Making Your Kitchen Look Cool Making Your Kitchen Look Cool

There are plenty of things to think about when you're having a kitchen remodelled, and one of the most important decisions is what type of material to use for your benchtops. These are going to form a focal point for your kitchen's styling and be used pretty much every day for food preparation. As such, it makes sense to take some time to compare all available options.

Many homeowners will eventually find themselves comparing natural stone kitchen benchtops against engineered stone benchtops. You'll find both have their own benefits and drawbacks, but here are just three reasons why so many people still choose natural stone over engineered stone.

1. Unique Appearance

Since kitchen benchtops can make such a statement, it only makes sense to choose the most attractive material. While natural stone has existed in the ground for thousands of years, engineered stone is made in a factory. While the process has improved markedly over the years to provide a more natural appearance, there's still no mistaking engineered stone for the real thing.

With natural stone, every slab is unique thanks to individual patterns of veining and shading, and its unmistakably natural appearance helps it stand out as a premium product.

2. Eco-Friendliness

Natural stone is unprocessed and requires no chemicals to be made. It is simply taken from the earth and then shaped. It's also easier to repurpose in the future since natural stone can be utilized in so many ways, and you can cut down on your carbon footprint further by choosing a locally quarried stone.

In contrast, engineered stone is made in a factory and requires the use of chemicals and other synthetic materials. It's also harder to repurpose. If you're concerned with eco-friendliness, natural stone is probably going to be more attractive.

3. UV Resistance

While both natural stone and engineered stone are remarkably tough, one less well-known benefit of natural stone is that it's naturally resistant to damage from UV rays. The same isn't true of engineered stone since the resin adhesives used during production aren't UV stable.

This is why you're unlikely to see engineered stone surfaces used outside, but this is also something to think about when you're choosing a kitchen benchtop. Plenty of light will still stream in through the windows, especially if you live in a hotter part of the country, so fading and discolouration from UV light can still be a concern when you choose engineered stone. With natural stone, this isn't something you need to worry about.