Bathroom Buying Guides

Bathroom Worktops Buying Guide

To help you get the best from your new washroom, en-suite, shower room, or WC, we have collated the best design and planning tips from our designers to offer you this guide on how to choose the best bathroom worktop for your home.

What are the different types of washroom counter?

Quartz

Made with 90 per cent natural quartz, this robust material offers a premium look thanks to its polished appearance and solid stone construction. It is highly resistant to scratches, stains - great for those who regularly use lavish lotions. It is also waterproof, making it a sound investment for all types of wet room, including shower rooms, family washrooms, WCs, and en-suites.

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Laminate

Affordable laminate offers a wider variety of colours and textures, including patterns that mimic natural materials, like wood and stone. This makes it a favourite among style-conscious households and those looking to update their home for less. Although its construction it is less hardy than its solid stone counterpart, it is suitable for family washrooms, WCs, and en-suites, providing its made with a P2-rated core.

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What colours are available?

White

Offering a blank canvas to build upon, white is commonplace for all types of wet rooms thanks to its clinical and hygienic appearance. It is also a good choice within washrooms that have limited light and space as it can bounce natural light around a room, making it appear brighter and more open.

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Black

Black can be used to inject a bold accent in a wet room, particularly within monochrome designs or those that take influence from engineered interiors. It is also a good choice for multi-generational homes as its more visible than other counter colours, so these rooms are easier to navigate.

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What finishes and profiles are available?

Matt

Topping the trend charts, matt is a popular finish thanks to its sheen-free appearance and soft aesthetic, which also shows fewer watermarks. Best used in rooms with minimal interiors, matt can also add a sophisticated and refined appeal, especially when paired with darker shades.

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Square

For a contemporary decor, a square profile is a great choice thanks to its crisp, clean edge, which offers a minimal and modern aesthetic. These designs are known for leading the eye through a room, which is great where space is at a premium as it can be used to elongate a design with linear features.

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Things to consider when planning for a new washroom counter

Thickness

Whether you want a premium look or are searching for a more minimal design, the thickness of your counter can be used to complement your chosen decor and add a considered feature to a space. Thinner profiles at 22mm-thick offer a contemporary take on a bathroom design, whereas chunkier profiles at 28mm-thick add a high-end, robust style that suits heritage schemes.

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Length

Ensuring you get the right counter length for your washroom is important to prevent unnecessary wastage. The optimum length can also reduce the number of joins required during fitting, which can create a seamless effect. Joins are often the weakest link when tackling water penetration so the fewer there are, the more likely your counter will last for many years to come.

Water resistance

Rule 101 when planning a bathroom worktop is to consider how hot and wet the room will get as water can cause counters to warp or become damaged over time. Solid stone counters are naturally water-resistant thanks to its non-porous construction. For laminate counters, it is important to look out for the P2 rating, which indicates that a water barrier is included in its core.

Humidity

Similar to water, washroom counters can get easily damaged by hot air and steam that rises from hot baths and showers. If your bathroom is not well ventilated, a solid stone surface will be a safe bet, as it is durable and naturally resistant to heat and will look good for years to come - great for those looking to invest in long-lasting style.

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Hygiene

Washrooms, and other wet rooms in the home are a hot spot for bacteria and mould, so hygiene is an important consideration when planning a new counter in a bathroom. Laminates are easy to wipe clean thanks to its smooth surface, whilst solid stone is non-porous, which means bacteria and mould cannot penetrate the core, making for a more hygienic space.

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Installation

One of the most important factors when installing a bathroom counter is to ensure you have the right sealants for the job. Not only does it protect joins from water ingress, but some varieties can also deter mould growth, which can help keep a washroom looking newer for longer. We have a wide variety of washroom sealants to choose from to get the right type for your room.

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