If so, you’ll be in safe hands with Adamson’s. Got a question, want an idea of price or ready to book your FREE home design visit?
When planning a kitchen renovation, along with your cabinets, the worktops is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It’s the surface you’ll see and use every day. For food prep, making cups of coffee or even dining at, should you have a breakfast bar, it’s crucial it works for your lifestyle. With so many materials available, each with its own personality, performance and price point, it can be tricky to know what’s right for your kitchen.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the pros, cons and characteristics of the most popular kitchen worktops available today, helping you make the best choice for your home, taste and budget.
Quartz is a popular choice for modern kitchens, combining the look of natural stone with added strength and consistency. It’s an engineered surface made from around 90% ground quartz mixed with resins and pigments giving it a non-porous, uniform finish.
Current popularity:
Quartz continues to dominate as a go-to material, particularly in light neutral tones like off-white, taupe and grey. It’s widely used in both contemporary and classic-style kitchens.
Care and maintenance:
Because it’s non-porous, quartz resists staining well and doesn’t need sealing like natural stone. Just wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap.
Quartz worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★★★ (9/10)
Stain resistance: ★★★★★ (9/10)
Care required: ★★★★★ (9/10)
Affordability: ★★★★☆ (7/10)
Nothing quite beats the elegant veining and soft luxury of marble. It’s a natural stone formed over millennia and each slab is unique, giving your kitchen a timeless, high-end feel. For homeowners seeking a kitchen with real wow factor, marble is often a strong contender.
Current popularity:
Marble is often used for statement islands or splashbacks rather than entire worktops, especially in showpiece kitchens. It remains a favourite for bakers thanks to its naturally cool surface.
Care and maintenance:
Marble is porous, so it requires sealing and regular care to prevent staining from things like red wine, lemon juice or oil. It’s also more prone to scratching than other surfaces.
Marble worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
Stain resistance: ★★☆☆☆ (4/10)
Care required: ★★☆☆☆ (4/10)
Affordability: ★★☆☆☆ (3/10)
Granite is another natural stone, known for its strength and distinctive patterns. It offers a bold, natural aesthetic and no two slabs are ever the same. Many people are drawn to its depth and durability.
Current popularity:
Granite has seen a dip in recent years with the rise of quartz, but it remains a favourite for those who want a truly natural material.
Care and maintenance:
Granite is porous like marble, though slightly more forgiving. It will need periodic sealing to protect against stains. It’s tough and heat-resistant, so it holds up well to daily use.
Granite worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★★★ (9/10)
Stain resistance: ★★★★☆ (7/10)
Care required: ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
Affordability: ★★★★☆ (6/10)
Warm, tactile and full of character, wooden worktops bring a natural charm to any kitchen. They’re available in a range of species including oak, walnut, beech and bamboo.
Current popularity:
Wood is often used as a feature worktop for breakfast bars or islands, rather than throughout the entire kitchen. It’s popular in traditional country-style or Scandi-inspired spaces.
Care and maintenance:
Wood needs regular oiling to prevent drying or staining, and it’s not the best surface for very wet or high-use zones. That said, it’s easily repairable and scratches can be sanded out.
Wood worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
Stain resistance: ★★☆☆☆ (4/10)
Care required: ★★☆☆☆ (5/10)
Affordability: ★★★★☆ (7/10)
Favoured in professional kitchens, stainless steel is hardwearing, hygienic and heat resistant. It creates a striking, industrial-style look and offers a completely non-porous surface.
Current popularity:
While not common in traditional homes, stainless steel has a cult following in ultra-modern and minimalist interiors. It’s especially loved by serious cooks.
Care and maintenance:
Very easy to clean, but it will show fingerprints, water spots and scratches over time which adds to the patina, if that’s your thing.
Stainless steel worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★★★ (9/10)
Stain resistance: ★★★★★ (10/10)
Care required: ★★★★☆ (7/10)
Affordability: ★★★☆☆ (5/10)
Concrete offers a bold, bespoke look that’s ideal for industrial, modern, or rustic kitchens. It’s often poured in place or cast in custom moulds, meaning the possibilities are almost endless.
Current popularity:
Once a niche choice, concrete is becoming more popular thanks to its raw texture and unique appearance. It’s a design statement for those looking to create something a bit different.
Care and maintenance:
Concrete is porous and can crack if not installed correctly. It needs sealing and regular maintenance to avoid staining but fans love the raw industrial look it gives to any kitchen.
Concrete worktop ratings:
Durability: ★★★★☆ (8/10)
Stain resistance: ★★☆☆☆ (4/10)
Care required: ★★☆☆☆ (4/10)
Affordability: ★★★☆☆ (5/10)
When weighing up all the key factors(durability, stain resistance, maintenance, and affordability) two materials come out on top: Quartz and Stainless Steel. Both offer excellent performance across the board, making them standout choices for a wide range of kitchen styles and lifestyles.
| Material | Durability | Stain Resistance | Care & Maintenance | Affordability | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 8 |
| Marble | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Granite | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| Wood | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5 |
| Stainless Steel | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Concrete | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Visit our showroom to see worktop samples up close, compare materials side by side, and chat with our designers about what’s right for your home. Whether you’re after something timeless or ready to make a bold statement, we’ll help you find the perfect finish to complete your dream kitchen.
It depends on the size of your kitchen and access. Many quartz and granite worktops can be installed in one piece if the slab and access allow – but often worktops are cut into sections to ensure they can be carried in and fitted securely. Seam placement is carefully planned to keep joins discreet.
Quartz remains the most popular thanks to its low maintenance and huge range of finishes. We’re also seeing a rise in mixed materials for example, a quartz worktop with a timber breakfast bar or a concrete island paired with lighter cabinetry.
Think about how you use your kitchen day-to-day. Do you cook often? Do you have young children? Are you happy to wipe down surfaces regularly or would you prefer something lower maintenance? Our team can walk you through options in our showroom to match your surface to your routine.
Yes! We always recommend visiting our showroom to see and touch the different materials. Online images can only show so much—feeling the texture, weight and finish in person makes all the difference.
Durability and stain resistance are key here. Quartz, granite, and stainless steel tend to perform well in busy households. Come into the showroom and we can show you real examples and talk through what will suit your home best.
Absolutely. It’s quite popular to use a durable surface like quartz or granite on the main run and something warmer like wood on an island or breakfast bar. Our designers can help you coordinate finshes that complement each other beautifully.
Take the first step to transforming your kitchen.
Visit our showroom today.
We take care of your build
