Help, what type of Kitchen worktop?

shellshellpatel

Dear forum and Alan M, please can you help. I have a new kitchen going in next week and just need to decide on the type of worktop we should go for. We want it black in colour and with the silver specs so I just need to decide on the type of 'stone'. I have been recommended both Quartz or Granite but still confused as there are lots of different types, countries of origin, grade etc... A friend of mine has recommended Cimstone. The kitchen includes a large Island. Alan M or any other experts, please can you advise which you would go for if it was your kitchen? The only certainty is that we want it to be hard wearing and black with the silver specs. Many thanks

Meepster

Black with silver specks? Quartz every time...

Do you want sparkly or non sparkly specks?

shellshellpatel

Thank you very much. I think this is where we are heading to with the Quartz. We are after the sparkly specs. I have been recommeded Quarella or Cimstone or Compac. Does anyone know which is best? Also I have been told that the colour of quartz can change (especially if black) if in direct sunlight so is it not a good idea to have quartz if the work top is under the window sill? Thanks

Alan_M_2

If it's black you want I still rate Granite over Quartz, simply on appearance and durability.

Black with silver speckle in granite is known as Cosmos or Stargate, both names for the same product. Black with a gold/copper speck is Galaxy or Star Galaxy.

Almost all other colours Quartz is great, but it's extremely diffcult to get the depth of colour in Black material in Quartz.

The black Quartz will fade over time (every manufacturer bar none) it's the nature of the material, it reacts to UV light. Some will take longer to fade than others, but they will all fade eventually.

shellshellpatel

Thank you very much Alan. So many choices!

With the quartz could you recommend a particular brand?

I have been told that Cimstone is the budget range, Compac is middle of the range and then Caesarstone is the expensive products and that Compac are the best value for money as the quality is excellent and they are affordable prices?

Thanks

Alan_M_2

Cimstone, Compac, Ceaserstone, Silestone, Arena, Quarella, Diresco, Technistone are all comparable.

Ultimately all these products are made on the same machine, built by the same company (Breton). The rest is marketing waffle.

Korean Products can be a little hit and miss - Radianz or Hi-Macs.

Here is a link to the Breton website - http://www.breton.it/engineeredstone/en/product/default~231/WEB_LINKS_TO_THE_MAIN_BRETON_COMPOUND_STONE_MANUFA~43

Note the Chinese factory names included. The perceived idea that there are massive quality differences is no longer the case.

Sure there some rogue manufacturers, but the fabricator installer is probably more important than the product these days.

Chinese products can be hit and miss, are often unbranded and quite often less than half the price of the others.

Ultimately it's down to you what you want to spend.

shellshellpatel

Thank yo very much Alan

ryder72

Alan M - My own experience with some of the quartz products has been a bit variable. I am not going to name names here but what I have found is that the better known brands have better customer service, better stock availability, much better colour matching across slabs etc. The lesser known brands (and a couple in your list) have caused no end of problems and as such we avoid using them.

My understanding is that while they are all made on Breton machines, the larger manufactureres have dedicated lines for lighter colours and dark colours allowing for much better control of the end product. I suspect their quality control is also superior.

Agree with your comments on Black quartz. Irrespective of the manufacturers, black granite looks much better than black quartrz.

Alan_M_2

I've seen great quality and I've seen rubbish from all of them.

Quality control is actually less to do with production lines and more to do with the man looking at the slabs and deeming them acceptable.

Slab slection by the fabricator is all important also, that's the point any issues should be addressed.

I still don't understand the obsession with mirror black quartz though.

SuzieSue

I wouldn't get a black worktop if you are in a hard water area. I did and have regretted it as there is limescale all around the sink.

ryder72

Alan - 75% of all quartz we supply is Silestone and I we have never ever had a problem with their material that hasn't been quickly and effectvely rectified. Any issues we have had with quartz were with the alternative brands (couple of which are particularly notorious).

I am led to believe that Silestone have made significant investments in automating the QC bits, taking out human elements from the process. Then again it may be pure luck.

I'd dearly like to have the same degree of confidence in a couple of other brands here just to be able to offer some more choice.