A simple user to solve the problem of how to choose a countertop for the kitchen, now is not easy. Modern furniture is made from a variety of natural and artificial materials, so in the acquisition process you need to consider not only the cost and design, but also the physical characteristics of this functional part of the headset.
How to choose a countertop?
Problems with the acquisition of a beautiful and stylish furniture kit does not exist, but often manufacturers with the purpose of cheaper products hide the true characteristics of the materials used. In the business, which table top to choose for the house, it is recommended to evaluate this product according to the standard list of general requirements, which includes almost all issues arising in the process of operation.
Requirements for a quality worktop:
- Resistance to moisture.
- Resistance to abrasion, impact deformation and other mechanical influences.
- Heat resistance.
- Design.
- The most important point in the matter, how to choose a countertop for the kitchen - ease of care.
- How does the decorative top layer interact with household chemical preparations.
- Persistence of color.
- On any surface with intensive exploitation there are cracks and chips, so in the question of how to choose the best countertop for the kitchen, do not forget to clarify the maintainability of the material.
- The cost.
- How many harmful substances were used in production.
- Easy to install and replace the countertop.
- Durability.
How to choose a kitchen countertop for quality?
Experienced people with a first acquaintance with the set can form an opinion on its quality and always require the sellers certificates of quality. If the worktop is made of pressed material, then all its ends should be pasted with a PVC edge. You should know that cheap melamine film is worse in characteristics and flakes faster. The problem of choosing which countertop is better, in the store, is solved by external inspection, the moisture resistant plates are more often green in color. The presence of small cracks and chips at the stage of sale signals a poor quality of products.
How to choose the height of the countertop in the kitchen?
The most important problem is the selection of the optimum height of the countertop. Previously, a single standard of 85 cm was used, but it is not convenient for tall housewives or small women. The simplest method of selection can be made independently. You need to bend your arm at the elbow and measure with a tape measure down 15 cm, the resulting value will be the optimal height. In the question of what thickness of the countertop to choose for the kitchen, you need to build on the indicator of 38-40 mm, so that it can withstand the workloads.
Approximate height of the table top depending on the height of the person:
- Up to 168 cm - 86 cm.
- Up to 178 cm - 89 cm.
- Up to 186 cm - 91 cm.
- From 186 cm - not less than 94 cm.
How to choose a kitchen countertop in color?
The main elements of the interior, with which the color of this part should fit well is the headset - the kitchen apron and the design of the furniture facade. If you neglect this moment in solving the problem, how to choose a countertop for the kitchen, then you will not get a harmoniously designed environment. There are no special standards for solving the problem, you can follow your own taste or act instinctively, but it's better to start from the generally accepted schemes and design solutions in order to avoid common mistakes.
Selection of the color of kitchen countertops depending on the color of the facade:
- White set - it is desirable to choose a countertop for black or gray stone, imitation of light wood.
- Beige facades - table top under a dark wood and chocolate shades.
- A win-win solution to the problem, how to choose a kitchen countertop with a black facade - material for light wood or gray stone, white.
- The gray suite in the kitchen is a marble countertop, black, dark gray and white.
- Wooden furniture with preservation of natural color - white and cream top, color for a tree, but with a difference from the facade in a couple of tones.
- Blue, pink, lilac and blue facades - marble counter tops or gray paint.
- A good choice for color furniture is a versatile white kitchen worktop, it will always make the interior more elegant.
How to choose a countertop to the facades of the kitchen?
In the case, how to choose the material for the countertop for the kitchen, it is desirable to use the best design ideas. For many a complicated issue is the design of two-color kitchen sets, but there are also a lot of good tips. It is desirable to choose the color of the table top in the tone of the upper part of the modular set, so that it contrasts favorably with the lower part.
For example, a popular scheme with a black bottom and a white top is decided by installing a white countertop. Similarly we do in the case of a beige brown set. The second way, how to choose a countertop for a two-color kitchen - to choose a convenient intermediate color between the available tones. For example, the average version between the cream top and the dark brown bottom is the color of the coffee-milk cocktail.
Moisture-proof worktop for kitchen
Moisture resistance is the most important parameter that affects the durability and appearance of the headset. When dealing with the problem, what are the countertops for the kitchen, always take into account this physical characteristic of the material used. The best for moisture resistance is artificial and natural stone, glass, agglomerate, ceramics. Well served tree of solid varieties, treated with varnishes and impregnation. LDPE and MDF is characterized by less moisture resistance, high-quality products of German, Austrian and Italian companies, covered with strong plastic are considered.
Types of countertops for the kitchen
In studying the question of what kind of countertops are in the kitchen, the materials used for the production of furniture sets play a decisive role. The cost, moisture resistance, strength and other basic characteristics of a stone product can be several times different in comparison with products from a budget EAF. If you are interested in the longevity and performance of the selected kit, then before buying, be sure to study the classification of countertops by type of material.
Kitchen worktops from chipboard
Considering the existing types of countertops for the kitchen, many choose the cheapest option - furniture from chipboard. The price of this product depends on the manufacturer, the thickness of the slab and the thickness of the melamine layer. The thickest decorative surface layer is made by German and Italian companies - up to 0.8 mm, for Polish and Russian manufacturers it is almost always less than half (0.45 mm).
Disadvantages of chipboard countertops:
- Vzduyvayutsya from moisture,
- Poorly resist acid.
- Poor heat resistance.
- Burn in the sun.
- Small longevity.
- Budget plates are made using harmful substances.
Kitchen countertops from MDF
Quality MDF kitchen countertops are at least twice the price of competitors from chipboard, they are not toxic and easy to clean, there is a huge selection of good products on the market. The structure of this material is denser, it is less porous, so it has better moisture resistance and is the best choice for the kitchen. During installation, be sure to take care of sealing joints and end elements, which will greatly improve the durability of your countertop.
Glass table top for kitchen
Choosing a glass top for the house, you make a stylish and modern solution. It is produced by a combined method, by gluing several layers together. In the middle there is often a film with decorative photo printing, creating the effect of a flat or three-dimensional image. This material for the kitchen countertop withstands relatively strong impacts and mechanical stress, it does not scratch. The only problem is the constant struggle with the lime scale, which is formed by the contact of the glass surface with hard water.
Kitchen countertops made of stone
Expensive, but lasting and practical choice is a table top made of natural stone for the kitchen. The cost of these products is 10 times higher than the price of analogues from chipboard, but they have increased strength and absolute resistance to moisture. With proper use, you get eternal furniture for your home. It is possible to inflict this worktop with an exceptionally strong impact of a solid object.
Disadvantages of stone countertops:
- Great weight.
- High price.
- Stone countertops are non-repairable in the formation of cracks.
- Small selection of colors.
- Granite is capable of creating a background radiation.
Table top made of wood for kitchen
Considering the material of the countertop for the kitchen, which is better to use at home, the owners often stop to choose the natural beauty of wood. Low moisture resistance previously prevented the use of wood for this purpose, but the invention of perfect impregnations made it more durable than many varieties of particleboard or MDF. Modern countertops are made from glued beams, which makes them stronger and more stable when heated.
Some drawbacks of wooden countertops:
- Low heat resistance.
- They require special care and treatment to increase moisture resistance.
- Weak hygiene.
- When the impact remains dents.
Acrylic Kitchen Countertops
Trying in stores to choose the best countertops for the kitchen, turn your eyes to acrylic products. They are made from a complex cake based on mineral filler, acrylic resins and pigments. Modern technologies allow to obtain completely seamless structures of various shapes with good strength and hardness. On this artificial surface, microorganisms are not planted, and small scratches are removed by polishing.
Basic rules for the use of acrylic worktops:
- Try in the kitchen to use the stand for hot pots and pans.
- When cutting vegetables and other products, use cutting boards.
- Remove any dirt that has been removed with a sponge.
- Do not use hard scrapers and brushes made of metal to clean the acrylic countertop in the kitchen.