When you hear of a natural stone worktop, marble or granite is often the first to pop into your head. But do you know that even slate worktops are as good as marble and granite?Slate worktops are elegant and add character to any kitchen interior, giving it a unique look. Here's what you must know about Quartz Kitchen Worktops Cheshire if you’ve not heard much about slate as a worktop material.
Slate Worktops
Slate worktops are made from natural volcanic ash and sedimentary clay. These natural elements undergo low-grade regional metamorphosis within the layers and convert to slate. These layers are visible on the surface when this material turns into slabs. These are perfect for giving any space a unique touch and cleft texture.
Finishes and Textures
Slate is not porous like marble and granite, so you may leave it unpolished. It even offers different texture options, unlike other natural stone worktops. Here are the three popular slate finishes:
- Honed: Honed finish is perfect for those homeowners who don’t like polished finish. A honed slate kitchen worktop results in a flat surface with mild luster. This material doesn’t have too much texture. But if you like, you can add texture to your favorite honed slate worktops.
- Cascade: This finish provides slight ripples on the slate’s surface. It is not as flat as the honed finish, but it’s also not a busy pattern.
- Cleft: It is the natural texture that slate already has. It boasts all layers of slate in its complete form. This rough texture is ideal for industrial and rustic kitchen designs. Although challenging to maintain, it adds a unique character to the given space.
Colors
Usually, people think that slate kitchen worktops come only in grey or black hues. But that’s not true. Slate also comes in various colors, from green to burgundy. Even darker shades of slate are sourced from Italy, Spain, and Brazil. However, most colored varieties of slate come from the United Kingdom, Africa, Ireland, and China. When installed, colored slate looks fantastic, adding minimal elegance and delicate aesthetic charm to any interior style.
Maintenance of Slate Kitchen Worktops
To your surprise, slate worktops are one of the low-maintenance materials. The high-quality slate worktops are non-porous, stain-resistant, non-absorbent, durable, and rugged. But if you ask for cheaper slate varieties, they may chip or show signs of damage over time.
Whether you install black slate worktops or any lighter-toned slate countertops, you can easily take care of them. All you need is a mild cleaner and a soft cloth to clean it every day. High-quality Satinato slate worktops don’t even need a sealant. However, it is recommended to do a water bead test by placing a few drops of water on its surface. If a bead is formed, you don’t have to apply any sealant on its surface. But if the water is absorbed without any bead formation, you must use a sealant for protection.
Slate is a hard material; however, it's likely to chip off if you drop anything substantial on its surface. Nonetheless, repairing Kitchen Worktops Greater Manchester is more accessible, but the fixed part will be visible. However expert fabricators may try their best to make the surface seamless by hiding the repair marks to the minimal. Even the edges of the slate are subjected to chips. So, it’s best to go for round corners to minimize chipping.
Whether you install black slate worktops or any lighter-toned slate countertops, you can easily take care of them. All you need is a mild cleaner and a soft cloth to clean it every day. High-quality Satinato slate worktops don’t even need a sealant. However, it is recommended to do a water bead test by placing a few drops of water on its surface. If a bead is formed, you don’t have to apply any sealant on its surface. But if the water is absorbed without any bead formation, you must use a sealant for protection.
Slate is a hard material; however, it's likely to chip off if you drop anything substantial on its surface. Nonetheless, repairing Kitchen Worktops Greater Manchester is more accessible, but the fixed part will be visible. However expert fabricators may try their best to make the surface seamless by hiding the repair marks to the minimal. Even the edges of the slate are subjected to chips. So, it’s best to go for round corners to minimize chipping.
