The working surface areas of your kitchen are vulnerable to easy wear and tear if you don't install the right materials for the job. Read on to investigate the options.

Solid timber
Available in many different hardwood species.
Will scorch or dent, but scratches are easy to sand out.
Must be well sealed to prevent warping - can be stained and then lacquered or oiled.
A butchers block, which uses the end grain of the timber, provides an even more durable surface but is more expensive, so is best used as an insert chopping block on the benchtop.

Check the Yellow Pages under Kitchens or Joinery or contact Dale Glass Industries, phone (02) 9647 2911.

Plastic laminate
The most widely used benchtop.
Inexpensive and low-maintenance.
Resists stains but may be damaged if cut or burnt.
Easy to clean.
Available in many colours, patterns, and textures (textures are harder to clean).
Now available in single-roll edges, double-roll and four-edges rolled.
Damaged areas are difficult to repair.

Product names to look for: Laminex, Formica, Wilsonart, Formex, Arpa, Abet Laminati, Perstop.

Stainless steel
Tough and impervious to stains and high temperatures.
Contemporary high-tech appearance, but will show nicks and scratches easily.
Expensive, but less so if you can avoid joins and corners.

Look under Kitchens or Stainless Steel Products & Equipment in the Yellow Pages.

Solid surface
Often a mixture of natural stones and man-made plastics or resins.
Very durable - scratches can be sanded out.
Non porous - resists mildew and stains.
Can be custom-formed into shapes or contain inlays.
Fewer seams means it's easier to clean.
Available in many different patterns and finishes.

Product names to look for: Corian, Caesarstone, Azteque, Trezzini.

Solid-surface veneers
Available in a natural rock look (granite or quartz and polyester mixes).
Durable and stain-resistant.
Less expensive than solid plastics, but performance is also lower and veneers may shrink.

Ceramic tiles
Resists heat and stains.
Can be repaired if broken, but grouting is susceptible to stains and wear and is very hard to keep clean, even if sealed.
Available in many colours, patterns, shapes and sizes.
A good choice for that country kitchen look and great for splashbacks.

Look under Tiles in the Yellow Pages.

Natural stone
Polished granite is porous if liquid is left on a benchtop for a long period of time.
Will not scratch easily. Elegant and durable if well sealed and maintained.
Durability and maintenance depends on the qualities of the sealant used.
Marble requires frequent resealing and scratches easily.
Other stones, such as slate and limestone, are less suitable as a work surface, but can be used in areas where there is lighter wear and tear.
Most stones are expensive, heavy and often difficult to cut. Colours and patterns are limited.

Look under Kitchen or Stone in the Yellow Pages.