One of the most popular materials for kitchen worktops at the moment is Granite. Whenever you look at home improvement magazines, granite generally appears in at least one feature. Silestone, made from 93% quartz mixed with resins and pigments, is also a very popular choice for Kitchen Worktops. So which is the right choice, Silestone or Granite?
So have you ever asked yourself why granite is so popular? Obviously, one of the things granite has going for it is the fact that it is a natural stone and the variations in colour and grain which can be found (more commonly in lighter coloured granite) in stone produced from the same source, can give a kitchen worktop a unique appearance, not something to turn your nose up at.
Granite, being one of the hardest materials around, produces a durable worktop for the home and keeps its colour over time. As with other stone and engineered stone worktops, drainage grooves can be cut into the surface, it can also be cut to fit most shapes, including curves. Not to mention the fact that rather than the traditional square edge most people imagine natural stone surfaces to have, different shaped edges can be chosen to complete the finish you want for your kitchen. Granite is also easy to clean, a bonus when considering the busy lifestyles many people have today.
One consideration which needs to be made when making the decision to choose a granite kitchen worktop, is its weight. Being a natural stone, granite needs a firm foundation on which to be laid and one which itself will stand the test of time, which is fair enough if you are refurbishing the whole of your kitchen, as this can be taken into account when making your plans but if you only want to change your worktop you need to make sure that it will have sufficient support.
Silestone kitchen worktops are also tough, durable and beautiful. However, Silestone worktops are impregnated with an antibacterial substance called Microban creating a hygienic surface used in many professional kitchens. Introduced during the manufacturing process the Microban technology in the Silestone countertop works continuously to fight microbes even between cleaning and it won’t wash off or wear away, giving a Silestone kitchen worktop protection that lasts the lifetime of the countertop.
Also, Silestone has much higher tensile strength than Marble, or even Granite making it one of the strongest kitchen worktop surfaces around. Silestone countertops are available in a wide range of colours designed to match any décor or suit any individual’s lifestyle needs.
So, if you want a new, contemporary, look for your kitchen, you won’t go wrong with either a Silestone or Granite Kitchen Worktops.