Quartz Branded vs Unbranded

Newuser0

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in the process of purchasing quartz for my kitchen. One which has caught my eye is the Carrara Misterio by Unistone.

The company I’m looking to purchase from can supply the Unistone but also do their own Carrara which is cheaper.

My questions are, what are the actually differences between a companies own made stone VS a branded one?

Is the price increase for the branded stone justifiable? Are the stones as good as each other? and do they go through the same manufacturing process?

Or am I just paying the extra for the name?

Thank you everyone

CambrianGranite

It depends - some companies buy in bulk from quartz manufacturers to reduce costs and then rename it under their own brand and pass the savings on to their customers. There are a lot of Carrara quartz colours out there from all over the place.

Not all quartz worktops are made equally and a number of factors will determine whether it suits your specific needs. Do you want something easy to maintain? Do you have a tight budget? How often will you be using your worktops? Like with cars, cosmetics, or furnishings, you get what you pay for and although most quartz is fit for purpose, there are distinct differences in how different brands of quartz perform. Here are our top tips for choosing a worktop.

If you're on a budget...

Cheaper quartz can still make your kitchen or bathroom stand out but you may find that it stains easily and may need replacing sooner. This doesn’t mean it will stain immediately but you might not get the longevity out of it that you would if you spent a bit more. This is mainly down to the lower quality or blends of minerals & resin that can change the porosity & resistance of the quartz. As they say, you buy cheap you buy twice!

Whoever you choose to make your worktops, the fabrication & installation will be unaffected – the material may just lack the finesse of more expensive brands.

Warranties...

Branded and warrantied quartz is made up of less than 7% resin and polished to a higher standard which makes it look more natural. Cheaper quartz can contain a much higher percentage of resin making it look more artificial and plastic which you may not like. The polish and shine may also be finished to a lower grade. It depends on your tastes and décor – there are some great cheaper options out there but the amount of maintenance required will need to be considered.

The better the quality of material, the longer the warranty usually is giving you peace of mind. For example, well known brands like Silestone & Caesarstone offer you 25 years across their entire quartz range – a cheaper copy may only offer you 1 years’ warranty. Think of a warranty as a reflection of the manufacturer’s confidence in their material – the longer the warranty, the more confident they are of their quartz’s quality and hardwearing properties.

I would ask the question where the cheaper quartz is manufactured - there are good Chinese copies out there that are cheaper but they may not last as long as quartz from, say, Spain, Italy or Brazil.

I hope this helps!
Lizzie

Newuser0

Wow so much information Lizzie! Thank you so much you’ve answered all my questions.

I want a product which lasts me as long as the kitchen, so as long as possible. May be worth me going branded for peace of mind.

CambrianGranite

Newuser0 said:

Wow so much information Lizzie! Thank you so much you’ve answered all my questions.

I want a product which lasts me as long as the kitchen, so as long as possible. May be worth me going branded for peace of mind.

No problem Happy to help and good luck with your kitchen!

SameOldRoundabout

Carrara Misterio is the number 1 worktop we sell at the kitchen company. It is a lot cheaper than Silestone/Caesarstone equivalents and we have never had a single complaint come back about it. The way it is fitted is just as important, so ensure you have a fitter you trust to template and cut correctly. In all my years at the company, although we’ve seen some worktop disasters, it tends to be down to poor fitting, ie sink cutouts should be rounds which are joined, NOT overcuts as it weakens the tops enough to cause cracks! 

Newuser0

SameOldRoundabout said:

Carrara Misterio is the number 1 worktop we sell at the kitchen company. It is a lot cheaper than Silestone/Caesarstone equivalents and we have never had a single complaint come back about it. The way it is fitted is just as important, so ensure you have a fitter you trust to template and cut correctly. In all my years at the company, although we’ve seen some worktop disasters, it tends to be down to poor fitting, ie sink cutouts should be rounds which are joined, NOT overcuts as it weakens the tops enough to cause cracks! 

That’s put my mind at ease for sure! I’ll get it ordered.

in terms of the sink cut out, are you saying it shouldn’t be cut out as a hole from the worktop? But rather to pieces of quartz coming together to make the cut?