New kitchen - quartz worktops?

Pete_Kearns

We've just bought a new house and want to replace the kitchen (the house is 20 years old and has the original kitchen which is now looking tired).

We have always had laminated worktops in the past. However we are attracted to quartz worktops and wonder if this is something people would recommend? Is quartz a practical option (after all, we want to use the kitchen and not just look at it)?

Any tips or suggestions would be much appreciated.

phill99

They show every water mark, coffee stain etc. you need to like cleaning!

Jaynne

We have quartz and are definitely in the use not look at it category and it's brilliant. It's very hard wearing and doesn't stain unlike laminate.

I'm not sure if I'd say it shows up dirt more than laminate - it depends on the pattern of both I suppose but I will say that due to being non porous it's a doddle to clean. What would you prefer an easy to clean surface that's clean or a more difficult to clean one that "looks" clean?

100% no regrets with ours and would get quartz or granite again in our next kitchen.

mymedi

phill99 wrote: »

They show every water mark, coffee stain etc. you need to like cleaning!

Nothing of the sort. This is highly dependant on the surface pattern and color. Also, if properly sealed, quartz-based surfaces should not stain at all for practical purposes.

Leif

phill99 wrote: »

They show every water mark, coffee stain etc. you need to like cleaning!

Not mine, only on the drainer.

I've had an off white quartz for a couple of years, and it is fantastic. It is tough, although you don't want to go dropping metal pans on it. It wipes clean easily. It does collect dust, but which surface doesn't? I have an integral drainer, and I was worried it would scratch/wear. In fact it doesn't. It does show water marks and stains, but a quick wipe with a dishcloth and a spray cleaner, and it is sorted. Which drainer doesn't show marks? Stainless steel is much worse. When the lady from the curtain shop came to measure up my sitting room window, she went into the kitchen (they wanted to flog me a blind), and straight away exclaimed "Oooh I like that", meaning the quartz. I think it is a relatively cheap way to make a kitchen look really special. and unlike laminate, bits don't fall off. I've just discovered that oven cleaner can mark it, so I'll watch out for that in future. Sorry to ramble on.

Furts

I would add quartz is a very expensive worktop, but if your budget stretches to this then fine.

From a practical perspective, quartz is a premium product but there are numerous quartz companies that do not offer a service to match this price. So be very careful on which brand, and which fabricator and installer you use.

ryder72

Quartz is a superb worktop material - arguably the best one out there.

Its got great heat and stain resistance, pretty tough (but not chip or scratch proof) and with a little bit of TLC will last a lifetime.

The end result of how you worktop looks and lasts is to an extent down to the quality of template and fabrication.