Kitchen worktop - is quartz worth the money

JulietWhisky

Hi all,

I am currently buying a new build house and am making my kitchen choices. Quartz is obviously beautiful compared to laminate.

My question is, is there anyone who has shelled out for Quartz and regretted it. Apart from the cost, I obviously cannot see any negatives.

I can skimp and scrape to afford it - personally I think it might be one of those things if I don't get it now, I will regret it later.

Your opinions and experiences?

JW.

Doozergirl

JulietWhisky wrote: »

Hi all,

I am currently buying a new build house and am making my kitchen choices. Quartz is obviously beautiful compared to laminate.

My question is, is there anyone who has shelled out for Quartz and regretted it. Apart from the cost, I obviously cannot see any negatives.

I can skimp and scrape to afford it - personally I think it might be one of those things if I don't get it now, I will regret it later.

Your opinions and experiences?

JW.

I love it. Laminate just depresses me now. Solid is far better than the stuff that is wrapped thinly over mdf as that will crack if you stand on it (don't ask).

How much are the builders charging for it? If they are really charging megabucks, you could always ask to leave it and get your own. I appreciate it's not really what you might want to do with a new build, but they do tend to price things in the realm of ridiculous as they have a captive market.

https://www.diapol.co.uk has a pricing option on their site. They're also brilliant suppliers.

JulietWhisky

Doozergirl wrote: »

I love it. Laminate just depresses me now. Solid is far better than the stuff that is wrapped thinly over mdf as that will crack if you stand on it (don't ask).

How much are the builders charging for it? If they are really charging megabucks, you could always ask to leave it and get your own. I appreciate it's not really what you might want to do with a new build, but they do tend to price things in the realm of ridiculous as they have a captive market.

https://www.diapol.co.uk has a pricing option on their site. They're also brilliant suppliers.

Thanks for your reply. The developer still has to get back to me with a quote. But I have actually gotten an online quote for exactly the same make of quartz that has taken my fancy from the options. I have been quoted £2250 fitted. I will be happy if they charge around that.

Quote from: https://www.gdygranite.co.uk

I will be sharing the quote with the developer if they quote me something silly!

JW.

Doozergirl

That sounds like a plan

Furts

Doozergirl wrote: »

I love it. Laminate just depresses me now. Solid is far better than the stuff that is wrapped thinly over mdf as that will crack if you stand on it (don't ask).

But we are not comparing like for like with this. If one buys a reasonable laminate worktop it does not crack, it is solid, and it will not not break when stood on. I recently removed laminate worktops from a very tired kitchen where the owners had used them as steps to get up to their high level consumer unit. The worktops were 25 years old and they were as solid as the day they were made.

Cracking worktops is often due to poor installation, which is bad workmanship. Often, the base units have not been accurately levelled up and the worktops not properly supported.

Cracking can also be because consumers buy, or allow to be supplied, the poor quality budget ranges available through the DIY sheds. With laminate worktops you get what you pay for.

With regard OP question, I regard quartz worktops as an unwise expenditure for most people. Most people could find a better use for their money. I have extensive quantities of quartz in my home (which I regard as highly over rated) but I also have laminate, so I am impartial on this!

suisidevw

I have quartz, as does my brother. His is dark with a fleck and mine is almost white, both Silestone. They look incredible, easy to keep clean, hygenic etc. Nothing negative at all to say, just make sure you use a company that come and template up, and don't cut on site for a full kitchen!

JulietWhisky

Furts wrote: »

But we are not comparing like for like with this. If one buys a reasonable laminate worktop it does not crack, it is solid, and it will not not break when stood on. I recently removed laminate worktops from a very tired kitchen where the owners had used them as steps to get up to their high level consumer unit. The worktops were 25 years old and they were as solid as the day they were made.

Cracking worktops is often due to poor installation, which is bad workmanship. Often, the base units have not been accurately levelled up and the worktops not properly supported.

Cracking can also be because consumers buy, or allow to be supplied, the poor quality budget ranges available through the DIY sheds. With laminate worktops you get what you pay for.

With regard OP question, I regard quartz worktops as an unwise expenditure for most people. Most people could find a better use for their money. I have extensive quantities of quartz in my home (which I regard as highly over rated) but I also have laminate, so I am impartial on this!

Thanks, appreciate your comments. I totally agree with regards to quality of laminate. My parents kitchen has been in for almost 20 years, and the laminate is still in suberb condition.

You are exactly right about money could be spent elsewhere. I guess the opinion I am hoping not to see here is "I shelled out for quartz, and hate it. It's scratched, faded, etc." I am willing to spend the money, as I do not think I can get a laminate to look half as good. And do not want to regret not having what I wanted later.

I have quartz, as does my brother. His is dark with a fleck and mine is almost white, both Silestone. They look incredible, easy to keep clean, hygenic etc. Nothing negative at all to say, just make sure you use a company that come and template up, and don't cut on site for a full kitchen!

I am going for almost white with sparkly bits Thanks for the tip with regards to fitting. I will check with the developer that they template it. Although, I'd expect the answer to be no. I bet they just go off the CAD drawing and order it that way. But we'll see.

JW.

Doozergirl

Furts wrote: »

But we are not comparing like for like with this. If one buys a reasonable laminate worktop it does not crack, it is solid, and it will not not break when stood on. I recently removed laminate worktops from a very tired kitchen where the owners had used them as steps to get up to their high level consumer unit. The worktops were 25 years old and they were as solid as the day they were made.

Cracking worktops is often due to poor installation, which is bad workmanship. Often, the base units have not been accurately levelled up and the worktops not properly supported.

Cracking can also be because consumers buy, or allow to be supplied, the poor quality budget ranges available through the DIY sheds. With laminate worktops you get what you pay for.

With regard OP question, I regard quartz worktops as an unwise expenditure for most people. Most people could find a better use for their money. I have extensive quantities of quartz in my home (which I regard as highly over rated) but I also have laminate, so I am impartial on this!

I easn't talking about laminate. I was talking about the quartz veneered stuff. If you put a 14 stone bloke on it, it cracks.

My husband has not yet cracked a laminate, wood, solid quartz or granite worktop.

Steve_the_fitter

the 'quartz veneered stuff on mdf' has more flex in than quartz or granite worktops so would be less prone to cracking.

All worktop materials have there advantages and disadvantages. Do your research and choose accordingly

ryder72

Why would anyone want to stand on a worktop is beyond me. If you can spend £2k on a worktop, spend another £50 on a step ladder and stand on it all night.

Do you also look for a bed you can shower on or a glass window you can throw stones at. A worktop is for prepping food on not for standing on.

Anything subjected to the use it wasnt designed for will likely fail. Its not the product for.

As for the OP - Quartz is a very good dependable product. Try and avoid the cheap chinese stuff and it will last years.

Doozergirl

ryder72 wrote: »

Why would anyone want to stand on a worktop is beyond me. If you can spend £2k on a worktop, spend another £50 on a step ladder and stand on it all night.

Do you also look for a bed you can shower on or a glass window you can throw stones at. A worktop is for prepping food on not for standing on.

Anything subjected to the use it wasnt designed for will likely fail. Its not the product for.

As for the OP - Quartz is a very good dependable product. Try and avoid the cheap chinese stuff and it will last years.

It was tongue in cheek. Sense of humour bypass, anyone?