Kitchen Benchtops

When choosing your ideal kitchen stone benchtop, the most vital factor is knowing how you intend to use your kitchen, which will help you decide your budget and aesthetic choices.

In general, the most widely recommend stone material for an indoor kitchen benchtop is engineered stone, which is either quartz-based or porcelain-based. Engineered stones are carefully tailored to ensure the material can withstand the intense everyday use a kitchen benchtop receives. Most types of engineered stones offer high durability and great hygienic qualities, such as water, heat and stain-resistance, as well as being an easy to clean surface that does not require much ongoing maintenance or re-sealing.

Quartz kitchen benchtops are a type of engineered stone that contains 90-93% natural forming quartz, which is the hardest material on earth! At Made in Stone, the Quartz kitchen benchtops we sell include Caesarstone, YDL Quartz, Silestone and Smartstone. Quartz stone is a tough, non-porous, long-lasting, and visually attractive benchtop that requires little upkeep. It is a great option for homeowners looking for durability and style.

Porcelain kitchen benchtops are the other popular type of engineered stone constructed from powdered clay and coloured pigment. It is a denser, less porous and more durable stone than quartz. At Made in Stone, we sell Dekton, the most popular type of porcelain stone in the industry, Dekton is very resistant to heat, stains, UV, scratches, abrasion and freezing, making it a perfect choice for busy kitchens.

On the other hand, natural stone is the ideal benchtop pick for luxury and high-end kitchens wanting a one-of-a-kind feature piece in their home. All types of natural stones will suit the kitchen benchtop application, but particularly granite and marble are the most popular choices due to their robust qualities and opulent appearances. At Made in Stone, we offer a range of natural stone benchtops, including granite and marble, which are perfect for homeowners seeking a luxurious and unique look.

The cost of a kitchen stone benchtop varies widely depending on the stone itself and the intensity of the installation.

The cost of a stone slab is mainly determined by the procedure involved in preparing it for installation. For example, the size of the benchtop and the number of cut-outs you need – for a sink, tap, drainage, etc. – will add to the overall cost. The type of stone you choose can also impact the price, with popular options including granite, marble, and quartz.

Generally, for initial stone prices, there are 4-5 distinct cost levels within any stone brand, ranging from a “regular” collection to a “deluxe” or “exclusive” collection. But in addition, the stone’s rarity, thickness, colour, popularity, manufacturing methods and shipping costs are all variables that make some kitchen stone benchtops more costly than others.

Plus, despite popular belief, some varieties of natural stone can be less expensive than engineered stones! So, it pays to shop around before making your final kitchen benchtop decision. At Made in Stone, we offer many benchtop products to suit all budgets and preferences!

Finally, stone installations themselves can vary greatly, which results in widely different final costs. Considerations such as kitchen size, access to the site and site location affect final costs. That’s why it’s important to work with experienced professionals who can ensure your kitchen stone benchtop installation is done correctly and efficiently.

To find out precisely how much a kitchen stone benchtop will cost you, get an online quote from the Made in Stone experts today! With our extensive selection of high-quality stones and commitment to customer satisfaction, we’re confident we can help you find the perfect benchtop for your needs.

A standard kitchen stone benchtop thickness is 20mm, but you may increase it in 20mm increments to whatever you like within reason, e.g., 40mm, 60mm and up.

Thinner kitchen benchtops typically have a lighter and more subtle look on a space, compared to a thicker kitchen benchtop which can appear heavier and tends to dominate an area. However, thicker stone benchtops can add more durability and longevity to your kitchen design.

Larger kitchens might benefit from thicker kitchen benchtops, as they fill up the room and appear more proportionate to the area. Additionally, thicker benchtops can support heavier appliances and equipment, such as oversized sinks or cooktops. On the other hand, if your kitchen is small, a thinner benchtop may be more preferable since it will seem less overpowering and cluttered.

What is the ideal thickness for your kitchen design? It all boils down to personal tastes and the style you are creating in the space. Your Made in Stone designer can assist you in determining the optimum edge profile, slab thickness, and other important elements for your kitchen benchtop, such as colour, texture, and material.