This is what no one tells you about the materials you're designing with.

WATCH VIDEO

Most benchtops look good in renders. But in real life? They scratch. Dent. Peel. Fade.

So we ran a test.

We lined up the materials everyone specs — from low-budget to premium. Then we scratched them using real-life tools:

Knives and forks, pens and pencils, keys and surgical scalpel

And we tested:

Poplar plywood, Laminated European birch ply, Chip particle board, MDF particle board

And of course, Critical.'s Forest Cleanstone, Clear Cleanstone, Marble Cleanstone. One of them nearly took my hand off.

Some fell apart.

Some held on.

But we’re not giving the results away just yet.

This is just part 1.

So if you're a designer, architect or builder trying to spec smarter — watch this space. We’ll be dropping the next scratch test episodes weekly.

Follow us on Instagram @Critical.things, LinkedIn, TikTok and YouTube — or head to criticaldesign.nz to stay in the loop.

Because if your fit-out materials can’t survive a fork…

Should they be in your next project?

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Follow me here or @critical.things on instagram.

Let’s build low-carbon interiors made to last.

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