If you are thinking about replacing your existing kitchen and have reached the point when you need to buy kitchen worktops, this the perfect post for you. In this post we will focus on slate worktops. Specifically, we will look at the positive benefits possessed by slate, both in terms of its visual appeal and its functionality. Once you have read the information below, you should be better able to decide whether slate counters are right for your kitchen.

Although it is not all that commonly used as a material for a kitchen worktop, slate is very well-suited to this role. It is hard and durable, it doesn't absorb water at a very rapid rate and it is warm to the touch. It is true that slate can become easily scratched with use, but these marks can simply be removed by wiping the surface with a damp sponge or cloth.

Slate worktops also look amazing. Each piece of slate is unique. They vary in colour from light grey to nearly black. Some pieces of slate contain fossils and others exhibit tints of purple and green. Slate worktops look stunning, but they are also quite subtle and understated. They are a very good way of bringing a natural element to a kitchen without unbalancing the existing design scheme. For this reason, slate surfaces look equally at home in both contemporary and traditional kitchens.

Slate offers many benefits to the potential purchaser, but it does have some negatives facets too. The biggest drawback of choosing slate is the fact that it is difficult to find very large slabs of slate. As the pieces tend to be smaller there will be more joins in a slate worktop than with other stone surfaces - granite, for example. This is not a massive problem, but it might have a bearing on the design of your kitchen and the positioning of the units.

Most people don't think of slate when considering their new kitchen worktop. This is a shame because the surface has a lot going for it.

If you liked this article on slate worktops, have a look at this great site all about kitchen worktops.

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