4 Reasons to Pick Engineered Stone Over Natural Stone for Your Kitchen Benchtops

People still see engineered stone benchtops as playing second fiddle to natural stone benchtops – mainly because natural stone costs more. In reality, there are plenty of reasons to go for engineered stone instead of natural, and here are just four.

1. Versatile Styling

It used to be that people would avoid engineered stone due to a slightly artificial look, but times have changed since then, and you can generally rely on getting an engineered stone that looks practically indistinguishable from the real thing. You'll also enjoy more styling options. Benchtops can be created in uniform colours and shades, and you won't need to worry about natural flaws. You can even have quite vibrant colours of engineered stone that would never have occurred naturally.

2. No-Fuss Design

Engineered stone isn't just versatile in terms of styling – you'll also find it easier to fit into different configurations. Since engineered stone is manmade, it can be very easily worked, and you'll generally find benchtops in lots of different shapes. This will make it easier to fit your benchtops to your precise specifications. This isn't always possible with natural stone since it is harder to work and its size and shape somewhat depends on natural circumstances. If, for example, you need one long benchtop, you'll find it more easily when you work with engineered stone.

3. Lower Cost

Unless you happen to have just won the lottery, it's likely that you're going to be working within a budget during your kitchen renovation. There's plenty of places you need to spend money when you're working with a kitchen, so it only makes sense to go for engineered stone for your benchtops. Since it can be manmade instead of having to be quarried directly from the ground, engineered stone is a lot cheaper to produce. The savings can be significant, with natural stones like marble and granite typically representing the priciest benchtop materials.

4. Easy Cleaning and Maintenance

Probably the most compelling reason to go with engineered stone instead of natural stone for your benchtops is that engineering stone has a non-porous surface. Natural stone is obviously very strong, but its porous surface means that it is quite easy to stain. If you spill some red wine, coffee, or other such substance, it can penetrate the natural mineral channels and leave a stain. Those natural mineral deposits can also be damaged by certain cleaning agents, and bacteria can penetrate to create an unhygienic surface. Engineered stone does not have any mineral channels – with a non-porous surface, it doesn't present the problems detailed above and will never need to be treated. 

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