Monday 22 January 2024

Acrylic Worktops Buying Guide

Acrylic Worktops Features And Benefits

Acrylic worktops are mostly associated with kitchens and bathrooms but the material itself, a resin comprising of plastic, polymers and natural minerals, can be used for a multitude of purposes including wall coverings, wet rooms, shower trays, furniture and splashbacks.

The primary feature of acrylic worktops is the seamless appearance of the finished product and the benefit of this is that any joins required will be invisible, leaving nowhere for water or dirt to accumulate. For this reason you will often see the material in use in hospitals, dentists, vets, anywhere where hygiene is a primary concern as you can see in the image below. We are going to focus on its use in domestic kitchens and bathrooms.

Acrylic worktops in healthcare

How can I purchase acrylic kitchen worktops?

This type of kitchen worktop is available in two formats, pre-fabricated which include brands like Hanex, Staron, Corian, Tristone and modular from brands such as Minerva, Mistral, Earthstone and Maia. Which type you choose will determine how you purchase it and who will install the worktops in your kitchen or bathroom.

The materials in either type are essentially the same but Hanex, for example, comes in 13mm sheets applied to an MDF subframe, the finished worktop can be any thickness and depth of your choice. This work is undertaken by specialist fabricators who will make a template to work from once the base units of your kitchen have been installed, fabricate the worktops and then return to install them once they have been made. There will be a charge for the template, fabrication and installation of this type of worktop.

Acrylic worktops being fabricated.

Modular acrylic worktop like Minerva are usually 20mm thick and all of this is made up of acrylic. They are sold in standard lengths and depths, the material required will be calculated from your final kitchen plan and the worktops will be fitted by your kitchen installer.

Undermount, onset, butler and mixa sinks can be used with either type of worktop as can upstands, splashbacks and end panels etc and the untrained eye would struggle to tell the difference between the two finished products.

Some colours of acrylic are not suitable for use in kitchens or bathrooms so ensure your kitchen retailer covers this before you make a final decision.

For more information on kitchen and worktop installation visit Kent Home Improvements at http://www.hikent.co.uk/kitchen_worktop_fitter.html


Wednesday 27 April 2011

Concrete Worktops | Concrete Worktop

Concrete is used in far more than just building constuction these days. It's also now used to make solid surface kitchen worktops. Concrete worktops are taking the kitchen design industry by storm due to a combination of versatility and aesthetics.

The characterisitcs of concrete mean that it can be worked and moulded into any number of shapes, sizes and designs. The benefits of concrete worktops are many, and homeowners who have concrete worktopstops in their kitchens find it almost impossible to differentiate from other solid surface materials favoured by kitchen designers.



There are a number of looks that concrete worktops can take as a result of different colourings, aggregates and finshes.

Marbled: Using different pigments and creation techniques, concrete worktop fabricators can take concrete and make it almost indistinguishable from granite. The look is sealed in.

Trowel: Resulting a heavier textured surface than most worktops, this finish is one that many enjoy for its tactile, natural looking appearance.

Terrazzo: By adding glass shards or granite concrete worktoptops can acquire a variety of different looks in terrazzo. This add an extra dimension of lustre to the worktopstops.

Other things buyers should consider before purchasing concrete worktops include:

A Concrete worktopstops must be sealed to ensure staining and other damage are avoided. When a sealer is applied, the worktopstops can resist all sorts of problems. There are however things that can compromise the sealant, so it's important to make sure the job is done correctly and the wotktop is adequately protected from damage. The rules associated with concrete care aren't much different than most other solid surface worktops providing this stage is correctly carried out.

B While some worktops are meant to be cut on directly, concrete is not one of them. While the concrete can handle direct cutting, the sealant cannot. When cutting is done directly on the concrete worktop it damages the sealant which could lead to stain problems at a later date.

C Heat issues. As before the concrete itself can take the punishment, but the sealant might not. Therefore it's recommended that hot pans and bowls not be placed directly on the worktops. Just like working with Corian or other similar solid surfaces direct heat is worth avoiding to protect the longevity of the product.

Delivering remarkable beauty, concret worktops have much aesthetic appeal. It's very difficult for anyone who doesn't know what they're made of to tell by appearance. When properly made the designs can be simply fantastic.