[column col="1/3"]
Type
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
Advantages
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
Disadvantages
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
Granite
Natural
product
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Wide range of colours and patters
- Heatproof
- Waterproof
- Can be used with undermount sinks
- Most Granite needs sealing but ours has a 25 year stain free warranty
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Can look institutional
- Can be noisy
- Hard on breakables and knives
- Needs to be sealed
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]Quartz
Silestone, Cambria, Caesartone, Hanstone, LG
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Stain resistant
- No sealers required
- Very difficult to scratch
- Joints are inconspicuous
- Ten year warranty
- Only diamond or precious stone is harder than Quartz
- High polished look like Granite
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Hard on breakables and knives
- Can be noisy
- Need to use trivets to prevent cracks from thermo shock
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
Solid Surfacing
(Corian®, Infinity, Staron, Earthstone, Gibraltar)
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Invisible seams
- Can be repaired
- Waterproof, so it can be used with undermount sinks
- Integral sinks available made of solid surfacing
- Hygienic
- Ten year warranty
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Hot pots can damage surface – must use trivet
- Can scratch but is repairable
- Non shiny look
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]Laminate
(Formica, Arborite, Wilsonart, Pionite)
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Hundreds of colour choices
- Inexpensive
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- No warranty
- Hot pans and knives will damage surface
- Damages can not be repaired
- Can’t use under mount sinks
- Not water resistant on seams
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]Stainless Steel[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Heatproof and waterproof
- Can be used with under mount sinks
- Won’t fade, rust or chip
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Can dent, scratch,
- Shows water marks and mineral deposits
- Noisy
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]Tile[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Wide variety of colours and patterns
- Heatproof and waterproof
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Grout lines trap food, dirt and stains
- Noisy
- Hard on breakables
- Not hygienic
[/column]
[column col="1/3"]Wood[/column]
[column col="1/3"]
- Beautiful when new
- Great for chopping and knives
- Scratches can be sanded out
[/column]
[column col="1/3" last="true"]
- Not heatproof or waterproof
- Needs to be oiled
- Spilled foods can stain
- High maintenance
[/column]