What kind of tops can I get for my kitchen?
Contrary to what some expensive, glossy home décor magazines might have you believe, you don’t really need meters and meters of a continuous granite surface to prepare a meal or to have a beautiful kitchen. Have a look at the Gallery or our Pinterest page to see the range of possibilities and gain some inspiration. You can choose any tops you like and they don’t have to all be the same to look good!
We have tops to suit every budget and can source any top option you would like fitted onto your units. Solid wood tops are available from Milestone Kitchens in Pine, Black Ofram or Ash. Our wooden tops are made from solid wood planks that are laminated together.
We can work with you to source tops that we do not provide. You may also order the units without tops and have your own tops fitted on-site. Stainless Steel is more complicated as the steel is wrapped around a wooden support so we always order it and fit it in the factory.
Top price comparisons
Possible tops in order from the most affordable to the most expensive can be seen in the table below.
Key
Pine Wood
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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Soft wood
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Warps and cracks relatively easily
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Easy to refurbish
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Knotty
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Warm and inviting to sit at
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Porous if not sealed correctly
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Sustainable
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Can release resin and become patchy
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Inexpensive
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If it is well sealed and you are lucky to get a good batch it can last a lifetime.
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We try to get good quality pine and if we do, a layman would find it difficult to tell the difference between the two, especially if it is stained.
Some clients choose the Pine for their tops with the thought that they can change their tops at a later stage when their budget allows them to. Tops can be replaced with Ash or a different type of top altogether.
Note: It is impossible to get every piece of wood exactly the same colour. Wood is a natural product and endless variations occur so you can expect your colour choice to be slightly different from the examples shown.
Black Ofram Wood
Tops made out of Black Ofram, are softer than Ash but harder than Pine. This distinctive wood is a new addition to Milestone Kitchens. Black Ofram has lots of character with light brown undertones, dark highlights, and occasional lighter coloured patches. It is fairly porous and may need to be further sealed to ensure longevity.
We use 40mm thick, made with 40mm planks laminated together.
Note: It is impossible to get every piece of wood exactly the same colour. Wood is a natural product and endless variations occur so you can expect your colour choice to be slightly different from the examples shown.
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Classified as a hard wood. Softer than Ash and harder than Pine
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Fairly porous if not sealed correctly.
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Easy to refurbish
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Can warp or crack
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Warm and inviting to sit at
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Varies in colour
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Unique with striking dark highlights.
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Fairly porous
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Affordable
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More sustainable than Ash - grown in Africa.
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Will last a long time if it is sealed well.
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Ash Wood
Tops made with Ash, our ‘harder wood’ option, come with a price tag but they are oh so worth it. Ash will last a lifetime if it is maintained correctly. It can handle water and heat well, is easy to clean and the chances of it warping or cracking is a lot less. In addition, it looks absolutely beautiful.
We use 40mm thick, made with 40mm planks laminated together.
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Hard wood (handles the heat of pots taken off stove top)
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Pricey
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Rarely warps or cracks
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Can warp or crack
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Beautiful grain with few knots
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Not porous
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Warm and inviting to sit at
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Lasts a lifetime
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Note: It is impossible to get every piece of wood exactly the same colour. Wood is a natural product and endless variations occur so you can expect your colour choice to be slightly different from the examples shown.
Other Options
We do not make these tops in our factory but we can source them and put them on for you. Most of our clients source their own Stone Tops (Granite, Caesarstone, Quartz or Marble) or use their own builder to make concrete ones because these tops are very heavy and brittle which make them difficult to move. We usually organise the Stainless Steel tops because they need to be fitted around a wooden support which we make out of Pine. We can also customise stainless steel tops with moulded sinks to fit your particular unit’s dimensions.
You can have a look at some stone colour options at Marble and Granite, Eezi Quartz or Caesarstone. It is best to go to a stone top manufacturer in your area to have a look at different options.
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Cheapest stone top to purchase
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Cold and uninviting to sit at
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Heat Resistant
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Only comes in darker colours
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Does not stain
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Can crack
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Heat Resistant
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Cold and uninviting to sit at
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Easy to shape because of softness
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Can stain - it is the softest stone option
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Expensive appearance
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Heat Resistant
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Cold and uninviting to sit at
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Resistant to cracks and stains
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Pricey
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Expensive appearance
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Funky and trendy
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Very brittle
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Cute custom colours
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Breaks during transportation (install on site)
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Heat Resistant
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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|---|---|
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Very practical
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Pricey
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Does not stain
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Cold and uninviting to sit at
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Sleek, modern appearance
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Can dent and scratch relatively easy
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