Recycled glass vs quartz kitchen worktops?

Rosa_Damascena

Any direct experience of recycled glasswork kitchen worktops? I have no doubt that they are individual and can look stunning, but am wondering about all the things I don't know about them, such as care / maintenance. (I also think they could look dated but in 30 years time I might be ready to replace). Views?

FreeBear

Quartz and crushed (recycled) glass will both use the same type of binder - A synthetic resin. Your worktop samples would appear to contain additional fillers which may be finely crushed glass or some other material. I would expect both types of surface to be similar in performance.

Like you, I suspect they will look dated, perhaps in only 15 years time. That is a risk you take with any material/finish.

Rosa_Damascena

I think the lower sample may stay remain in mode longer: 

Doozergirl

If you love something, have it.  It's not going to matter what the fashion is, none of us can predict it.  It moves on, some more quickly than others.  But if you genuinely love something, it doesn't matter.  

The trend at the moment is for a natural stone effect, heavily centred on marble and veining.  Quartz has already moved on from the 'broken pieces' look as they refine and refine technologies to look near identical, frankly, to natural stone but with better ability to replicate and no concerns about natural differences.  

Rosa_Damascena

Doozergirl said:

If you love something, have it.  It's not going to matter what the fashion is, none of us can predict it.  It moves on, some more quickly than others.  But if you genuinely love something, it doesn't matter.  

The trend at the moment is for a natural stone effect, heavily centred on marble and veining.  Quartz has already moved on from the 'broken pieces' look as they refine and refine technologies to look near identical, frankly, to natural stone but with better ability to replicate and no concerns about natural differences.  

Part of the problem is that I don't genuinely love anything - although I have strong aversions - but I do recognise I'm spending too much time and thought in making these choices, that could be better spent elsewhere. Good enough is good enough although I don't want to end up with items that jar.

Doozergirl

God knows how much time I've wasted looking, looking, looking for the idea, the colour, the product!  I thought it was a relaxing escape to look for things to go into the house, but I wasn't relaxed at all.  It was the opposite!  

We've been in for nearly
six months but I'm happy with progress.  We moved in able to use kitchen and bathrooms and had flooring downstairs, the rest has come gradually.  The worktops went in two months after we did, while we waited for the sale of our house!  Decorating sort of finished a couple of weeks ago, but I do want some wallpaper on some painted walls.  

Next week, stair carpet is on the list, as is decking.

If it's not loved, it's not going in.   Nothing is getting done too quickly.  So far, I can still use lockdowns as the reason.  😬

Try not to be rushed.  

   

Rosa_Damascena

Work is starting in just over a fortnight's time and I am dreading the hassle and disruption. My home will no longer be my haven for that time so I am enjoying the last few sunny afternoons in my already hot conservatory (5 if I am lucky).

Thank goodness for work, family, books and the seaside!! 

phoebe1989seb

I agree with Doozer - you really shouldn't rush your decision/settle for something you don't love, although (having completed several personal full house projects since 2007) I get that you can get analysis paralysis, lol!

We needed to get our kitchen done fairly quickly when we moved here just over three years ago as we were moving it into a new space and the old kitchen was unusable (the cottage was purchased as a repossession). Actually we'd already bought the kitchen cabinets from Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch for our previous house but never fitted them, so that decision was made.

Ditto the range - a bright red Bertazzoni that I now hate with a vengeance!

However, time and financial constraints at the time led us to choose iroko for the perimeter worktops - we'd used iroko twice previously and were happy with it - but I now wish we'd waited and chosen a marble-like quartz 🙄

We have microcement on the island which I actually much prefer and - if we decide to stay here long term - eventually we'll change the iroko to my preferred choice of white marbled quartz.....

Rosa_Damascena

Iroko looks good but I just don't have the bandwidth to maintain wood. I'm happy to clean but I cannot be worried about every mark / scuff and this is where something as tough as quartz is attractive.

Leezymum

I had bespoke recycled glass worktops made 11 years ago from a firm called Glasseco which no longer operate. I think 8% resin and the rest crushed glass with flecks of mirror in. I still love my worktops and will put some into my new kitchen when I move house very soon. 
They are durable and heat resistant, unusual and I like the appearance. 

Rosa_Damascena

^^Tell me please what colour are your units, Cashmere?