Ceramic kitchen worktops, also known as ultra-compact worktops or sintered stone, keep growing in popularity and for good reason. They offer a wide range of sensational looks and they are the most hygienic stone worktops you can have in your kitchen. And who doesn’t want the best hygiene at home right now?
Ceramic worktops are made from ceramic material heated at incredibly high temperatures and under monumental pressure. As a result, ceramic – or sintered stone – countertops are hugely hard and able to withstand almost all the challenges thrown at them by life in today’s kitchens. What’s more, there are no additives used in making them, so a ceramic worktop is an entirely natural product.
Why choose a ceramic kitchen worktop?
There is no shortage of choice in kitchen worktops, and each material has its advantages. In many ways, ceramic, or sintered stone, surfaces lead the field in terms of style and practicality, offering:
Exceptional style and looks
Remarkable durability
High heat resistance
Tough scratch resistance
Extreme stain resistance
Easy cleaning and maintenance
Non-fade resilience, even if used outside
A completely natural product
Unique finishes
Manufacturers’ warranties
Ceramic worktops can also be tooled for any type of edge, or with details such as drainage channels. You can even specify ceramic tops with an integral ceramic sink which will add a stylish flourish to your kitchen and be a very practical asset.
At County Stone, we’re very selective about the manufacturers we work with. When it comes to ceramics, we’re looking for a great range of finishes and tones, impeccable quality and reliable service and supply. Our top choices include Lapitec, Dekton and Neolith.
We know each of these businesses very well, and have strong relationships with key people in them. All three businesses offer a vastly appealing range of shades, effects and textures, and plenty of choice of thicknesses and slab sizes. Underlying their durability and quality, each manufacturer provides a warranty for up to 25 years for worktops fitted by specialists such as County Stone.Save
Ceramic worktop colours
Ceramic worktop colours are based on the natural materials which make up the countertops. The soft, solid colours of Lapitec’s Essenza range echo the creams, browns and greys of the natural world, and include pure white and black. As an alternative to these sleek monochromes, Lapitec offers more traditional pearl and coral options in their Arabescata range. The long veins running through the pale colours of the Musa collection capture the feel of marble in a thoroughly contemporary style.
The award-winning Dekton range features off-whites, creams, browns and greys in their Natural and Industrial collections, as well as pure blacks and whites in the Solid range. Neolith offer similar tonal options but have also created dramatically stylish timber and metallic colours.
The method of heating and pressing ceramic worktops allows manufacturers to create a range of finishes which simply can’t be achieved for quarried stone such as granite.
Ultra-smooth, polished surfaces are a popular choice for a whistle-clean, bright look. Smooth matt, satin or silk provide a softer look without compromising on the distinctive appeal of a ceramic countertop. A softer look can also be achieved by subtle, dimpled textures. More striking options come with surfaces which echo grained wood, hewn slate or even textiles. Â
How do you keep a ceramic worktop clean? The answer is very easily. Wipe down with warm water to remove any loose crumbs or recent spills, and follow up with a standard antibacterial cleaner. Wipe off with water, pat dry, and your ceramic surface is hygienic, ready for food prep and for any other use you make of it. Â
The reason ceramic countertops are so easy to clean is that they are virtually completely non-porous. There’s nowhere for bacteria to hide. Even so, it’s better to wipe away spills sooner rather than later. Any stubborn, dried-in marks will just need a bit more of an energetic scrub.
Working with ceramic worktops
A word of warning – preparing and fitting ceramic worktops needs precision and expertise. The material is extremely rigid, which is why it is so durable. But the rigidity also means that if a ceramic worktop it is not fitted with absolute precision – for example, if it rocks on its supporting frame – there’s a risk of it cracking.
Our templating and fitting is carried out by our team of highly experienced experts to ensure that our customers don’t experience any problems. If you’ve decided to invest in ceramic worktop, we urge you not to make the mistake of entrusting it to fitters without the right experience.
One more thing. For the manufacturers’ warranty to come into effect, you will need to use an approved fitter, such as County Stone.
Why use County Stone?
At County Stone we have over two decades of experience in fitting top quality kitchen worktops, including the best ultra-compact and ceramic countertops available. We have perfected an approach which has earned us a growing number of 5-star reviews and as a family business, we take pride in our reputation for complete customer satisfaction.
We start by visiting your kitchen and measuring up for a detailed and accurate template for your worktop. Our workshop team cuts the ceramic slabs to size and finishes edges and any other details. The fitting team returns with your prepared worktop and makes sure you are pleased with the result. We tidy up and leave your kitchen as clean as when we arrive.
You can book an appointment at our showroom, and we also provide virtual tours and video consultations. Either face-to-face or by video we will show samples of different ceramic slabs and provide quotations for any worktop you choose.
Great choice of stock at reasonable prices. Highly recommend them.
Helena Mancey
Great service from start to finish. Excellent product and great fitting.
Gary Clark
Paul and his team were excellent from start to finish. Pricing was competitive, great service, polite workmen and the finished product is better than we could have hoped for. Would highly recommend
Amy and Scott Harrower
Excellent service and great finished product.
Paul Seaman
Great team from start to finish, from templating to installation, very helpful. Thank you.
Dave Harman
Professional service from enquiry to installation. Excellent customer service on a personal level. Nothing was too much trouble. Kitchen designs always liable to change and none of these was ever a problem to integrate right up to installation.
Phillip Jackson
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