Concrete is a material that’s gaining a great following at the moment. Being used on floors, in bathrooms and as kitchen worktops, concrete has certainly won the hearts of many of late. Many of us will only have seen this relatively new interior design phenomenon in magazines, showing us how great it looks. For anyone who has gone the extra mile though, and has either gone to a showroom to see and touch concrete worktops or who have friends or relatives who have chosen to go this route, there are likely to be two ‘tribes’: those who love it and those who loathe it. And it’s only fair to say that the same is true with wood worktops.
Although we’re all pretty familiar with wood worktops and we know how attractive they can be, we might well be tempted to go the concrete route. So what are the arguments for and against concrete and wood worktops? What should you think about when deciding to plump for one or the other? Here are some thoughts that should help point you in the right direction:
I love cooking and want a worktop that will stand up to lots of wear and tear.
For any cook, the kitchen really is the heart of the home. It’s a place where they create simple dishes to please the family, but also where they enjoy spending time developing their passion for food. If this sounds familiar to you and you’re in the process of changing your kitchen units and worktop, you could well be weighing up the pros and cons of concrete versus wood worktops. When it comes to cooking, both worktops are ideal backdrops to create your culinary works of art. While you shouldn’t really expect to chop directly on either of these surfaces, they’re both suitable for food preparation. When it comes to heat and cold though, there’s no getting away from the fact that neither polished concrete nor solid wood worktops should be subjected to hot pans or casserole dishes being directly placed on them. No matter which you choose, you should make sure you use a good quality pot stand or wooden board to absorb the heat.
I want an ultra-modern look.
This is where concrete wins hands down right now. The colour options and the style options offered by concrete are pretty much limitless because it can be coloured to and moulded into virtually any shape you want. What this means is that you can create the ultra-modern look you’re hoping for. That said, wood worktops can also be shaped and coloured, but do tend to retain a more classic look than concrete. Like all things in life though, it could well be that the current trend for concrete will be shunned in the future, potentially leaving concrete looking dated and out of place in a few years time. Only time will tell for concrete, however, wood worktops have already stood that test of time, so they have nothing to prove 😉 .
I want to keep the noise in my kitchen to a minimum.
Kitchens are spaces in the home that can be quite noisy. When you add together the noise that comes from dishwashers, washing machines, cooker hoods and fan ovens, without even adding a few people chatting to the equation, it’s not surprising. Although concrete and wood are both hard surfaces and won’t absorb all that much noise, the general consensus is that wood will certainly absorb more noise than concrete, which means that choosing this option should help reduce the noise in your kitchen. That said, there are other things you can do, like adding rugs, curtains and cushions on chairs, all of which will help absorb the noise levels you get in your kitchen.
I don’t want too much ongoing maintenance.
No matter which worktop option you choose, you need to make sure that when you fit your worktop it’s sealed and ready to use. Once it has been sealed at the beginning of it’s life, it’ll be ready to face the wear and tear of your kitchen, but you still need to be conscious of mopping up stains and spills quickly, no matter which option you choose. What’s more, both wood and concrete options will both last longer and look better if you make a point of making sure your worktop stays clean and gets regular re-seals in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. In reality, it’s unlikely that one will demand much more maintenance than the other.
I want to know that my kitchen styling will stand the test of time.
Again, like we’ve said in point 1 above, concrete is a relatively new kid on the worktop block, whereas wood has been on the go for centuries. As a result, unless you’re prepared to take the risk that your worktop could go out of fashion, then wood’s definitely the safest option.
How the two compare
| Consideration | Wood Worktops | Concrete Worktops |
|---|---|---|
| Durability for Cooking | Suitable for food preparation but shouldn’t have hot pans directly placed on it. | Suitable for food preparation but shouldn’t have hot pans directly placed on it. |
| Design Style | Retains a classic look, has stood the test of time. | Offers limitless color and style options, ideal for an ultra-modern look. |
| Noise Absorption | Can absorb more noise than concrete, helping to reduce noise in the kitchen. | Hard surface, less capable of noise absorption than wood. |
| Maintenance | Requires quick stain and spill clean-up and regular re-seals according to manufacturer’s instructions. | Requires quick stain and spill clean-up and regular re-seals according to manufacturer’s instructions. |
| Longevity of Style | Proven to stand the test of time. | Relatively new material, might go out of fashion in the future. |
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FAQ
1. Are wood worktops suitable for food preparation?
Yes, wood worktops are suitable for food preparation. However, they should not have hot pans directly placed on them to prevent damage.
2. Can concrete worktops give an ultra-modern look?
Yes, concrete worktops offer limitless color and style options, making them an ideal choice for an ultra-modern look.
3. Which type of worktop is better at noise absorption?
Wood worktops are better at noise absorption than concrete ones. This can help to reduce noise levels in the kitchen.
4. Do concrete worktops require a lot of maintenance?
Concrete worktops, like wood ones, require quick clean-up of stains and spills. They also need regular re-sealing according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Do wood worktops stand the test of time in terms of style?
Yes, wood worktops have proven to stand the test of time in terms of style, making them a safe option if you want a timeless kitchen look.