Countertop
The term refers to the kitchen countertop work surface in kitchens for food preparation. These countertops are usually permanently mounted and form the horizontal degree of fitted kitchens with a depth of about 60 cm and a working height of about 85 cm ( less than 82 cm to the bottom edge of the countertop for built- enabled devices). In these plates underneath cookers and sinks are fitted.
The choice of materials is determined in addition to the colors by hardness, insensibility (scratch resistance and heat resistance ) and ease of care.
Laminate and MDF
Laminates and coated MDF or particle boards are widely used as kitchen countertops.
Laminate flooring is relatively close to the surface, impact and abrasion resistant. While the term " laminate " is often used as synonyms for flooring, laminates (eg in the form of HPL - short for High Pressure Laminate ) used in kitchens with differently shaped surfaces and keep short-term high temperatures (eg, cigarette ash and hot pot bases ) stood. Such surfaces are easy to clean and maintain, heat and light resistant, odorless and resistant to alcohol or organic solvents as well as the action of steam and water. Kitchen countertops with HPL surfaces are approved according to the Consumer Goods Ordinance for contact with food.
While they are usually significantly cheaper than natural stone and stainless steel, one of its disadvantages is the low in comparison scratch and heat resistance. Hot cookware can be imprinted on the surface, so heat resistant coasters Always use prior to discontinuation of heated pots and pans.
Medium-density fibreboard ( MDF ): From feinstzerfasertem, mainly bark-free softwood and by a gentle pressing in a longitudinal and transverse direction equally homogeneous wood material is produced. The edges are smooth and safe and can be profiled without special edge band.
Are commercially available MDF boards with a thickness of 2 mm to 60 mm with a density of 600-1000 kg / m³ available. The range of use is similar to the flat pressing plate (chipboard ), but the edges and surfaces can be profiled and then painted with their delicate, almost homogeneous structure. The need for edge bands, as would be the case with flat pressure plates not applicable, therefore they are used for kitchen countertops and kitchen cabinets.
Wood
Solid wood (mainly from hard woods such as beech ) can be found as countertops in the Domestic Kitchen, mostly as a mobile cutting boards and rarely in its entirety as kitchen worktops. These natural materials can technically as laminate or MDF panels are arranged. With solid wood precaution shall be taken against fungal infestation in the kitchen. Typically, they are impregnated with wood oil or paint. A special case are coated laminated wood in kitchens.
Natural stone
Natural stones are used as kitchen countertops in a polished form of use. But there are so-called bebürstete stone surfaces that are dull. To match the countertops to those installed as floor and wall coverings with a polished stone surfaces in kitchens. Natural stones withstand high temperatures (eg, lit cigarettes and hot pan bottoms ) stood. The stone surfaces are easy to maintain and to clean, heat-and light -resistant, odorless and resistant to detergents, alcohol, solvents as well as the action of steam and water. They are selectable in a variety of colors, texture and feel.
The natural stones that are used for kitchen countertops, are mainly granites, gabbros, gneisses and quartzites.
Granite, which have a granular structure, is available in almost all colors ( except blue: this is extremely rare and very cost intensive and black). They are among the densest stones with low water absorption.
If dark surfaces preferred, the dark gabbros, so-called " black granites " are chosen, which have granite-like properties.
Gneisses offer more colorful, brighter colors.
Quartzites are among the hardest rock families at all. They have high scratch resistance, and take almost no water.
Other rocks are rarely represented in German kitchens. Sometimes come hard and dense sandstones (eg Ruhr sandstone ) were used. These are porous and they tend to unwanted absorption of liquids. Rocks ( marbles, certain granites, basalts, basanites, etc.) that are sensitive to chemicals, are relatively unsuitable as citric acid, acetic acid and fruit acids leave traces on these stones. However, in Italy, see eg kitchen worktops from the sensitive Carrara marbles use. Fading Glow is there obviously not considered a disadvantage. In the pastry industry frequently work tables made of Carrara marble for use as frosting to cool down quickly and marble surfaces thereof are particularly suitable, further no dough adheres to the surfaces of marble.
Natural stones are manufactured, cut and polished with stone circular saws and stone grinders. If there are any rejections or scratches during use, these faults can be removed by qualified personnel Steinmetz companies. With polished stone surfaces cleaning can certainly be done with microfiber towels.
Quartz material
Countertops made of quartz material, a synthetic stone are pressed quartz granules, pigments and resin in a special vacuum and vibration process under high pressure. They can be made with different colors and dazzling and glitzenden ingredients on the surface and are large slabs that are processed like natural stone ( see above). These countertops can be manufactured in any color individually. Occur Glittering effects of minerals, the comparatively in certain natural stones (eg spectrolite, Star Galaxy), can be mixed.
Recently, antibacterial equipped stone kitchen countertops are available containing the substance triclosan. The use of this substance has been classified, for example, in Norway as harmful in the draft Norwegian PoHS Directive.
Mineral material
The countertops that are produced and designated as mineral materials consist of a mineral component ( aluminum ) and an acrylic or polyester resin, which are produced in industrial chemical processes as plates with a thickness of slightly more than one to three millimeters or full board thickness. Basically there are composite materials that coat other materials. Mineral materials (mostly particle board ) applied in thickness from 1-3 mm directly on the support material in the thickness range 6-24 mm a support material (chipboard, MDF ... ) is being built later depending on the application. In the higher strength range (18-24 mm) is no support material needed. They are chemically very resistant and can be edited with the technology of a hardwood processing. These countertops are haptically warmer and softer than stone or steel plates and more durable than wood. The kitchen area is to be noted that the heat resistance only up to 180 ° ranges specified by the manufacturer, therefore, is necessary, to work with coasters.
Mineral materials are colored homogeneous, have a porous surface and are therefore reground and revitalisierbar. In addition, quite a high chemical resistance is given, which makes the mineral for use in kitchen, bathroom and laboratory ideal.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel (trade names also: Cromargan or stainless steel ) is food- resistant, scratch and heat resistant and comes with a variety of surfaces. In the professional commercial kitchens include stainless steel surfaces as standard equipment, although only low grades are used there. Also, stainless steel countertops are glued there for reasons of stability with a carrier plate from eg a wood-based materials. The application in the private kitchen is mainly in the upscale segment and expansion in other qualities than in the large kitchen.
Recently, countertops made of hot rolled and thus easily structured sheets are manufactured in thickness of 6-12 mm. Stainless steel work surfaces can be manufactured without joints. Depending on the surface treatment and the use of each countertop may receive a customized look. With microfibre cloths and Inox Cleaner cleaning can take place.
Concrete
A special case is a kitchen countertop made of concrete dar. In the manufacture of special concrete can be colored. Concrete is liquid consistency and poured into a wooden form in which the cuttings are left out. The visible surfaces can be treated with hard wax sein.Die concretes produced are heat resistant, chemical resistant, the corners and edges of a concrete kitchen counter, however, can impact vulnerable than other materials be.
Ceramics
Countertops made of ceramic and ceramic-like materials are installed in thicknesses from 3 mm, but which are glued and reinforced on 3 3 mm. There are also ceramic plates in thicknesses of 10, 12 or 20 mm, which do not require support material. There are ceramic countertops in different colors and surface finishes ( rough, polished, matt, structured). The ceramic material is also suitable for outdoor use and UV resistant. The surfaces are highly scratch - and acid-resistant, except to hydrofluoric acid. Ceramic is characterized by a high heat resistance. The liquid absorption of the ceramic surfaces goes to zero, so almost no solutions or liquids can penetrate the material. The ceramic countertops can be cleaned with standard solvents, disinfectants and cleaning agents.
Cleaning
Basically, the above materials are to be treated only with suitable detergent.
In addition to natural stone cleaners are also cleaning products and microfiber cloths are used. Coated plates can be cleaned accordingly. Stainless steel is relatively insensitive and can be treated with special cleaning products. Solid wood is more problematic and may swell under the influence of water.