Kitchen Benchtops Guides & Resources

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Marble kitchen benchtops price

Marble benchtops are generally priced per square metre, with additional charges for special additions such as sink cut-outs and drainer grooves. Several factors play a part in choosing a kitchen benchtop. For one, the design should work with the rest of your home and kitchen décor. Additionally, the material should be durable and long-lasting, especially considering the amount of wear and tear it will see in a high traffic part of the house like the kitchen. One of the most critical factors that you will need to consider is the benchtop cost. The challenge with benchtops is that prices vary between suppliers and by factors including size, design, and colour. There are several options for kitchen benchtop materials, especially if you’re looking for stone benchtops. Options include [natural stone](/guides/kitchen-benchtops/stone-kitchen-benchtops-price) like granite and engineered stone such as quartz. Marble is one of the most popular options. Marble is a classic natural stone option for kitchens and is available in various colours and designs. It is a relatively porous material, especially compared to granite, which means that it needs to be sealed before installation. Marble benchtops are priced per square metre, with additional charges for special additions such as under-mount sink cut-outs and drainer grooves. Depending on the colour and type of marble you choose, you can expect to pay anywhere between $800 per square metre and $2,200 per square metre. [Timber kitchen benchtops](/guides/kitchen-renovations-installations/timber-kitchen-benchtops-price) are a worthy alternative if marble doesn't suit your style. ## Is marble good for kitchen benchtops? If you’re looking for a stone benchtop, marble is undoubtedly one of the best options - a few advantages are listed below. ### Aesthetic Marble is gorgeous to look at, and natural impurities in the stone benchtops like silica, clay, and dolomite result in stunning and unique patterns and beautifully coloured slabs. Colour options include white, black, rose, yellow, green, and more. No two slabs are identical, so you can be confident that you’re getting a unique kitchen. ### Durable As a natural stone, marble is resistant to cracking, scratching, and breaking (unlike many engineered stone options) and is also extremely heat-resistant (though you will still need to protect the surface if you want to preserve the finish). ### Low maintenance As long as your benchtops are sealed, they are easy to maintain. All you need is a damp cloth, some gentle soap. That said, you should make sure to clean spills that can stain (like wine, juice, and oil) as soon as possible. ## What type of marble can I use for benchtops? If you’re shopping for a marble stone benchtop, you may find yourself overwhelmed with how many types of marble you have to choose from. While there are numerous options you can pick from, some of the best choices are listed below. ### Calacatta marble This is likely the marble you think of when you imagine marble interiors. While it is expensive, it is one of the most attractive options available, featuring a brilliant white background with gold and grey veins. ### Carrara marble The more affordable alternative to Calacatta, this type of marble is better at disguising stains and wear and tear. However, you don’t get the same brilliant white that you find in Calacatta. ### Arrabescato Vagli Sitting halfway between Calacatta and Carrara in price, this marble offers greyish-green veins that are dark and striking on a white background. ### Crema Marfil Available in warm hues of yellow, white, cinnamon, and beige, this marble is perfect if you’re looking for benchtops to pair with darker accents in the rest of your kitchen.

Stone kitchen benchtops price

Stone benchtops are categorised into two groups - engineered stone, also called composite, and natural stone, for example granite. Stone benchtops are a crucial part of most modern kitchens as they add beauty and elegance. Generally, natural stone comes at a higher price when compared to an engineered stone benchtop. There are some factors that influence the pricing of a kitchen benchtop such as width size, preferred colour, site accessibility and cut-outs required for both sinks and taps. For a benchtop five metres in size and 600mm in width, expect to pay around $825 for laminate, $3,696 for caesarstone, $4,356 for granite and $4,620 for a marble benchtop. In general, for quartz stone, you will pay at least $514 and a maximum of $726 per square metre. For natural stone, granite benchtops cost a minimum of $858 up to $2,640 while [marble benchtops](/guides/kitchen-benchtops/marble-kitchen-benchtops-price) cost between $1,056 and $2,904 per square metre. ## Which stone is best for kitchen benchtops? Determining the best kitchen benchtop relies on the specific features that appeal to your needs. Engineered stones are non-porous and can be easily cleaned. They are also stain-resistant, come in a range of colours and edges and can have a detailed profile. Quartz stones have some disadvantages which include visible grout joints, exposure to extreme heat leaves marks and exposed edges can develop chippings. For natural materials, marble stones are unique, prestigious and suitable for luxurious kitchens. They have a neutral tone, are translucent and the edges possess a detailed profile. They are susceptible to staining and are not scratch resistant. The slabs require surface sealing for them to last longer and it can also be hard to get identical slabs since they don't look the same. Another natural stone is granite. The colours can be really outstanding when well polished. It's easy to maintain, can withstand extreme heat and can resist scratches and stains. They are prestigious and provide a unique natural look. They however require sealing, are very cold and finding identical stones is difficult. ## Are stone benchtops worth it? Stone benchtops are popular in many high-end kitchens, however, they are not necessarily suitable for every home. Laminate or [polyurethane](/guides/kitchen-renovations-installations/polyurethane-kitchen-cost) are durable and affordable options that look great. Premium stone benchtops cost more and can be expensive to maintain as they require sealing over time. They are also prone to staining and can be damaged by extreme heat. They are naturally outstanding and luxurious.

Stainless steel kitchen benchtops cost

Apart from lending your kitchen a profession style, stainless steel is preferred for hygiene, easy cleaning, and durability. A stainless steel kitchen benchtop will cost around $900 per square metre, with this estimate including template preparation, fabrication and installation by professionals. Expect to pay per sink bowl integration into the benchtop, which is around $300 per bowl. you will pay around $275 for cheap bowl fitting and polishing. Stainless steel benchtop prices range from $900 to $950 per square metre, with textures, implementation and finishing all adding to the price. It takes at least three weeks and at most five weeks to make a custom stainless steel benchtop. In some places, stainless steel benchtops are sold for between $285 and $350 per square metre, depending on the finish. Stainless steel benchtops are considered costly, but they offer promising hard-wearing and longevity, ensuring great value for money. The steel's thickness and design complexity all adds up to the price of the benchtop. A fancy design will be costly, while a simple design will be available at cheaper rates per square metre. Some benchtops made of thick metal sheets can cost upwards of $1,000 per square metre. Expect to pay a professional an hourly rate of around $50 to $80 to install, depending on the kitchen's size per square metre. Homeowners should avoid DIY when it comes to kitchen benchtop installation as you will pay an increased expense if the DIY process goes wrong. Other benchtop materials include [stone benchtops](/guides/kitchen-benchtops/stone-kitchen-benchtops-price), polished concrete, laminate benchtops, [timber benchtops](/guides/kitchen-renovations-installations/timber-kitchen-benchtops-price) and more. ## What are the benefits of a stainless steel kitchen benchtop? They are preferred for their hygiene, easy cleaning and durability factors, unlike natural stone. Sink bowls can be easily fitted to the benchtops. Other benefits include the below. - Stainless steel is nearly indestructible as it is resistant to heat, rust, water, and fire, much similar to natural stone and stone benchtops. - You can keep hot pans on the benchtop without worrying about any damage. - Stainless steel is more hygienic than other products such as natural stone used to make a kitchen benchtop. Regular cleaning eliminates bacteria, mould, or germs. Any liquid or solid food products cannot penetrate the material, similar to natural stone cook tops. - Stain-free, preventing any stains from wine, oils, or food. - Stainless steel is 100% recyclable, so the benchtops become eco-friendly. High durability means that there’s no need to worry about cracks and damages. - Countertop installation is easy since the metal can be cut and moulded in any shape or size. - Requires zero maintenance, apart from regular cleaning. ## How do you clean a stainless steel kitchen benchtop? These kitchen benchtops require soft sponges and microfibre rags for cleaning purposes. Brushed or polished finishes on these benches should always be wiped and scrubbed in the same or one direction with the grain. Engineered stone such as stone benchtop demands much more cleaning. [Marble benchtops](/guides/kitchen-benchtops/marble-kitchen-benchtops-price) require a different set of cleaning instructions altogether. ### Eliminating stains Use a stainless steel cleaner to eliminate any hard-water stains from the water, ice dispenser, or any drips of food. This is also used in engineered stone such as a stone benchtop. ### Advanced cleaning For cleaning limescale, removing coffee deposits and adhesives, use diluted vinegar, baking soda, and alcoholic solvents, such as acetone, respectively. Also, chloride-free glass sprays are efficient against polished, mirror-like surfaces.

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