I would like to describe materials from which the kitchen worktops are made, which thickness they can have and which materials used in their manufacturing are more expensive or which are the cheaper ones (and which are better and why). In the introduction I will attend to laminate materials.

Kitchen worktops from doubled DTD

Doubled laminated particle boards (36 mm thick) used for the construction of furniture are also often used for the construction of kitchen worktops. Such cheap kitchen worktops are most often mounted in the small kitchens in the office interiors (because of the maximum material reconciliation the kitchen with other office furniture or as a result of minimizing costs while equipping the interior), where they are not used so often as worktops at home kitchen.

The core of classical laminated particle boards used for the manufacture of furniture is not impregnated, and their surface is not suited for long-term resisting to moisture. The risk of devaluation of such a worktop is increased by using edge tape or ABS edges. Low resistance to mechanical damage and high temperatures are another arguments, speaking against the use of such a worktops. The positive is (in addition to a relatively low price) a wide range of available patterns and color shades of particle boards and the possibility of manufacturing a deeper worktop (opposed to the standard of 600 mm).

Laminated worktops with postforming

More appropriate (and much more used) alternative to cheap and low quality kitchen worktop from DTD is laminated worktop with the so-called postforming thickness of 28, 38 (Egger) or 39 (Wodego) millimeters. It is resistant to high temperatures (up to approximately 180 ° C – but I do not recommend to put the hot pots directly to it because the hot bottom of pot has much hugher temperature), it is also resistant to mechanical damage (but I also recommend using special wooden underlays when cutting food) and chemicals. Postforming on the front edge of laminated kitchen worktop ensures integrity of surface, so the maximal waterproofness is guaranteed.

In the current modern kitchens there is a significant disadvantage that the laminated kitchen worktops are produced in most cases only at a thickness of 600 mm. On the other hand, by sticking appropriately chosen large-scale material you can achieve almost any thickness of the worktop - in this settlement you must replace the original post-formed front edges with the ABS tape, laminate edge or an aluminum bar.

Kitchen worktops with pressed laminate

Rezopal, Duropal, Homapal … these are just some of the names of laminates used for the manufacture of luxury kitchen worktops. Even though the final quality of the worktop is almost the same as the laminated worktops with postforming, their price is much higher. The manufacturer of such worktop must make it itself - laminate with a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 millimeters is pressed the core of particle board or hardboard.

The rich offer of the decors to the board but also the edges, complete freedom when choosing the thickness and the possibility of a production of worktop about 1,200 mm thick are the main reasons why this material is often used in production of the most luxurious kitchens.