Does anyone have a quartz (esp Silestone) worktop?

phoebe2011

We have now had a Silestone countertop for 16 months. Our is a wonderful deep coffee brown colour with quartz in it and looks absolutely magnificient. Unfortunately little chips have appeared on the edges where we do most preparation work. We accept that this kind of thing is inevitable really. However, we have a dishwasher under the work surface and it is possible that if you are not careful enough you can easily knock the edge of the counter when you remove items - in the case of a cast iron or heavy casserole dish this can be fatal. A large chip 2x2cm was caused this way. A professional repair was made a couple of months ago but although it was OK at first it is now changing colour round the edge, so needs re-doing. We have sent e-mails to the manufacturers to ask if there is a different way to repair, but no reply yet! There must be a more successful way of repairing these chips. Does anyone have any experience of repairs?

Mr_Mike

I have an Apollo quartz worktop. It's at the cheaper end of the scale but I've been delighted with it - it's a mottled creamy colour (Pale Sand I think it was) with a polished finish. We bought a new kitchen from Wickes and I fitted it myself, the worktop is the same quartz worktops Wickes fit, but they wanted over 50% more for the same worktop than where we got it from (some internet place, can't remember the name now though might have it somewhere). And when the chap turned up to fit it, he said it was 99% likely to have been him fitting it anyway, even if we had bought it from Wickes!

It's easy to clean, hasn't got a single stain or chip (touch wood!) and looks the business. So don't be too afraid of non-premium quartz, if you look after it then chances are you won't regret it.

Alan_M_2

phoebe2011 wrote: »

There must be a more successful way of repairing these chips. Does anyone have any experience of repairs?

There's not a great deal you can do with a chip that large. 2cm x 2cm is more of gouge than a chip and in reality nothing short of replacement will provide the finish you require.

Granite is the same, you'll never get an invisible repair - or one that will remain intact for extended periods of time.

There is an alternative - which is to have the top cut back slightly and re polished, it will be messy and expensive but is the best chance of a decent repair visually.

Alan_M_2

Mr_Mike wrote: »

So don't be too afraid of non-premium quartz, if you look after it then chances are you won't regret it.

I agree with the above, we have customers ditching well known branded product for non branded quartz.

They often find there's nothing in it with regard to quality.

The 93% quartz 7% resin numbers that are regularly banded about are a bit of a fallacy, especially when you consider in the starlight products that glass and mirror chips make up more than 7% of the content of the top.

kabayiri

Is there a general guide for worktops, say per metre, which illustrates the price differentials?

We are in the process of choosing a new kitchen to go into an extension, and I'm trying to work out whether to spend more on flooring, lighting, designer radiators etc.

karlos1977

The price of quartz can vary massiveley depending on the colour, finish and most certainly the brand. I recently had a Silestone worktop fitted mainly because of the colour but we are over the moon with it. I did shop round for prices and found a company called Stone Valley Worksurfaces, they are an internet based company but deal with a network of fabricators across the UK. It may be worth getting some prices off them.

Robert1978

This company has a good selection of colors and are very favorable. I was in their company in Germany and the prices are very very reasonable, so I wonder whether you have something like this for the Netherlands? NATURSTEIN-PROFI

Terryfromcucina

aliasojo wrote: »

Am I the only one who wonders how and where the OP did his/her tests? I have visions of someone walking round showrooms with a tin of beans in one hand and a saucepan in the other, furtively whacking away at worktops. :rotfl:

I had the same thoughts, what a mental case and he bought a laminate in the end anyways! What lengths does he go to before buying other substantial purchases... a car or a house for example.

Come to think of it what rigorous testing did he think up for his missus? You wouldn't want to commit to the rest of your life without some serious test results the mind boggles

dan_78

I have a quartz worktop and love it. There are some cracking deals out there, I had some good quotes from several companies and went with a company called Whitton Worktops. I am very happy with the results, and several friends have had similar experiences with them.

Fieldsofgold

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