Are highly textured laminated kitchen worktops practical?

[dogfonos]

Probably an odd place to post this request for info. but I'd like the opinions of 'users' rather than 'installers'.

Anyone out there using a highly textured laminated kitchen worktop? I like the look of a fake wood one but am wary of such a highly textured surface. I'd appreciate your views on practicality, e.g. how easy it is to clean, do the ridges wear badly, is a brush or vacuum cleaner required to remove crumbs from the troughs etc?

 

[JohnD]

I had an aunt with textured stone-effect worktops, and she grumbled that it was noisy when she pushed or slid plates, cups etc along it.

It was also slightly more work to wipe clean.

I also knew some people with the woodgrain finish, and the grain certainly wore away round the sink and kettle areas and left flat, light brown patches that were somewhat unsightly. I would guess it was 20 years old though, and looked much more dated that a plain colour or mottled finish.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Can't beat Mouse Dust for practicality.

I presume the same material comes in other colours, too.

 

[dogfonos]

Can't beat Mouse Dust for practicality.

I'd agree with that. As you suggest, it's available in other colours too. Unfortunately, the look of it just doesn't appeal.

We've spent months searching for a worktop that we really like the look of and would match the chosen cabinet/fronts and flooring that we intend to use but now we've found it - Graphite Fleetwood - we're having second thoughts about the deeply textured 'sandblasted' finish.

http://www.egger.com/shop/en_GB/worktops/contemporary#Woodgrains

Check out the worktop pics below the Graphite Fleetwood - Jackson Pine - to get an idea of just how textured these worktops are. We've seen the worktop in the flesh - looks great to us but it certainly is highly textured.

 

[conny]

It says you can order a sample. Send off for a piece and, assuming it won't be a tiny square, try to cut some bread, cheese, tomatoes, etc and then see how it is to clean.

From my experience of textured surfaces, (had a sort of tiled effect one in the early 80's), they can be a nightmare to clean and keep looking good.