A kitchen benchtop is an integral part of a modern kitchen. Therefore if you are designing a new kitchen or planning to upgrade your old kitchen, you should probably consider adding a benchtop. This article will give you a comprehensive guide, best kitchen benchtop ideas, and their prices etc., so you can design or upgrade your kitchen perfectly.
Why do you need a kitchen benchtop?
The kitchen is the heart of a home. Therefore you should keep it as upgraded as possible.
One of the best ways to upgrade a kitchen is to add a countertop or a benchtop. Adding a benchtop will have various benefits. Some of them are:
- A new benchtop will give an appealing and gorgeous look to your kitchen.
- It could improve the value of your house.
- A new kitchen top will improve your efficiency in the kitchen.
- The benchtops will minimize the mess in the kitchen.
- It is a perfect place to keep the kitchen equipment.
What are the most preferred kitchen benchtop ideas?
The perfect kitchen benchtop will increase the appeal and add style to your lovely kitchen. However, kitchen benchtops will be involved in more action. Therefore it should be durable, match your budget and make your kitchen gorgeous.
Choosing a kitchen benchtop is a crucial decision. When selecting the perfect benchtop, you should know about these most preferred kitchen benchtop ideas. They are made from various materials and have different characteristics.
Here are some of the most popular types of kitchen benchtop ideas.
1. Granite
Granite is a durable, strong, and exquisite material for kitchen benchtops. It is hard and doesn’t get scratched easily. Granites come in a gorgeous variety of colors. It is also easy to clean and maintain.
The main drawback in choosing granite is that it is quite expensive. Therefore you should have a handy budget to afford granite.
2. Quartz
Quartz is similar to granite. It is strong, durable, and gives an exquisite look to your kitchen. The material doesn’t scratch easily and comes in an appealing range of colors.
While it is easier to clean and maintain than granite, it can be quite expensive than granite. Therefore you should consider quartz only if you have a significant budget.
3. Bamboo
Are you looking for a kitchen benchtop idea that is both eco-friendly and cheap? Then Bamboo is an ideal option. It is suitable for any kitchen style ranging from country style to modern.
Bamboo is not a strong and durable material. It could get scratched and damaged easily. Therefore you should use cutting boards and be cautious around them.
The bamboo will give an elegant look to your kitchen. However, it should be sanded and polished from time to time to keep the shine.
4. Timber
Do you want to bring elegance and an aesthetic look to your kitchen? Then timber is a good benchtop idea. However, timber will get scratched easily; therefore, be careful around timber benchtops.
There are various wooden colors that you can select when installing timber benchtops. However, it should be coated, oiled, and polished every now and then to keep its elegant appearance.
5. Stainless steel
Do you want the look of a restaurant kitchen? Then stainless steel is ideal.
It is easy to clean and maintain. Furthermore, it is hard to use and durable. That is why it is highly used in restaurants.
6. Laminate
Are you on a tight budget? Then laminate benchtops are the way to go. The laminate benchtops have the widest color range and designs, adding a nice touch to your kitchen.
The laminate benchtops are resistant to staining and easy to clean. However, they can get scratched easily.
Can you replace a kitchen benchtop?
Are you planning to replace the old kitchen benchtop and don’t know whether you could? Then in simple, yes, you can replace a benchtop. However, there are certain things you should consider when replacing.
First of all, you should hire a skilled tradesperson for the job. They can understand your situation and give you the best solutions. Every kitchen is unique, and a professional should inspect properly to decide whether the replacement is suitable.
There are a few more things to consider when replacing a benchtop. They are:
1. How it is fixed to the cabinetry
It is easy to replace a benchtop that is screwed from underneath. The screws are usually used in laminated and timber benchtops.
However, materials which are glued to the cabinetry, such as granite and quartz, are difficult to replace. Removing them can damage the cabinets and would increase the overall cost.
2. The thickness of the existing benchtop
It would be ideal if you could match the thickness of the new benchtop with the old one. This will avoid any gaps between the benchtop and the cabinet.
However, if the thickness is different, you should thoroughly check whether it fits the back of the wall and whether the gaps are sealed.
3. How will it affect the backsplash?
Is your current benchtop attached closely to the backsplash? Then removing it without damaging the backsplash could be challenging.
Therefore you should consult a professional and check for the most suitable option.
Can you paint a kitchen benchtop?
Benchtops will wear off after a certain period. Some materials are durable, but they will also eventually wear off. Therefore you should resurface the benchtop from time to time.
You can paint the benchtop as a resurfacing method. However, it involves a series of steps and could be quite a complicated process.
- First, you must clean the benchtop and remove any dust, dirt, residual cooking oil, etc.
- Then sand the top and the sides of the benchtop with sanding paper or a block in circular motions. This helps to absorb the paint easily.
- Once the sanding is done, look for any small holes and gaps. Fill them with putty and allow them to dry. Once it is dry, clean the surface again.
- Shake your paint well, and apply it to the benchtop.
- Once the paint is dry, lightly sand the surface. Don’t be harsh, or you will scuff the paint.
- Mix and apply glossy paint twice as a final touch.
Although these steps may seem easy from the surface, it would need professional experience to do the job correctly. Therefore it is always better to hire a professional for it.
How much do kitchen benchtops cost
If you are wondering how much does it cost to replace a kitchen benchtop, we have some details for you. The total cost of the job is one of the critical factors determining your choice. The cost of installing a benchtop will depend on various factors. Some of these factors are:
- The material used in the benchtop
- Quality of the material
- Size of the benchtop
- The time taken by the installer
- The price charged by the installer (hourly or fixed rates)
Therefore, it is difficult to say exactly how much a kitchen benchtop would cost. If there is a benchtop already, removing it and replacing a new one would cost more.
Consider the following values to get a rough idea about the prices of different benchtop materials. However, remember that they are rough estimates and would change from time to time.
- Granite – $600 to $2000 per square meter
- Laminate – $100 to $400 per square meter
- Stainless-steel – $900 to $1050 per square meter
- Timber – $600 to $1200 per square meter
- Bamboo – $300 to $400 per square meter
How to get quotes for your kitchen benchtop idea?
As said before, calculating an exact price for your job can be quite complex. A professional should examine your situation and determine the best solution. Only then can you accurately estimate the cost of your job.
However, to get a more fair view of the cost of the job, contact three tradies and request quotations from them. Then select the option which is suitable for your budget.
If you have an existing benchtop, resurfacing it could be cheap. However, if you plan to replace it, it can be a bit more expensive. That is why it is crucial to compare the prices of a few tradies before handing them the job.
Do you have a reliable tradie? If not, visit i4Tradies today to find the tradies in your area. Request quotations from them for your job. These quotations should indicate the price charged for each job and cost of the material.
You can find the best tradies for your job from our website. They will also guide you on the best kitchen benchtop ideas suitable for your kitchen.
