The tops are probably the most critical part of your kitchen installation. . .
Who ever is responsible for measuring your kitchen space must take great care to check the dimensions at bench height and how square the walls are to each other. The tops can be marginally oversized to accommodate slight variations, and often your back-splash material will cover some unevenness.
You need to decide what material your kitchen tops are to be made of. There are pros and cons for each type:

High Pressure Laminates HPL is supplied in a large variety of fashion colours and patterns. It is probably the most popular top material offering a cost effective and durable solution without necessarily compromising style and aesthetics. It is not particularly heat resistant and can scratch if care is not taken but with due respect a laminate top can look good for years.

Granite Granite can look stunning! It is available in a wide range of colours and patterns and has a large variation in cost across the range. The top end of the range can easily be your most expensive option. All solid surface tops need to be patterned after the kitchen cabinetry is installed with a waiting period of about 10 working days for the top installation. Stone is a natural product and there is no guarantee it will not crack or stain.

Engineered Quartz Stone The Quartz Stone top has the cool hard feel of natural stone but the added advantages of heat and stain resistance. It is a strong construction of 95% natural quartz chips and can also include sparkly bits or shell for effect. There is a good range of colours with fine consistent patterns and the tops tend to be priced in the mid granite range.

Stainless Steel Stainless is the most heat resistant top material and if detailed properly can look very smart. . . .It is often used in sink and cooking areas in conjunction with other complimentary materials on the tops facing living or dinning areas. Stainless is usually priced below the mid granite range.

Timber In some kitchens the natural warmth of a laminated wooden top is the perfect solution. They can be supplied in any available timber but the harder varieties are more durable and suited to tops. . .they can be finished with natural oil or super hard clear synthetic resins

Door/Panel materials and colours........... Hardware and storage systems

Stainless steel is an old material with a new look!
With the right detailing and quality craftsmanship a stainless top retains its traditional features of serviceability and practicality but can also give unparalleled style to a contemporary kitchen.

The standard 'Classic brushed' finish is the most cost effective while the various textured finishes, depending on the design, can often double the cost of manufacturing a stainless bench top.

The most popular edge details are the 'Bulnose' and 'Square-edge' and an 'Anti-spill' area can be a practical and elegant detail when added to all or a section of the bench top. Various thicknesses are possible with this material.

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.....  Bulnose...............Antispill.............Square-edge

Wooden benches can add a natural warm flavour to a contemporary kitchen. Used in conjunction with other materials such as stone, stainless steel or high pressure laminate, timber is able to give a harmonious and satisfying result.

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Tops can be made from any readily available timber with consideration given to colour, grain pattern, surface hardness and finish required. Because the material is solid and the grain runs right through it, there are no limits to edge profiles and corner treatment.

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