Kitchen planning can be a long and difficult task with so many different options to consider, from task lighting to types of kitchen work surfaces; flooring to cupboard casings and doors. Finding the right type of worktop to suit the rest of your kitchen design and meet the requirements of your kitchen use is important and granite work surfaces can often provide a practical and stylish solution for most homes.

Granite is an igneous rock formed naturally from molten rock, or magma, and has a crystal structure which when cut and polished for use such as in work surfaces provides an effective feature for any kitchen. A wide range of colours is available, from black to brown, grey to pinker highlights and tan or orange, and no two pieces of granite are the same due to its natural formation.

An additional bonus of using granite kitchen worktops is that granite is extremely durable and easy to keep clean, making it ideal for a family kitchen in a busy home. Caring for your granite work surfaces and preventing surface etching or staining is important however as despite the durability of granite worktops, there are a number of things that can spoil your worktop.

Acidic or alkaline liquids can damage the surface of your granite worktops, therefore if you have any spills in the kitchen, it is important to wipe them up promptly. This can include vinegar, lemon juice or other citrus juices, and even acidic fizzy drinks such as cola.

You also need to take care how you clean a granite worktop. The best method is to use warm soapy water or a mild detergent. Abrasive materials should never be used as this can scratch and damage the granite surface, but if spills are cleaned up as soon as possible, they should be easy to remove without need for scrubbing.

Similarly, when preparing food, this should always be done on a chopping board rather than directly onto the work surface as again, surface damage can occur. This also reduces the likelihood of stains from strongly coloured vegetable juices such as beetroot which can leave lasting stains on your worktop, especially if you have a paler coloured granite.

One final tip is to use trivets or pan stands rather than allowing pots and pans to come into direct contact with your work surface. Hot or wet pots and pans, implements and utensils can stain or scratch the granite surface taking the sheen off your perfect worktop.

If you need more advice about granite worktops and whether they are the best option for your bespoke kitchen design, a local professional kitchen designer can provide advice and put together a custom design to suit your requirements and the main uses of your kitchen.

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