Quartz, in case you didn’t know, is an engineered stone. It does not naturally exist in the format we use it. Natural quartz is a hard mineral, but is not usable in the state it is found in. Generally, 90% ground quartz is combined with resins, polymers and pigments to form the hard surface you’ll see in kitchens.
In order to produce it, the natural quartz crystals are mined before being ground down into a fine dust. Resin binders are then added under a very high heat and pressure, which forms a solid slab. During the process, pigments added change the colour.
Here are some of the top reasons you should consider a quartz worktop for your kitchen:
APPEARENCE
The marriage of nature and science in production means we have a lot of flexibility when it comes to the appearance of a quartz worktop.
For example, the coarseness of the ground crystal affects whether the worktop appears flecked or smooth. The pigments used can subtly change the colour, or make it imitate another type of stone such as granite or marble, and can even include big gems or crystals. There are mottled as well as singular colours available, along with other finishes such as antiqued, leather and honed.
Have a look here to see the range of different looks our quartz worktops come in.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Another benefit of quartz is its relatively impact on the environment. Quartz is the most common material in the earth’s crust. Mining it harms the environment less than mining other, rarer elements does.
DURABILITY
Quartz is incredibly hard and durable. It is non-porous and very resistant to cracks and stains. Unlike a granite worktop, a quartz worktop will not require sealing or resealing.
Quartz worktops are also naturally scratch-resistant – only three other natural minerals can scratch it (diamond, sapphire and topaz). Quartz surfaces are stronger and tougher than granite – they have four times the flexural strength and double the impact resistance. They even outperform marble, and rank 7 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Quartz is also very easy to clean using just mild soap, water and a cloth.
It also worth mentioning, though, that they have some slight drawbacks – they are not heat resistant, and for very large worktops or countertops there will be seams.
We’re proud to have installed hundreds of fantastic quartz worktops of all kinds. You can see a range here, or get in touch directly to see what we can do for you.
