Kitchen worktop - is quartz worth the money

sam1970

hi.. Sorry to ask as I am novice to all this and looking to renovate our kitchen.. Is Quartz the next step up from granite or is it the other way round? And which is better?

suisidevw

No, I think they are on a par but granite is the natural stone and quartz has some human intervention. There are pluses to both but the robustness of quartz compared to granite swayed it for me including stains etc.

Juliet. Ensure that they use a proper firm who WILL template it. The CAD drawings won't allow for walls that are slightly out etc. you really want it done properly for so much money. What's the name of yours? Ours is white storm

Ectophile

I've got Silestone quartz in my kitchen. I've no idea how much it cost, as it wasn't separately itemised on the invoice, but I suspect it was a fortune. It was properly templated, and took ages to arrive, but it's really pretty and fits perfectly.

So far, I haven't managed to damage it in any way. It cleans off fine with just a damp soapy cloth. I wouldn't take the risk of standing on it, though.

fluffpot

Do not use Universal Granite though - after sales service appalling. The female managing director actual slammed the phone down on me after accusing me of lying.
We have several chips in ours after less than 2 years - they say it is guaranteed, but what is covered is only the cost of the worktop materials. What is not covered is the cost of taking out the old worktop and fitting the new one. As this will generally also involve plumbers, electricians and gas engineers -THIS is the most expensive part!

I gather this is a standard warrentee on all quartz worktops

Furts

fluffpot wrote: »

Do not use Universal Granite though - after sales service appalling. The female managing director actual slammed the phone down on me after accusing me of lying.
We have several chips in ours after less than 2 years - they say it is guaranteed, but what is covered is only the cost of the worktop materials. What is not covered is the cost of taking out the old worktop and fitting the new one. As this will generally also involve plumbers, electricians and gas engineers -THIS is the most expensive part!

I gather this is a standard warrentee on all quartz worktops

I would add avoid Bellagio Stone at all costs - this company treats the end user like something trodden in when out walking the dog. Back up and customer support are alien concepts - it is like entering a war zone when dealing with them.

Professional colleagues have a dismal opinion of OMG. Consequently I would also avoid this company.

iris

We love our quartz worktops.


We paid £3200 for 3 worktops and Franke stainless steel under bowls (including wastes/fittings and fitted). This also included upstands, polished cutouts and rounded edges both top and bottom and corners. The price also included full templating and fitting. HTH

DRP

we find that we break everything on our bit of worktop - glasses, mugs and plates don't like marble/granite!

Definitely be going with wood or laminate in the new kitchen...

suisidevw

On the contrary we have yet to break anything and we are both clumsey and have a clumsey son! We do have expensive crockery, mugs and glasses though so that may help.

The limestone floor however, jeeez, nothing survives that!

Furts

DRP wrote: »

we find that we break everything on our bit of worktop - glasses, mugs and plates don't like marble/granite!

Definitely be going with wood or laminate in the new kitchen...

Likewise we have chipped glasses, plates and cups as a result of the Quartz drainer. I also find the surface of quartz cold to touch, it seems to chill the kitchen, and it feels harsh. The projecting edges are a hazard if you knock into them - they hurt you a lot more than a laminate, and if you bend down and get up forgetting the overhangs it can result in a cut head.

A good laminate is warmer, softer, protects the crockery, can come with a safe overhang with a proper drip groove... there is no rational reason for having quartz. But it is all about selling "a dream kitchen", to fit in with "a lifestyle statement" as befits "a dream home".

But back to OP JulietWhisky - you have made the statement "Quartz is obviously beautiful compared to laminate", so it appears you have already sold this product to yourself. The correct comment is beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "Quartz is not obviously beautiful compared to laminate" to all eyes. But a certainty is the statement "Quart is obviously expensive compared to laminate". Were I in your position needing to scrimp and save £2250 I would be adding value and kerb appeal to my new home - be this fencing, landscaping, driveway, paving, energy efficiency, eco features...but not bling worktops.

This may be an unorthodox response, and not agreeing with your "dream image", but I hope it helps.