“Why Choose Quartz Worktops?”
By Gary MacGowan
‘Engineered Quartz’ is a manmade material using a mix of natural and manmade ingredients. This is fabricated by crushing natural quartz minerals and mixing them with resins, polymers, and pigments… then moulding, compressing, and heating to create a Quartz slab.
Not only does this produce a highly durable surface but also eases the maintenance of the surface. Engineered Quartz comes in a large selection of colours and patterns from plain surfaces, granite/marble look-alikes, to bright bold colours, and since it is formed through an engineering process it is much easier to maintain consistency from one slab to the next compared with natural marble and granite slabs.
Therefore, if consistency and durability are key in your search then Engineered Quartz should be at the top of your list.
Leading manufacturers: Silestone, Caesarstone
Caesarstone Cloudburst Concrete
Silestone Eternal Marfil & Blanco Zeus
What should you expect from your Quartz worktops?
Slight differences will occur between Quartz slabs as the patterns may vary slightly due to particle structure, or due to small spots and faints, that can occur naturally due to the natural minerals that are a part of the compound.
Quartz has low porosity and does not require the use of surface sealants. Quartz is highly stain-resistant, but as with all surfaces, spills should be removed as soon as possible especially highly coloured food and liquids.
The Majority of Quartz is not resistant to direct UV (however there are certain colours that are) and therefore should not be used in external settings in direct sunlight. Glass is sufficient in reducing UV rays so damage does not occur indoors.
Quartz is not resistant to high heat levels (such as pans from the hob or out of an oven) so trivets should be used
at all times. This sounds odd, but the resins used in the material may be affected by heat.
Quartz is highly resistant to scratching but we would always recommend a chopping board, knives will become blunt cutting directly on the surface!
Engineered Quartz is a strong material, but as a worktop, it is only supported at the edges by the kitchen carcass. Joins and cut-outs can be weaker points and the surface is not designed to support the weight of a person. Do not stand or sit on your surface or place very heavy objects on weaker points.
As with all worktops, dropping a heavy or sharp object onto an Engineered Quartz surface, especially the edges, may cause it to chip or crack.
Studio 35 Installation
Studio 35 Installation
How do you care for your Quartz worktop?
For daily care of your surface wipe with a moist, soft cloth with either a dilute, mild soapy solution (eg: fairy liquid) or a mild kitchen cleaning detergent. Rinse the cloth and wring out then wipe over the surface again to clear any traces of soap or detergent residue. Then buff with a clean, dry microfiber cloth, always ensuring your cloth is clean.
It is always advisable to remove a spill as soon as you possibly can, by blotting away with a kitchen towel and then wiping the surface as advised above. The longer the spill sits on the surface the increased risk of it penetrating the surface.
Never use a highly abrasive cloth or scouring pads (eg: Brilo pads) however, white soft scourers can be used gently for agitation of stubborn stains.
Avoid using highly aggressive cleaning agents such as oven/grill cleaners that have high alkaline/pH levels (pH 8.5 or higher) and cleaners that contain xylene, toluene, potassium hydroxide, or caustic soda.
Caesarstone Rugged Concrete
Interested in Quartz worktops?
For further information on Quartz and alternative worktop options please call in to our showroom to view our extensive range and samples, or contact us:
You can also click any of the images within this article for links to our website, which includes similar images and further information.
For further information contact Studio 35
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01904 635 937
Address: 35 Blossom Street,
York,
YO24 1AQ