Granite or Wood Worktops: Which is better for your home?

What are Granite worktops?

Granite worktops are a popular choice when it comes to kitchen worktops, and can be fabricated in a variety of finishes, colours, sizes, grain, and more. Made from sheets of polished stone, granite worktops are mined from 100% pure, natural stone. The many variants these can come in means you’ll never be able to find two identical granite countertops.

Pros of Granite worktops

Highly Durable

When it comes to natural materials, granite is one of the hardest on the market, coming second only to diamond. Being one of the hardest rocks available, granite worktops can last for decades when taken care of properly. This doesn’t mean they can’t be scratched, but doing so would require an extreme amount of effort. Even in the event of a scratch, there are professionals that specialise in these areas and would be able to fix it in most cases.

Stain & Heat Resistant

Not only are granite worktops highly durable, but they are also resistant to stains and heat. These worktops are easy to maintain and easy to clean, with soap and water being the only things you need to ensure a clean worktop. When properly sealed, granite worktops are heat resistant, meaning you can place hot pans, dishes, and other objects down on the counter without having to worry about leaving a mark or damaging the worktop in any way.

With spillages, stains, and other marks being a main problem in family kitchens, you’ll feel safe knowing your granite countertops are both durable and practical.

Hygienic

When sealed properly, not only are granite worktops heat resistant but also keep out bacteria and moisture. Being non-porous means these granite worktops are much easier to clean compared to the likes of wood, marble, and more, which are extremely porous and let in both bacteria and moisture.

Increase Home Value

Granite worktops are extremely aesthetically pleasing, and make the perfect addition to any kitchen design. This being said, when it comes to selling your home a good looking new kitchen is a massive selling point and can add up to 4% on the value of your home (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).

An investment into new worktops, especially a material like granite, both improve the look of your kitchen and bring a host of practical benefits, which ultimately makes it worth that bit more if you were to sell your home later down the line.

Cons of Granite worktops

Cold to the touch

Granite worktops are good at conducting heat away from things like you and your hands, meaning they can be cold to the touch, especially in winter. This coldness can result in warm things cooling down quicker when placed on the worktop for example, or even just act as a surprise on a cold morning if you forget how cold they can get!

Expensive

Due to it being a luxury material that comes with a range of benefits, granite can be an expensive option in comparison to materials such as laminate, wood, and others. The higher price is also down to the need for professionals when it comes to mining, installation, etc.

Heavy

When choosing a granite worktop you’ll first need to ensure that your cupboards are sturdy enough to withstand the weight. While they are extremely durable, this comes with the price of granite worktops being very heavy, and would require multiple people to carry and install if you were to choose these worktops which can come with a higher cost.

What are Wooden worktops?

In many homes, wooden worktops are the go-to both because of the look and aesthetic they bring, and also as they tend to come without the hefty price tag of the various stone materials. Similar to other materials, wood comes in various shapes, sizes, colours, and types. Where oak tends to be the most popular, there are many different types of wood to choose from, more than we can write in this blog!

Pros of Wooden worktops

Unique Look

With wooden worktops, each surface will always be slightly different, giving your kitchen a unique identity and a look that isn’t identical to any other.

Value for money

Choosing a wooden worktop usually comes at a much smaller cost than the likes of a granite worktop. Not to mention, wooden worktops tend to be easier to install than other worktops as they can be much lighter and actions such as cutting take less time than it would do with a stone material.

Can be protected

Where granite may be naturally stain resistant, wooden surfaces can make up for this through the use of coatings and waxes. Applying these oils and coatings regularly prevents the worktop from being exposed to germs, spillages, and stains.

Cons of Wooden worktops

Maintenance

Wooden worktops require much more maintenance than the likes of granite worktops, for example if they aren’t regularly sealed with oils/coatings they can become porous, allowing germs to seep into the wood.

Easily Marked

Being a softer material, the surfaces of wooden worktops are more susceptible to scratches, dents, and more. This can be an issue for busier kitchens where the countertops are more prone to being caught.

Not Heat Resistant

Unlike granite worktops, wooden countertops can scorch very easily if a hot pan or pot is placed on them.

Granite or Wood worktops: A quick comparison

In summary, granite worktops are a much more hard and durable work surface in comparison to wooden worktops, whereas wooden worktops are a lot more susceptible to scratches, burns, etc, and need regular maintenance to protect them against stains and bacteria.

Granite’s durability does come at a cost though, with not only a higher price tag but when being installed need a lot of preparation done before fitment such as reinforcing cupboards if they aren’t strong enough. One thing these materials do have in common is that they both look great and compliment most kitchen designs!

So, which worktop is better for your home? That would depend on the aesthetic you’re going for in your kitchen, along with how big your budget is.

If you’re struggling to weigh up which is best for your home, we’d be happy to discuss this with you. Picking a worktop is no easy decision, so we’re open to answer any questions you may have to make this process as easy as possible for you.