Gorilla and Mushroom Renovation

Finally, after a long period of busy work schedules, we can get back to sharing information on renovation.

Kitchen tops... This is one of the headaches when it comes to kitchen customization. Dating back to our grandmother’s time, there are a few types of surface top that is commonly used in the kitchen and each has its own pros and cons.

Again, one has to take into consideration the kind of usage in the kitchen. Depending on whether you are a frequent cook or just doing the occasional preparation of a feast, the kind of worktop you select will affect the costing of your total renovation quotation.

Post Form
This is the most common in yester years due to its cost. It is made of wood and covered in a laminate of your choice. They are scratch resistance and require minimal maintenance. There are a wide variety of colors to choose from. With the advancement of technology, the newer ranges of laminates are getting better, with some ranges being able to emulate the look and feel of natural stone or metals.

Post forms are made of wood, and are prone to warping if spills not quickly removed and the affected area dried. With good and proper maintenance, post form tops can last a life time.

Homogeneous tiles, Polished top
A man made material created to be as tough as granite. A much cheaper alternative to using natural stones. An updated version of the ceremic tiled top of our mother's era. This material has a wider range of effects/designs and colors to suit any kitchen theme. Depending on the texture of tiles chosen, it can be polished to produce a reflective shine like those of a mirror and usually can last longer than the shine of marble.
In an event of a breakage (due to fallen objects), unlike ceramics, Homogeneous tiles will not show a tile base/body of a different color. Patterns/designs are more subtle and predictable, without the ugly crack lines and spots usually found in natural stones. Homogeneous tiles has a much lower water absorption rate and higher density.

Depending on the skill of the tiler, tiles laid may not be even. Cos it is a synthetic material, it is not possible to polish/grind to make the gaps between slaps to give the seamless look. Warpage may also occur during the process of manufacturing, but this can be overcome by buying from better established companies/brands.

MARBLE
Marble is a natural hard stone that comes in a variety of shades and hue, from off-white to brown, gray or pink and is able to create a timeless look. Its flat, smooth surface which can be grinded to make it level, making the joining lines almost invisible, making it look as if only one piece of material is used the kitchen.
Cool to the touch, especially suitable for people who are doing a lot of pastry baking. *smiles*

Marble is expensive! It requires a lot of maintenance, constantly keeping it clean and free from chemicals and acids. Although hard, they are softer than granite, thus more prone to scratches. Easily repaired with a fresh polish. Porous by nature, marble stains easily when spills are not cleaned up immediately.

GRANITE
The hardest stone used for kitchen work top, making it durable to wear and tear. Granite is a highly polished stone, making it easy to cleaned and maintain. Cool to the touch, especially suitable for people who are doing a lot of pastry baking.

Depending on the origin of the stone, it can contain reflective crystals, thus providing a more glamorous overall look of the home. Usually comes in darker and richer tones, well suited for people who prefer dramatic designs.

The only con we could think of, granite tops are expensive, prices ranks a close second to Marble.

The most popular granites these days are INDIA and CHINA granites.
India Granites has color tone, which are much darker and richer, with more sparkers/ gold dust/ more reflective. They are more inconsistent in color tone and veins/ patterns and are preferred by people who appreciate the irregularity of natural stones. They are denser than china granite and therefore suitable for heavy-duty usage.

China Granites are much lighter and therefore more accepted by homeowners. The price of China granite is only 1/3 when compared to India granites. The pattern and color tone of China granite is lighter, more constant and have less variation as compared to India granite.

Solid Surface
Solid surfaces are the most common and versatile material used in kitchens of today. They are low maintenance and provide great aesthetics to any kitchen they are installed in. Being a man-made material, they come in a wide range of colors, giving a designer greater flexibility when choosing a theme for the kitchen. They are not porous, thus resistant to staining caused by spills. Like marble, they can be polished to a very smooth level, reducing the look of any joint lines or grout, achieving the illusion that only one main piece of material is used for the kitchen top. Being man-made also allows it to be mould into various shape and sizes, giving the owner more choices in the design of the kitchen worktop.

The only con in this material, it is prone to scratches. But this can be easily rectified, by giving the solid surface a fresh polish to restore it show room shine.

There are numerous brands, each having its own advantage and cons when making a comparison between the brands. Solid surface are mainly made up of epoxy and acrylic. Acrylic being the more resistant component in solid surfaces, the higher the percentage used, the better the top. This of course will naturally increase the price, with the better brands costing as much as natural stones. So the next time your ID quote you a price that you think is too cheap or too expensive for a solid top, in your opinion, look at the composite of the epoxy and acrylic before passing any judgment.

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