Selecting
the perfect benchtop material can be a fantastic challenge. There are many opinions and insights,
and it is often difficult to realize the truth. At Stone Connection Australia, our observation is three main
decision makers. The first
priority is finding the perfect colour.
Second is making the selection fit the budget. The third element, that we at Stone Connection Australia
feel should be the most important, is function.
For
surfaces, the market’s main choices are natural stone, engineered stone and laminated
type finishes. Natural stone and
engineered are the most comparable for both price and function, and both have
different pros and cons.
With
bench-tops, the main function is protecting the cabinets. Aside from function, with kitchen and
bath design, the bench surfaces are the most beneficial in adding value. The reason for this is that bench-tops are
the crowning jewel for both adding individuality and drawing attention. For example, a made in China cabinet
and Italian import are difficult to distinquish until finding the brand name
and seeing the interior construction.
Benches sit proudly on top for everyone to view. By being such a critical design feature, it is also important
to select a product that will withstand the test of time and keep your project
beautiful for years to come.
For
selecting, we outline what to expect from each product:
Granite
is the most enduring product for durability. It is highly scratch resistant, heat resistant and
natural. If you examine tops made
20-years past, they will still look brand new. Granite is suitable for both inside and outside
use. Today granite is available in
hundreds of colours and can easily suit any design. The cost can range from very
affordable to expensive. The cost is based primarily on supply and demand.
Marble, travertine
and limestone are very classic and beautiful. Featured in most magazines, they are very popular choices. However, there are some downfalls to
using. Marble, limestone and
travertine are soft and will react to acidity. If used in a high traffic area (i.e. kitchen), these
products should be honed. This
will aid in not seeing wear as a full polish will project any scratches and
polish burn from acid (lemons, vinegar, etc..). All three are porous products, but with proper sealing
stains can be avoided. Direct
contact with extreme heat and use as a cutting surface should be avoided. Again cost can range from low to
extremely high based upon supply and demand.
Engineered stone.
Although Stone Connection does not sell engineered products, we will
admit they are highly suitable for many purposes and are popular. The main benefit of engineered products
is ease of fabrication and selection.
Being man-made they are very uniform. When using engineered stone, it will show wear after years
of use unlike granite, are not suited for cutting or extreme heat. Last, use outside should be
avoided. Because engineered stone
is composed of resin and not natural, the UV rays of the sun will discolour the
composition with exposure. For cost, it is related more to
manufacture marketing vs. supply and demand. Most products are made with exactly the same process and
machines but just vary by country of origin.
Hopefully
this insight benefit you when deciding on your choice of Benchtop. To personally view our natural stone selection
of granite, marble, onyx, travertine, limestone, slate and sandstone tiles and
slabs, our showroom is open to the public. Located a short drive south-west of Sydney we are located at
96-100 Canterbury Rd, Bankstown, NSW 2200. Showroom hours are Monday- Friday 8am- 5pm, Saturdays 10am-
2pm.
You can
also view online at www.stoneconnectionaustralia.com or contact directly +61 2 9790
4811, info@stoneconnectionaustralia.com
