Top Tips for Buying Stainless Steel Benches
Stainless steel is the perfect material for home and commercial kitchens. It is aesthetically pleasing, versatile, resistant to corrosion, easy to clean, and more affordable than many other options for your kitchen, laboratories, hospitals benches and countertops.
The simple and plain design helps stainless steel benches blend into any kitchen design while the many types of benches you can choose from make them versatile and able to suit various applications, even in the smallest kitchens. Compared to other materials such as wood, plastic, or stone, stainless steel is much more resistant to chipping, cracking, and bacterial colonisation. Its hygienic and easy to clean surface is perfect for a busy kitchen, laboratories, hospitals. All you need to do to maintain its shine is to periodically clean it with soap and water.
With so many types, sizes, functions, and price points, buying stainless steel benches for your kitchen can be a confusing and sometimes overwhelming experience. Below are some tips to keep in mind when researching, buying, and selecting the perfect stainless steel kitchen bench.
Consider your buying intentions
<span >Before you buy a stainless steel bench, ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this bench? What activities will this bench have to support? Where will I put it?” Maybe you need an all-purpose bench, a storage bench, a butcher’s bench, or a bench that must withstand frequent spills. These questions, among others, will determine the grade of stainless steel you need, the type of bench that will work for your purposes, the size of the bench that fits your dimensions, and more. You do not want to regret your purchase, so be sure to note exactly what you want before making a final decision.
Decide on your budget
A variety of different factors can affect the price of your stainless steel bench. For example, the gauge of stainless steel, which measures its thickness, will greatly affect the durability and the price of the bench it makes. Common ranges go from 18 gauge (the least durable) to 14 gauge (the most durable). If you want an all-purpose stainless steel kitchen bench, 18 gauge steel will do the trick, but if you need a bench that is sturdier and more durable, you might want to consider a bench made of more expensive 14 gauge steel.
Different options for stainless steel benches
Britex offers many different types of stainless steel benches that will fit any of your kitchen needs. <span >With a flat countertop and an undershelf, the flat island bench is your versatile, everyday surface. Sturdy enough to support heavy food preparation, it is also available in different sizes to fit any kitchen dimension.
Benches with splashbacks
Benches with splashbacks offer all the functions of the flat island bench, but also include a steel panel splashback along the back edge. At 150mm tall, the splashback prevents food or tools from toppling over, as well as water from spilling or getting on the walls.
BenchTech Work Benches with 150mm Splashbacks
BenchTech Work Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, legs and solid undershelf. Includes 150mm high splashback.
Available lengths: 900mm, 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm.
Stainless Steel Benches With Sinks
Sold in single sink, double sink, and triple sink models, Britex stainless steel sink benches are suitable for various applications, from a domestic kitchen to a commercial restaurant kitchen. They are available with or without work surfaces, which saves on space, and the splashbacks serve to prevent water spills.
BenchTech Single Sink Benches - Right Hand Bowl
BenchTech Single Sink Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, RHS bowl, legs and pipe undershelf.
Available Stainless Steel benches length: 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm.
BenchTech Single Sink Benches - Left Hand Bowl
BenchTech Single Sink Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, LHS bowl, legs and pipe undershelf.
Available Stainless Steel benches length: 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm.
BenchTech Single Sink Benches - Centre Bowl
BenchTech Single Sink Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, Centre bowl, legs and pipe undershelf.
Available Stainless Steel benches length: 1200mm, 1500mm and 1800mm.
BenchTech Double Sink Benches - Right Hand Side
BenchTech Double Sink Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, RHS bowls, legs and pipe undershelf.
Available Stainless Steel benches length: 1800mm & 2400mm
BenchTech Double Sink Benches - Centre
BenchTech Double Sink Bench, 600mm wide supplied standard with benchtop, centre bowls, legs and pipe undershelf.
The corner spaces of a kitchen are usually overlooked and wasted. Larger stainless steel benches may be difficult to fit together to best utilise the compact space, but L-shaped corner benches can fit snugly into any available 90 degree corner.
Finally, mobile benches can be moved from one place to another quickly and easily, making them perfect for moving around heavy equipment. They can also be used to quickly rearrange a kitchen configuration. When not in use, the wheels of a mobile stainless steel bench can be locked in place, providing a sturdy work surface.
Go for stainless steel benches with shelves
Stainless steel benches with shelves are more cost effective as they can serve multiple functions at once and help avoid messes or mixups. While the benchtop acts as a work surface, the bottom shelf can be used to store cooking tools, appliances, or ingredients. Britex has a wide selection of stainless steel benches with durable solid and slatted shelves that you can use in your kitchen.
Different types of stainless steel
Most kitchen stainless steel benches are made of grade 304, 316 or 430 stainless steel.
Grade 304 steel is the most common type of food grade stainless steel due to its rust and corrosion resistance, derived from its high chromium and nickel content. Because of this, it is widely used to make benches, cookware, and food processing equipment. However, it is sensitive to corrosion by chlorides or acidic environments.
This is where grade 316 steel comes in. With high chromium and nickel content, but also added molybdenum, this steel is more resistant to chloride and acid attacks, making it suitable for harsh environments. This steel can often be found in marine applications and medical equipment.
Grade 430 steel is a lower grade of steel with less corrosion resistance, but is still widely used due to its low cost and overall balanced qualities. This steel, although not suitable for highly corrosive environments, can be used for most general purposes.
To uphold quality and durability, Britex products are all made from the more durable type 304 and 316 stainless steels. This ensures that all Britex stainless steel benches will be able to better withstand the daily wear and tear in a home or commercial kitchen for a long period of time.
Check the edges of the benchtops
One detail that most people don’t notice when buying stainless steel benches is the type of edge that the benches have. Benches with rounded edges, for example, should not be placed in the corners of your kitchen but may fit great as a center island countertop. Benches with 90 degree corners could be hazardous if placed in open areas, but fit great into a kitchen corner.
Read through customer reviews
Before buying a stainless steel benches, make sure to do a thorough research of the manufacturer or brand. Customer reviews are a great way to confirm the product quality and the truth of the manufacturer’s claims, helping you make a better decision in choosing a high quality bench.
Warranty and servicing
All reliable stainless steel bench manufacturers or suppliers will offer good warranty. This not only shows the brand’s confidence in the quality of their own products, but will also protect you if you happen to order a defective stainless steel bench.
Points to keep in mind while buying counters
In summary, when buying a stainless steel benches, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, measure out the space available and decide the maximum dimensions of a bench that will fit your kitchen layout. Next, figure out the purpose of your stainless steel bench and the environment it should be able to withstand. This will help you decide the grade and gauge of steel, as well as the shape and type of bench to buy. Finally, keep in mind your maximum cost before buying so you don’t get carried away during the process.
