When you are trying to decide on what to go for with your new kitchen worktop, you might be a little confused at the choices in front of you.

You first think of the idea to replace an old worktop and you aren’t too stressed with the whole thing, but as soon as you start to do a little research, you will soon see that there are many decisions to make, and if you go down the wrong avenue, you could be wasting time and money.

For that reason, it’s important to know what your choices are, and to investigate them all thoroughly. The first real decision you need to make however is what you want your worktop to be made of.

You have the following options:

• Stone
• Laminate
• Wood
• Stainless steel

The last three choices aren’t as popular as the top one, and for that reason, we’re going to concentrate on the pros and cons of choosing a composite stone worktop.

Within this bracket you have three main choices – granite, quartz, and marble.

Pros of Stone Worktops

Strength and durability – We are talking about stones which have been mined from the earth, and therefore these stones are strong and they are durable. Composite stone worktops retain much of their natural elements, with only a small percentage of ‘false’ materials added, to give you the colour you’re looking for.

Minimal upkeep and maintenance – Unlike wood and laminate, stone worktops do not need much in the way of maintenance, however marble and granite will need to be sealed annually; quartz doesn’t need any maintenance after the initial installation process.

Large number of colours and finishes available – The choice is huge, no matter which stone you go for. This means that you can create the ideal space for you, although do be careful that you choose a colour which goes with the other parts of your kitchen, especially if you choose to redecorate.

Widely available – Composite stone worktops are very widely available these days, in fact they are probably easier to find and install then wood and laminate. Yes, you will need a stone worktop to be professionally installed, but this is generally included in the price.

Very professional appearance – A composite stone worktop will really look the part, no matter which type of stone you go for.

Cons of Stone Worktops

More expensive than wood or laminate – A composite stone worktop is going to be more expensive, but you do get what you pay for. You can easily shop around and find deals, especially if you shop during traditional sale periods, such as New Year, for example.

Needs to be professionally installed – You cannot install a composite stone worktop yourself, and it will need to be installed by the company you purchase it from. This is generally included in the cost, but always check to be doubly sure. Yes, this is an additional cost to consider, but for a professional service, again, you get what you pay for.

As you can see from these two lists, there are considerably more pros than cons, which is why composite stone worktops are so popular these days. Of course, to give you a rounded view of what you can expect, you should also look at the other material choices we mentioned, but overall, stone is popular for a very good reason.