Kitchen Benchtops

Modern kitchen with white marble island, black cabinetry, bar stools, and hardwood flooring.

Smith & Smith supply and install a full range of kitchen benchtops across Melbourne: engineered stone, natural stone, solid timber, laminate and solid surface. Every reconstituted stone we specify is silica-free, in line with Australian law. Our designers help you match the right benchtop to your kitchen and how you actually cook.

Kitchen benchtops are subject to the most rigorous work in a kitchen. Aside from the floors, the bench takes the greatest beating of the surfaces present.

No material is completely impervious to scratches & dents, heat & chipping. Some care must be taken with all materials. It is merely a matter of the type of attention you are willing to devote to maintenance.

READ: SILICA-FREE BENCHTOP ALTERNATIVES

Silica-free Benchtops

‍ ‍ Image: Meganite in Light Grey at 12mm, with a shadow line beneath for a floating effect.

EXPLORING VARIOUS
BENCHTOP TYPES

Since 1 July 2024, engineered stone has been prohibited in Australia to protect stonemasons from silica dust, which can cause silicosis. Smith & Smith only specify silica-free benchtops, so your kitchen is made without putting the people who craft it at risk.

Silica-free options we work with include solid timber (handcrafted in our Rowville workshop), sintered stone, natural stone, solid surface products such as Corian and Meganite, and silica-free reconstituted stone such as Caesarstone. Every one of these gives you a durable, beautiful benchtop with no compromise on looks or longevity.

LAMINATE BENCHTOPS

Laminate bench tops are very common because of their durability, availability, price, colour & finish options. Smith & Smith deal with all the major laminate suppliers. The only difficulty in using laminate is in choosing a colour from their vast ranges!

Never place hot pans or chop directly on a laminate surface. Trivets should be used under hot pans & chopping boards should always be used when knives are out. Laminate will scratch & chip if handled roughly, however with normal kitchen usage it wears very well & should look great for years.

  • Egger

  • Formica

  • Laminex

  • Wilsonart

  • Duropal

  • Polytec

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, gold handles, a black sink, a bouquet of flowers, books, and a coffee machine on the white countertop, with wooden and gray cabinets and open shelves above.

SOLID TIMBER BENCHTOPS

Smith & Smith handcraft all timber bench tops fitted to their kitchens. Solid timber bench tops give a unique finish to match a variety of styles, from the traditional to ultra-modern. Smith & Smith bench tops are usually coated in two-pack polyurethane or wood oil to give them protection.

Hot pans should always be placed on a trivet, & a chopping board should be used during food preparation. Prolonged hours of direct sunlight may alter the colour of a timber bench top, discuss bench top placement with your designer.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, wooden countertops, a black refrigerator, and large windows with a view of greenery outside.

NATURAL STONE BENCHTOPS

Natural stone is beautiful, heatproof & resistant to scratches & nicks. Because natural stone is not formed by a machine, there are natural variations in colour & patterning; these variations are to be celebrated. If a uniform look is desired, engineered stone provides greater uniformity of colour, pattern & texture.

All-natural stone is porous & therefore subject to staining from oils & other ingredients. If care is taken to place cling film over the bench before rolling out pastry & ensure cooking splashes & spills are wiped up swiftly, your natural stone benchtop will look beautiful for years.

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, marble countertops, a copper pot on the stove, a large plant with green foliage, and small kitchen appliances including a stand mixer.

GRANITE

A natural stone that provides a unique look. Only slightly less porous than Marble.

A white kitchen with a ceramic farmhouse sink, chrome faucet, white marble countertops, white cabinets, a window with a view of greenery, a vase of blue hydrangeas, and a glass jar on the counter.

Quartzite

A natural stone that is worth hanging on your wall as art. Quartzite comes in a vast array of colours and patterns. Some quartzite is translucent and can be backlit for a wonderful effect. While individual slabs can be accessible, it is the fabrication process that adds cost to this beautiful surface. It is one of the hardest natural stone benchtop materials, and the cutting process is far more involved than for other natural stones. As quartzite is a natural stone, it will require regular sealing.

Taj Mahal quartzite with a 60mm profile, its waterfall edge running to the side and around part of the rear of the island for a single, monolithic look.

MARBLE BENCHTOPS

Beautiful natural stone that looks magnificent; however, it is rather porous, so any stains should be wiped off immediately. It also needs to be resealed more often than granite. While resealing must be performed often, it is as easy as wiping down your bench. Ask your designer about the various sealers available.

Modern kitchen with a marble countertop, a stainless steel sink and faucet, white cabinets, a vase of flowers, a purple saucepan on the stove, and a small kitchen appliance on the counter.

STAINLESS STEEL

Extremely hygienic & often found in commercial kitchens as it is very easy to keep clean & capable of withstanding very high temperatures. If you've had a stainless steel kitchen sink & draining board, you know how handy it can be to quickly plant a hot oven tray on it when your hand is starting to burn!

The largest drawback of this type of bench top is that it tends to scratch & dent relatively easily. Over time it will develop a patina that hides large scratches & dents. If you go for stainless steel, it is important to be aware that it is not going to have a pristine brushed look forever.

A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a marble backsplash, a marble countertop, and a sink. There is a large glass vase with white and green flowers on the counter, along with a black tray holding yellow lemons. Two black bar stools are in front of the counter.

ENGINEERED SILICA-FREE SURFACES

Engineered silica-free surfaces are made up of recycled materials, pigments and a binding agent. These surfaces are extremely durable & able to withstand heat & are much less porous than natural stone.

ZENITH SURFACES

Zenith Surfaces has a wonderful range of on-trend colours. It is highly resistant to stains & scratches.

See the Zenith Surfaces website for more information.

Zenith Surfaces in Vanilla Sky, finished with a 20mm pencil-round edge that softens the look and helps guard against chipping.

CAESARSTONE

Caesarstone is highly resistant to staining & scratches. A great range of colour options is available.


See the CaesarStone website for more information.

Modern kitchen with white countertops, black sink, dark upper cabinets, white backsplash with small honeycomb tiles, and small decorated bottles on the counter.

SOLID SURFACE BENCHTOPS

Solid surface bench tops combine natural minerals with an acrylic binding agent, making them beautiful & hardwearing. Seamless joins can be achieved, making this an excellent product for long island bench tops. Many colours can be re-finished if damaged for a perfect surface. Sinks can be integrated into solid surface bench tops, leaving no groove for mould to form. It can also be curved up walls or rolled down bench tops for interesting effects.

Modern kitchen with a beige stone countertop, gas stove burners, a stainless steel sink, black upper cabinets, and a large window overlooking greenery.

Meganite is highly durable & comes in a range of beautiful colours & finishes.

See the Meganite website for more information.

MEGANITE

Modern kitchen with white cabinets, a white island with black stools, and dark wooden flooring.

CORIAN

Corian is made of natural minerals combined with an acrylic binding agent. It is highly durable & can be formed in artistic ways. It is non-porous, therefore somewhat resistant to staining.

See the Corian website for more information.

Modern kitchen countertop with black sink, black faucet, cutting board with an avocado, and utensils in a white container.

SINTERED STONE

There are a great number of textures, colours & patterns to choose from including rusted metal, timber & of course stone. Sintered stone does not scratch easily, & it is heat resistant. While we always recommend the use of chopping boards, you can go ahead & put your hot pans directly on this surface without worry.

The other major drawcard of sintered stone is that it is remarkably thin. Impossibly thin benchtop profiles can be seen in this product giving a crisp modern edge to your kitchen design.

Dekton Albarium 22, a sintered stone benchtop at 12mm, with a shadow line picked out in timber to match the cabinetry and a curved edge that softens the sharp lines.

BENCHTOP EDGES

BULLNOSE EDGE

BULLNOSE EDGE

SHADOW EDGE

SHADOW EDGE

SHARK NOSE EDGE

SHARK NOSE EDGE

SPLAYED EDGE

SPLAYED EDGE

STANDARD EDGE

STANDARD EDGE

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Smith & Smith only specify silica-free benchtop materials, in line with Victoria's engineered stone regulations. Options include timber, sintered stone, natural stone, solid surface and silica-free reconstituted stone.

  • Porcelain and natural stone are among the most durable, both heat and scratch resistant. Solid surface products like Corian can also be repaired in place if damaged. The best choice depends on how you use your kitchen, which our designers can help you weigh up.

  • Yes. We handcraft solid timber benchtops in our Rowville workshop, finished in two-pack polyurethane or wood oil. Timber suits everything from traditional to ultra-modern kitchens and can feature on an island or run throughout.

  • There is no single best benchtop; it comes down to your style, how you cook and how much upkeep you want. Melbourne kitchens commonly use sintered stone, silica-free reconstituted stone and timber. All are silica-free when specified by Smith & Smith.

  • Smith & Smith offer bullnose, shadow, shark nose, splayed and standard edge profiles, so you can match the edge detail to the style of your kitchen.

  • Yes. Sintered stone is heat resistant, so you can place hot pans directly on the surface, though we always recommend a chopping board for knife work. It is also scratch-resistant and remarkably thin.