If you are planning to buy a new kitchen, sooner or later you will ask yourself what material you should use for the worktop. Natural stone or easy-care engineered stone? Warm solid wood or cheap laminate? Stainless steel or terrazzo?
The choices are endless.
Each material has different characteristics and individual advantages and disadvantages that need to be weighed up carefully. There are four main criteria to consider when choosing a kitchen worktop:
Durability
Scratch resistance
Impact resistance
Heat resistance
UV resistance
Food resistance
Easy to clean
Appearance and feel
Cost
Naturally hygienic & antistatic
Linoleum is inherently antistatic and does not need to be chemically treated like other products. The permanent antistatic properties are of course a clear advantage over other coatings in terms of dust generation and make it much easier to clean and more hygienic than other surfaces.
FENIX NTM® is a breakthrough material developed by Arpa specifically for interior applications. It is suitable for both vertical and horizontal applications. The decorative surface is enhanced by a special nanotechnology.
Wide range of colours & designs
Robust - harder than wood
Resistant to light and odours
Easy to clean & hygienic
Scratches can be polished out with an eraser
The soft material creates a bounce that is gentle on delicate crockery and absorbs sound.
Not cut resistant
Heat sensitive (up to 180 degrees)
Not sandable
FENIX NTM® is a breakthrough material developed by Arpa specifically for interior applications. It is suitable for both vertical and horizontal applications. The surface is refined by a special nanotechnology.
Wide range of colours and designs
Strong - harder than wood
Resistant to light and odours
Easy to clean & hygienic
Scratches can be polished out with an eraser
The soft material creates a bounce that is gentle on delicate crockery and absorbs sound.
Not cut resistant
Heat sensitive (up to 180 degrees)
Not sandable
Seamless appearance
Corian® is a solid surface material. It is a material that is approximately two-thirds natural mineral components and one-third acrylic. In other words, Corian is a mixture of plastic and minerals that creates a kind of artificial stone. Corian is only one brand; there are other solid surface materials from other manufacturers with the same properties.
A worktop made of Corian® can be joined together without joints and accommodates sinks and cooktops homogeneously and without visible joints. There are no gaps for dirt and moisture to collect. Corian® can also be combined with other materials such as stainless steel, wood or glass.
Easy to clean & hygienic
Durable & hard wearing
Incredible variety of shapes and colours
No clinking when putting dishes down
Environmentally friendly
Not scratch or impact resistant
Not heat resistant (max 180°C)
Rather expensive
Not a natural product
Geta Core is a solid surface material. It is a material that consists of two thirds natural mineral components and one third acrylic. Geta Core is therefore a mixture of plastic and minerals, resulting in a kind of artificial stone. Geta Core is only one brand; there are other solid surface materials from other manufacturers with the same properties.
A Geta Core worktop can be joined together without joints and will accommodate sinks and hobs homogeneously and without visible joints. There are no cavities where dirt and moisture can collect. Corian® can also be combined with other materials such as stainless steel, wood or glass.
Easy to clean & hygienic
Durable & hard wearing
Incredible variety of colours and shapes
No clinking when putting dishes down
Environmentally friendly
Not scratch and impact resistant
Not heat resistant (max. 180 °C)
Rather high priced
Not a natural product
Stainless steel worktops are easy to clean and hygienic. It does not absorb water or other liquids. Germs cannot penetrate the worktop. Stains can be removed with a damp cloth and a little household cleaner. However, fingerprints or grease stains will quickly appear on a stainless steel worktop. Unsightly scratches can develop over time. It is therefore advisable to place a chopping board underneath when using sharp knives.
Easy to clean
Hygienic thanks to non-porous surface suitable for everyday use
Durable
Abrasion resistant
Resistant to moisture
Resistant to acids
Heat resistant
Not cut resistant
Terrazzo's hard-wearing surface makes it suitable for use in the catering industry.
Once laid, the surface is sanded several times to bring out the gravel and create an extremely dense, exciting and, above all, resistant surface.
Terrazzo is not just for flooring. In domestic and commercial kitchens, it is used as a worktop or countertop because of the advantage of its harder surface compared to concrete.