Quartz worktops: Pros, Cons and Myths uncovered! Quartz is a man-made stone surface made up from Quartz, resins, pigments and minerals. It is one of the most popular surfaces chosen for kitchen worktops due to its low maintenance and durable qualities. Thinking of Quartz for your new kitchen worktops? Read our article to find out more about Quartz surfaces, the benefits, drawbacks and common misconceptions. Find out why we recommend this material for busy family kitchens, all range of budgets and for homeowners looking for low maintenance options for kitchen worktops.
What are Quartz Worktops?
Quartz is made from crushed Quartz, resins, pigments and minerals. It is a man-made stone rather than a natural stone like Granite and Marble. The slab sizes are similar to natural stone however you don’t have the colour variation that you do with Granite and Marble.
Both natural stone and man-made Quartz are strong, long lasting and scratch and stain resistant. Quartz is typically more popular than Granite and Marble for worktops because it is naturally non-porous where as natural stone requires re-sealing annually to ensure no liquids soak through the surface causing it to stain.
How is Quartz Manufactured?
The manufacture process of Quartz includes the raw materials such as Quartz, pigments and polymers being tested and mixed together. The mix is then poured into a mould to form the large slabs before being compressed to remove air and create a solid surface. Heat is then added to provide the finished levels of strength and solidity before the surface is polished and the slabs tested to ensure they’re up to consistency standards. They’re then labelled in batches, ready for distribution to fabricators.
How does Quartz compare with other popular worktop materials?
Quartz can be slightly more expensive than other surfaces such as laminate, wood and Corian. It is more of a long-term investment compared to other materials which are far less durable and require replacing every five years. Quartz is naturally non-porous and doesn’t require re-sealing like wooden surfaces, it doesn’t rot and will not start to peel if spillages are left.
It is heat and stain resistant and can be cleaned with warm, soapy water. We always recommend using a trivet for your hot pans on all surfaces even Sintered Stone which is said to be heat resistant.
Common finishes, colours, patterns and edge profiles.
Different Quartz surfaces come in polished, honed, velluto and satin finishes. The majority will offer either a polished finish or a polished and honed finish which has a matt look and feel. In our Showroom we have over 350+ different Quartz surfaces from ten different suppliers so there are plenty of colours, patterns and designs to choose from.
There are also a variety of edge details which finish off your surfaces beautifully and take away the sharp, square edges. The most popular are Chamfer, Pencil Round, and OGEE.
Why has Quartz become so popular?
Quartz has become popular because it can mimic natural stone without the maintenance requirements. It is stain and scratch resistant and has a high resistance to heat. It is easy to clean, low maintenance and perfect for family kitchens as even with buys everyday use it will look like new for years to come.
The Pros of Quartz Worktops
Quartz worktops: the pros cons and myths. There are many pros of Quartz Worktops including:
- Durable and hardwearing
- Low maintenance
- Stain resistant
- Heat resistant (not heat proof!)
- Scratch resistant
- Long-term appeal
- Consistent appearance
- Wide choice of colours, designs and patterns
- Range of finishes including polished and honed
- Big slabs of material
- Easy to clean
- Variety of thickness’s available
- Suitable for all budgets
The Cons of Quartz Worktops
Quartz worktops: The pros, cons and myths. Although there are many pros to Quartz worktops there are a few things to be aware of.
Quartz can be more expensive than other surfaces such as Corian and Laminate. The material is typically more expensive as well as the fabrication and installation costs due to stone requiring professionals to complete. Quartz is a long-term investment and the stone will look like new for years compared to other surfaces that may need replacing after a few years.
Heat can be an issue. Quartz is heat resistant but not heat-proof, we always recommend using trivets for your hot pans as stone sits quite cold. Placing a hot pan directly on the surface can cause it to crack through thermal shock.
Quartz is incredibly solid, hardwearing and durable but can be damaged by extreme impact. It isn’t indestructible and there is potential for small chips to appear overtime around more vulnerable areas such as your sink or the edges. The good news is they are usually repairable and we are able to fill in the smaller chips!
It is stain resistant but not stain proof. Things like oven cleaning bags will stain Quartz surfaces as well as harsh chemicals. Warm, soapy water and your classic kitchen cleaners such as dettol is what we recommend for cleaning the stone surfaces.
Quartz isn’t suitable for outdoor use due to not having UV resistant qualities like Granite does. It is perfect for interior use, window cills, kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, dining tables etc but UV resistant materials such as Dekton and Granite are better suited to outdoor use.
Common Myths about Quartz Worktops
Myth 1: Quartz Worktops are completely indestructible.
Quartz is highly resistant to scratches, stains, heat and bangs. However it can chip around more vulnerable areas which is most common around the sink while washing up. With a hard hit with a pan it can cause certain sections to chip. It can stain when in contact with harsh chemicals such as oven cleaners and cleaning bags.
Myth 2: You can put hot pans directly onto Quartz.
Quartz is heat resistant but not heat proof. Some materials such as Sintered Stone (Dekton) are renowned for their higher levels of heat resistance and the advertising that you can place hot pans directly on them. We would always recommend using a trivet for hot pans on all types of stone. Stone can sit quite cold, adding extreme heat can cause thermal shock and your worktop to crack which would require replacing the surface!
Myth 3: Quartz worktops never stain.
We recommend wiping down your surface at the end of use or at the end of the day to ensure no harsher liquids damage the surface. It is resistant to harsher foods such as takeaways but can stain if they’re left on the surface overnight. Harsher stains can usually be removed with CIF Cream Cleaner but this is not always possible. However, it has a high resistance and is very unlikely you will have a permanent stain when looked after properly.
Myth 4: Quartz is 100% natural stone.
Many homeowners think Quartz worktops are 100% natural stone like Granite and Marble. Quartz is a man-made material which includes natural crushed Quartz as well as resins, pigments and polymers. It is not 100% natural stone.
Myth 5: Quartz never needs any care.
Quartz is low maintenance but not maintenance free. It is important to clean your worktops daily after use which most homeowners do naturally. The oven cleaning bags stain Quartz very easily due to having very harsh chemicals in them, so make sure you avoid these!
Myth 6: All Quartz worktops are the same.
There are small differences between different Quartz manufacturers. Although the main qualities remain the same between our suppliers materials that we show in the Showroom there are differences in warranties. ranges, colours, thicknesses and specifications. Some Quartz is now silica free which makes it safer for fabricators to manufacture, so the make up of the materials can be slightly different.
Suppliers of Sintered Stone such as Cosentino also offer 12mm materials as well as the 20mm and 30mm to give a sleeker option. Suppliers such as Cosentino offer more subtle material designs and colours compared to Nilestone which has plenty of sparkle and lot’s of bolder colours to choose from.
Myth 7: Quartz is always more expensive than other worktops.
We have over 350+ Quartz surfaces from ten different suppliers to view in our Showroom. Each material is a different price. There are plenty of materials to suit every budget without compromising on quality. For smaller projects with smaller budgets we have a wide range of offcuts available to choose from, perfect for bathrooms, tabletops, utility rooms, window cills, shelves and more.
The thickness of material will play a part in the overall cost. 30mm is typically 10% dearer than the 20mm material. Edge profiles such as chamfer and pencil round are usually standard whereas special edge details such as OGEE and Sharks-nose have an increased cost due to being more technical to create and polish, taking more time to make.
How much maintenance do Quartz worktops need?
They probably need the least maintenance of all the surfaces you could choose for your kitchen. They simply need wiping down with your basic kitchen everyday sprays or warm, soapy water after use. Most homeowners do this naturally so wouldn’t need anything extra outside of the daily routine.
For stubborn marks we recommend using CIF Cream Cleaner. This is best not to be used everyday as it will remove the shine overtime, but works perfectly for stubborn marks. We also leave all our customers with a complimentary stone polish to bring back the shine once cleaned.
Unlike natural materials Quartz doesn’t require re-sealing to ensure liquids don’t soak through the surface. This is one of it’s best qualities is that it’s naturally non-porous.
Each manufacturer has more specific care instructions which can be found on their websites! Our suppliers include:
- Brachot – BQS & Unistone
- Classic Quartz
- Caesarstone
- Cosy Stone
- Quartzforms
- Nilestone
- CRL
- Cosentino – Silestone and Dekton
- Neolith
How durable are Quartz Worktops?
They are very durable and will outlast your kitchen style. You will likely update your kitchen and therefore your worktops because it is outdated rather than looks worn. They have a high resistance to scratches, stains, heat and impact, making them suitable for busy family use. Outside of everyday use there are a few factors which can also influence longevity.
Professional installation ensures that the surfaces are safe to use, as well as sealed so water doesn’t seep through the joins. It is very important to have stone worktops professionally installed for kitchens to ensure they last for years to come.
Professional fabrication is also important to ensure your worktops fit your kitchen perfectly.
How does Quartz compare to other worktop materials?
| Material | Maintenance | Appearance | Durability | Heat Resistance | Price |
| Quartz | Low Maintenance | Polished and honed finishes with a wide variety to choose from. | Long term investment for long term gain. | Heat resistant but not heat proof. | Low, mid and high price ranges to suit all budgets. |
| Wood | Re-sealing required regularly | Natural looking with textured feel. | With regular maintenance wooden surfaces can last 20 years. | Has a moderate level of heat resistance but can scorch or burn when in direct contact with heat. | This depends on professional installation, what wood you choose and the size and thickness. |
| Corian | Low Maintenance | Homeowners like the seamless joints of the overall look. | Another durable surface but will show signs of wear overtime. Incorrect DIY installation can play a big part in this. | It is less heat resistant than Quartz and can leave scorch marks when in contact with direct heat. | Similar to Quartz. |
| Natural Stone | Re-sealing required | Natural colours, with each slab being unique. | Natural stone will last for years to come if looked after. | Has a high level of heat resistance, but we recommend using trivets for hot pans. | Varies depending on the size of the slab and choice of stone. |
| Laminate | It’s important to keep the seams dry, always use chopping boards and trivets for pans. | They are a decorative, hard plastic resin layer tightly bonded over chipboard or MDF. | Can peel if water gets into the seams or joins overtime. Typically requires changing every 10 years. | Can easily blister or discolour when in contact with direct heat. | The cheapest kitchen worktop option. |
| Stainless Steel | Low Maintenance | Fingerprints and watermarks can show up easily on the surface. | They will easily last a lifetime but will show signs of wear. | Can place direct heat on the surface without it blistering or cracking. | Can be quite expensive |
Are Quartz worktops right for your kitchen?
Quartz worktops are best suited for:
- Busy family kitchens
- Homeowners looking for low maintenance worktops
- Contemporary and traditional kitchen designs
- Those wanting a natural-stone appearance with greater consistency
Quartz worktops are potentially less suited for:
- Very tight budgets
- Kitchens where direct high-heat contact is unavoidable
- Outdoor applications
- Homeowners seeking a completely natural stone surface
What to consider before buying a Quartz worktop.
- The colour and pattern. There are plenty to choose from and the general rule is that it works well to tie in the worktop and flooring colours and have a contrast against the units.
- Whether you would like a chunkier look of a 30mm surface, best suited to farmhouse kitchens and open spaces or a more modern and contemporary 20mm worktop best suited for modern homes.
- How much worktop space you would like in your kitchen and the rough dimensions so you can receive a quotation.
- The colour of your sink could affect the Quartz worktop you choose, as well as whether it is a belfast, undermounted sink or overmount sink.
- Whether you would like an induction hob or range cooker will affect the size of your worktops and whether they’re in two pieces either side of your cooker or whether it’s all in one incorporating the hob cut out.
- It’s common for kitchens to feature upstands and/or splashbacks. This is something to consider when choosing your worktop as big, bold designs up the wall on big splashbacks can sometimes look too much for smaller spaces.
- It’s always worth having a rough budget in mind so we can find the perfect material to suit both your dream kitchen and your budget.
Thinking of choosing Quartz worktops for your kitchen? Visit us in Wareham where you can view over 350+ stone surfaces, and speak to our experts who can help answer any questions you may have. You can also see the workshop through the window to watch where all your stone surfaces are manufactured!
Book a visit to our Showroom or give us a call to find out more.
