What is the Most Durable Material for a Dining Table Top?

Your dining table is the heart of your home. This piece of furniture witnessed conversations, gatherings, sumptuous meals, and much more. Families come to connect at the dining table. It is here that some indoor games are also played. After all this, this furniture can suffer scratches from people or spills from foods and drinks. As a result, it suffers wear and tear.

But some materials are better at taking in all these without wearing them out than others. Choosing the suitable material for your dining table top is essential. In this piece, you will understand how different materials used to make dining table tops can determine how long your dining table will last.

Examples of Materials Used to Make Dining Table Tops

Most furniture and tabletops are made using these common materials. Look at the characteristics of each and why you should prefer one over the other.

1. Solid wood

Wood is considered a classic choice when it comes to tabletop materials. There are many good reasons for this: wood is solid and durable. Due to daily use, wood is excellent at withstanding wear and tear.

Wood is also preferred because it ages uniformly and beautifully after extended use. When it does, you can easily do some touch-ups on it to restore its beautiful looks once again. Several solid wood types are commonly used today, including:

•         Maple: This is a strong and durable wood material with smooth, light color and even grain. Modern and contemporary dining table styles use maple wood.
•         Oak: Besides being a strong and durable tabletop material, it is resistant to daily wear and tear. Oak is often used to make farmhouse-style or rustic dining tables because of its classic look.
•         Mahogany: Mahogany stands out from the rest of the wood tabletops because of its rich, redrawn color and beautiful grain patterns. This type of wood is likewise very strong and durable and often used in making traditional or even formal dining table tops.
•       Mango: Mango hardwood is a dense type of wood compared to the above wood materials. It is loved due to its strength, durability, and beautiful grain patterns. Mango hardwood has a medium to dark brown color and offers good resistance against the wear and tear of daily use. It only needs to be cared for to serve you for many years.
•         Walnut: walnut is another dense hardwood used for dining table tops. The wood is rich, dark, and beautiful; it’s pricey. Most high-end furniture dining table tops are made of walnut wood.
•         Cherry: Cherry is not as hard as oak or maple. This means it lasts less than the two types of wood table tops. The wood has a warm reddish color along with a beautiful grain pattern. It is still a popular material for table tops and can be used to make traditional and formal dining tables.

Maintenance of wood dining table tops

Maintenance of solid wood table tops is easy. You only need to dust them regularly to discourage dust and debris buildup. You will need to oil and wax them regularly, which helps maintain the wood luster. However, this depends on the finish type or how often you use the dining table.

2. Marble

Many kitchen countertops and tabletops are made using this material as a symbol of luxury worldwide. The material is available in many colors and has various variations. It comes in multiple patterns and veins that can suit any home. The material is also heat resistant and long-lasting, given that it is a natural stone. 

Despite all these advantages, Mable is still softer than quartz or Granite. While heat cannot easily crack or warp it,  it is more likely to scratch than the two. Most furniture experts claim that it is the most expensive tabletop material in the market, whose price can go up to $100 per square foot in the international market.

3. Granite

As a tabletop material, Granite is a highly durable natural stone that can add a touch of luxury to your dining space. The material is hard, hence resistant to scratches, stains, and heat compared to wood and many tabletop materials. This quality makes it withstand daily use for a long time. Since this material is non-porous, it is resistant to stains from spills.

The downside of Granite as a tabletop material is that it is too heavy and can make the table hard to move. It is also costly and cold to the touch. This material feels uncomfortably cold during cold climates. Granite requires minimal maintenance. All it needs is frequent sealing to continue being stain-resistant.

4. Stainless steel

This is one of the modern types of dining table and table tops. Stainless steel is durable, very strong, and resists heat and stains. It is loved because of its ease of cleaning and maintenance and because it resists corrosion and rust. If well maintained, this material can last more than 50 years. However, you might not like it as it is susceptible to smudges and fingerprints, requiring frequent cleaning to remain polished.

5. Glass

Glass table tops are loved because they are sleek and stylish. They are also easy to clean as well. Consider choosing a glass tabletop for a modern dining tabletop with a minimalist look. Table tops made of glass last long because they are scratch and heat-resistant. Nonetheless, they are prone to chipping and will break if you do not handle them carefully.

Conclusion

When selecting the perfect material for your tabletop, also bear in mind their way of maintenance. Taking proper care of your tabletop ensures it serves you longer despite the material it’s made of. It is also essential to know how various materials behave under certain conditions, like heat and cold, and when exposed to daily use. This way, you can pick the appropriate material for your home’s dining space.

At Kenty Furniture, we are your one-stop office and home furniture shop. We are only a phone call away; you can visit us whenever you need furniture for your space. We will be more than happy to assist you in picking a durable dining table top today. Visit our showroom today, and our able customer service agents will receive you, arms open.