can be almost anything you choose. It can depend entirely on what aggregate and colours you choose to include. It can be poured and polished onsite, in-situ, or made in a factory. The thing here is if you really wanted to try your own hand at it, there you go, although, I would be inclined to let the experts do it; it will get done quicker, with the assurance that it is done well. They have sorted out all the pitfalls with their experience.

All script is my own original draft. Benchtops have a specific visual appeal and hence I am seeking approval to use photos from Merchants

Links included, although still awaiting approval of use on some links and Photos. All on: http://www.saleaway6stages.com

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