Worktop questions answered

Just when you thought you had navigated door styles, colours, handles and appliances, you are then met with an array of worktop choices with different properties too.

Worktops have such a high impact to a kitchen , the way they feel and the way they are used. It is one of the main attractions that clients notice when they enter our showroom. We are proud to be an elite showroom with Consentino, and use Bellagio as our bespoke fabricators.

Who are Consentino?

The Cosentino Group is a global, family-owned Spanish company that produces and distributes innovative, sustainable and high-value surfaces. They are front runners in their Industry and work closely with their fabricators to produce beautiful work surfaces in every space possible.

Who are Bellagio?

Bellagio are fabricators of Consentino and other high end work surfaces and they do the whole package from template, to cut to fit. As ward winning stone specialists, they bring luxury and functionality together in every space. With their beautiful showroom to their cutting edge technology in their in house workshop, made them the perfect partner for us to work with.

What surfaces does your showroom stock?

Our bespoke kitchen showroom has quartz, granite and dekton on display.

Is quartz the most popular?

In general, yes. This is because it holds substantial advantages with a range of colour options and different price brackets. They are non-porous, hard wearing and easy to clean, making them an ideal solution not just in the kitchen, but in the whole home.

Is Dekton the new quartz?

Dekton is certainly making waves in the work surface industry. This is due to its many enviable properties for kitchen users, such as stain resistant, scratch resistant and heat proof. It also has a low impact to the environment being carbon neutral. However, these come with a higher price tag than a quartz and therefore hasn’t got the same affordable reach as a quartz.

Is granite old fashioned for a kitchen?

Granite is an original work surface that has been in kitchens for many years. It doesn’t have the same guarantee as a quartz or dekton. However, there are stunning designs in granite that you simply cant replicate. Also many customers who have had granite previously, have had no issues and like all work surfaces, the more you look after it, the longer it lasts. We love granite and when designed correctly, looks absolutely beautiful.

Does the silicone in quartz carry health issues?

There has been a lot in the press recently regarding quartz as a work surface. The health hazard here comes from companies producing cheap materials and fabricators not adhering to the correct health and safety procedures. Consentino’s Silestone quartz is a low silica, composed of premium minerals and recycled materials. Their new Hybriq+ technology effectively reduces the silica content. Furthermore, Bellagio uses strict conducts when it comes to working with silica and offset the risks with using high end technology. They are part of the WFF (worktops fabrication federation) who have recently met with leading medical experts to highlight their safe fabrication.