IKEA | Worktops

Kitchen guide

Worktops

Worktops are probably the hardest-working element in your kitchen. They’re subjected to a daily onslaught of knocks, spills, hot pans, sharp knives and even the occasional full weight of a human being (most of us have probably clambered on to a worktop to change a light bulb or reach the back of a cupboard sometime). So strength and resilience are big priorities. But the best worktops are also hygienic, easy to wipe clean, and impervious to food odours and stains.

There is no single material that can fulfil all these requirements better than any other, but here is what you can expect from each.

Laminates

If you want a worktop that can take tough daily use - choose a laminated worktop. We test ours to ensure that they can cope with hot pans (180°C), as well as shrug off spilled wine, oil and hot drinks. They are even resistant to scratches and chemicals, and the smooth, hard surface is easy to keep clean.

The material is made up of a thin plastic laminate bonded to a chipboard, plywood or MDF (medium density fibreboard) for a great stability. It can cope with hot pans, withstand a certain amount of knocks and scratches, and shrug off wine and hot drinks.

And as they’re available in a variety of finishes and detail, finding one that sits beautifully with your cabinets couldn’t be easier.

Wooden worktops - a living surface

Wooden worktops will age gracefully if you treat them regularly with oil. We pre-treat all our wood worktops to give them a good start. Then it’s up to you to maintain the wood by treating it with BEHANDLA wood treatment oil every now and then. The oil protects the wood from marks, stains and cracks, and prevents water from penetrating the surface and destroying the wood. If the surface looks a little tired and worn after some time, you can give it a real facelift by sanding and oiling it. It will be like new.

After mounting use fine sandpaper to sand the worktop and treat it with the wood treatment oil BEHANDLA. Read more in the instruction that is delivered with the worktop.

Acrylic worktops – solid surface in the kitchen

With a made-to-measure acrylic worktop you can also choose matching bowls in the same material. Everything is cast in one piece, with no seams, and you can choose between four different colours. The work surface may be less scratch- and heat-resistant than laminate or stone worktops, but the smooth, poreless surface is easy to keep clean. And if you want to remove small scratches and stains, you polish the surface with the polishing and cleaning set that comes with it.

Stone worktops – stone-hard surface

If you choose a stone worktop you’ll get a work surface that’s extremely durable, scratch resistant and able to withstand high temperatures. The top layer of the worktop is a moulded composite stone powder. This makes the surface, unlike a solid stone worktop, non-porous, smooth and easy to keep clean. It’s also stain resistant, and doesn’t require any impregnation. And the surface always looks the same, which is good to know if you want several worktops in your kitchen.

Worktops that are less work

At IKEA stores, you can choose ready-made counter tops in solid wood or laminated counters – all cut into handy sizes. Solid wood is sanded smooth and ready to install. Laminated tops have finished edges, which makes installation easier while ensuring a tighter fit that’s resistant to moisture and wear. Just what you need, in just the right sizes.

Custom-made worktops

If your kitchen design requires a longer run of worktop, custom cuts, integrated sinks or special edging strips, you might be interested in our range of custom-made PERSONLIG worktops.

Semi-circular over hang for your island? Angle cut? No problem. And for even more flexibility, all our worktops can be styled with matching laminate edging strips, wood or aluminium effect.

Leave the Kitchen Guide and browse through our range of worktops in the product section.

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