Selecting a material for the main work surface— it's a responsible matter. You need to consider durability, resistance to moisture, beauty, and, of course, cost. Are your eyes running wide with options? Today we will focus on the pros and cons of two of them: classic solid wood and popular laminate. If you have already decided, it's time to choose a material. Now there are a lot of options: glass, steel, quartz, even concrete and. But the classic of the genre is natural and beautiful solid wood and sometimes successfully imitating it laminate, chipboard covered with melamine film. Let's take a closer look at their advantages and disadvantages. Olga Lesina, interior designer: — Laminate and solid wood are two very different materials. Let's start with the fact that laminate is very dense and durable, you can only break it with a hammer. Its top layer successfully imitates marble, stone, and absolutely fantastic textures of different colors. Wood is a rather decorative material. Of course, it is very beautiful, but it is so susceptible to water, heat and sharp objects that it is advisable to use it not on the entire work surface, but only on a part. For example, as a bar countertop. Solid wood is a beautiful and capricious material with a unique pattern and natural beauty. Hard wood species are suitable: alder, oak, birch, larch. In case of damage, careful restoration is possible - the material, unfortunately, is still quite capricious. Hot pots can leave marks on it, the surface can darken over time. The key to a long service life is impregnation with special oil-based compounds during production and proper care. , for example, are known for the quality of such processing: solid oak or ash is polished and covered with a protective solution and wax with a pleasant smell of linseed oil. During operation, you will only have to use neutral cleaning agents and occasionally renew the coating.
Kitchen Divo by EWE factory, showroom "Kitchen interiors"
One of the types of wooden table top knownin the West, as a butcher's block — "butcher's table" — assembled from planks. It is even possible to combine different types of wood. Such a surface looks very beautiful, is ideally combined with steel and glass, fits into any interior and ennobles the space with its old-fashioned warm texture. Unfortunately, another disadvantage of the material is the price, which starts from 4,000-5,000 per linear meter. You can save money by finishing only part of the work surface with wood, for example, an island or a bar counter, which are extremely popular in the elements. Inga Azhgirey, interior designer: - A wooden tabletop is not a budget option. But the aesthetic advantages are obvious: it is beautiful, the surface is pleasant to the touch, environmentally friendly, elastic — the table will not split if a heavy object falls on it. Now a fairly wide range of wood species is offered for such tabletops. If you choose a durable one, you may encounter early cracks and deformation, since such wood is not flexible. And too soft and fibrous, alas, will not withstand constant pressure during cooking. Here are the best ones: oak, walnut, ash, cherry, teak, wenge. An alternative to solid wood is glued countertops made of layers of wood of one or several species. Thanks to the use of glue, the strength of such a finished surface is much higher. A special point is care. Any natural material requires attention and regular careful care to serve for many years. During the manufacturing process, countertops should be covered with special antiseptics and impregnations to reduce their susceptibility to moisture and high temperatures. The varnish layer should be renewed regularly to preserve beauty. Oil impregnation can be renewed less often, but the wood will darken faster. Personally, I like the look of "aged countertops", they are very cozy, but even such should be cleaned, protected from moisture and taken care of. If only because there is no such thing as too much hygiene. inga-art.ru
Kitchen Ultimo by EWE factory, showroom "Kitchen interiors"
Laminate is popular, but not eternal. This is,probably the most popular material in finishing kitchen countertops. It is loved for its low cost and endless number of color and pattern options. Pressed shavings are covered with decorative paper with the desired pattern and “sealed” with melamine or resins. Such a countertop is quite resistant to damage and easy to clean, and there are many texture options - matte, glossy, mirror, imitating wood, stone, marble.
Trail kitchen by Varenna factory, showroom “Kitchen interiors”
Problems begin if you don't protect bothshould be taken into account during production and installation of laminate board joints. Moisture causes the countertop to swell and deform, and it is almost impossible to repair it. But if you follow the care instructions — keep it dry, wash it with non-aggressive products — the surface will serve you faithfully for at least 10 years. Considering the low cost of the material, this can be a very profitable investment. Inga Azhgirey, interior designer: — The main advantage of laminate is its low price and variety of patterns and colors for every taste. There are even prints of paintings, and imitation wood looks good. Light countertops can lose their appearance a little over time; barely noticeable stains may appear on them after a couple of years. Damage is less noticeable on dark surfaces. Choose neutral or natural patterns: marble, wood, stone. Sharp objects can leave marks, so don't forget about cutting boards. But laminate is not too afraid of hot things. Matte or glossy texture? If you cook often and a lot, then it is better to choose a matte one, on which dirt is not so noticeable. It is also less susceptible to damage. Laminated countertops are afraid of vinegar - stains from this liquid can remain on the surface forever, so be careful when cleaning, do not use aggressive "chemistry". Another problematic point is the end edge. In my opinion, a rare manufacturer can make it aesthetically pleasing. But the advantages of laminate are obvious - low cost, reliability, the ability to experiment with design. inga-art.ru
Kitchen Horizon by Zeyko factory, showroom "Kitchen interiors"
So, what to choose? The choice is not easy. Let's go over the main parameters once again, key to the pleasant use of the kitchen surface.
- Reliability: the advantage here is laminate. It will retain its appearance, whereas the tree will inevitably change if it is constantly exposed to water, heat and sharp objects. However, some designers do this "chip", using in the finishing of countertops is the wood used in the construction of boats, sheds, chests - effectively shabby.
- Easy maintenance: again laminate has the advantage. Its surface is "sealed", so it will withstand a slight negligence in cleaning. However, this does not mean that it is worth neglecting simple rules, we remind: to remove immediately stains and water, do not use hard brushes and aggressive "chemistry".
- Price: laminate is much cheaper. The cost per meter starts from 1 000-1 500 rubles. It can serve for a long time.
- Aesthetics: only a matter of taste. The laminate has more options, colors, shades, patterns, textures. But nothing looks more beautiful than a natural tree, it's a choice for unique exclusive cuisines. Choose with your heart, but with your eyes open - everything should please you in the kitchen, but you also have to be ready for compromises. In addition, laminate and wood can be combined - what is not an option?
