Quartz Worktops, Quartz Surfaces & Quartz Worktop Samples

Benefits of Quartz Worktops

In addition to the beautiful finish that quartz worktops offer your kitchen, they also have many other practical benefits. Quartz is often compared to granite worktops and although man-made, quartz is extremely strong and durable.

Quartz is also stain resistant, scratch resistant and heat resistant. Another important benefit is that germs and bacteria cannot get into the surface as the strong polymers and resins used make the worktops non-porous.

Manufacturing a quartz worktop is a complicated process. Quartz stones, granites, polymers, resins and mirrored stone are all combined to create a solid quartz slab. After this, the slab is sealed and polished, ready to be cut to the perfect size for your home. An advantage of this complex process is that any colour can be achieved. This means that quartz has a much wider variety of colours and styles available than most other stone worktops.

Quartz worktops are also a great investment to a home, once they have been bought, it will only contribute to the value of your property as they will not lose their value. Another added bonus is that they are very hygienic, making them ideal for family home environments. As long as the worktops are kept clean and looked after properly, quartz is very tough against bacteria and mildews.

How to Choose the Right Quartz Kitchen Worktop

Kitchen worktops are the focus point in any kitchen and are used more than any other kitchen appliance for things like food preparation, making drinks and draining pots. With this in mind, it is sometimes difficult to decide on the best colour or finish to suit your kitchen.

As we mentioned above, one of the benefits of quartz worktops is the huge range of colours, finishes and styles available. Finishes can be anything from suede, polished or volcano texture. Different styles are also available such as plain, veined, fine grain or coarse grain.

We understand that choosing kitchen worktops is a big decision so, here at Marble 4 Life, we have created some questions and answers to help and support you in your decision. These should give you a very good idea of which quartz worktops are best for your kitchen.

1. What Kitchen Style are you Looking to Achieve?

A few years ago, quartz worktops were only available with sparkly mirrors which meant that they were only really suited to contemporary, modern kitchens such as high gloss handless kitchens. However, with the recent advances in technology, quartz slabs with veins running through the material and no sparkly mirrors are now widely available. These kinds of quartz worktops will suit traditional kitchens. So, whether you have a modern, contemporary kitchen or a traditional kitchen, there are options available for you.

2. Do You Want Your Quartz Worktops to be a Statement Piece or More Subtle and Sleek?

This question comes down to personal preference but, with that being said, a lot of people opt for making a statement with their quartz worktops. Being the focal point of your kitchen, the easiest way to make a statement is to create contrast between your worktops and the rest of your kitchen. For example, a dark coloured quartz would look really good in a light coloured kitchen and the other way around. If you are after a more subtle look, you should look for a quartz that is a similar colour to your kitchen and will blend in more.

3. Light or Dark Quartz Worktops?

Light and dark quartz are both equally durable to scratching and staining because of the way they are engineered. Although lighter granites are more likely to stain, with quartz, it doesn’t matter. It is all down to personal preference.

4. Quartz Upstands and Sills

Choosing upstands and sills is the best way to compliment your worktops and give them a superior finish. They really do make all the difference and are actually a great cost saving option in comparison to tiling your walls.

5. What Edge Should You Have on your Quartz Worktops?

We generally find that standard chamfer is the most popular edge profile as customers like its straight, clean lines. The standard chamfer does go really well with the modern, sparkly mirrored quartz colours. Another good option is pencil round which means that the top and bottom of the worktop are slightly rounded however, this is the same edge profile that comes with most laminate worktops so, it can make your worktops look like laminate. Other popular alternatives are ogee, bullnose and half bullnose. Any of these options compliment the more traditional looking veined quartz such as Carrara or Lyra.

6. Which Colour Quartz Should You Choose?

Choosing a colour really depends on your kitchen and the look you are going for. Our expert stone masons are always on hand to offer advice on which colours would suit your kitchen. We are also more than happy to send out actual samples of quartz to help you decide, just fill out our instant quote form and choose to receive a free sample.

Different Types of Quartz Worktops

With quartz being available in a large range of colours and styles, it can be difficult to choose the best colour and finish compared to other stone worktops such as granite. Just like choosing the colour of your kitchen cabinets, tiles and paint for the walls.

With the many different factors, affecting your choice, we have put together a guide which breaks down the different options you have and will hopefully answer any questions you may have.

1. Grey Quartz Worktops

Grey quartz worktops are naturally very popular because of their neutral colour and clean appearance. This style works well with most kitchens, especially in contemporary or modern kitchens.

There are many different shades of grey for you to choose from. Lighter shades are normally purchased by those wanting to go for a light, subtle look to keep a more neutral appearance. With lighter shades, it allows the natural light to fill the room and gives it a more open, spacious feel.

Darker shades of grey are similar to black kitchen worktops, if you are trying to achieve a bold statement look and feature your worktops as a centrepiece of the kitchen, they are an excellent choice. Slate Grey quartz worktops are one of our most popular options.

2. White Quartz Worktops

In a similar fashion to grey quartz worktops, our white quartz worktops give an excellent finish to any kitchen. If you are aiming for a more traditional, low impact kitchen to retain light and feel spacious, pairing white quartz with neutral or pastel coloured kitchen will work really well.

To achieve a more prominent look, customers often pair a white or cream quartz worktop with a darker cabinet to create a strong contrast in the room. This is the best way to feature your worktops and create a beautiful looking centrepiece. Ice white quartz is a great option and is our most popular white quartz worktop.

3. Quartz Worktop Suppliers

Because quartz is manufactured, Marble 4 Life only deal with a few high-end companies to make sure that we only provide the best quality quartz worktops and can guarantee a perfect finish every time. We only supply genuine quartz that has been manufactured on Breton Spa machinery. Breton Spa are the company who invented quartz and hold the patent for genuine quartz. Below we have summarised each of the suppliers to help you understand what they offer you.

Silestone

Silestone are the market leaders in quartz. The are a globally recognised company with over 90 branches across the world. Being great innovators in the quartz industry, Silestone often manufacture colours that are unique to their brand. We have been dealing with Silestone for over 25 years and as a result have a strong relationship with Silestone. Because of this, we are able to import container directly from their manufacturing plant in Spain. All Silestone quartz worktops come with a 25 year warranty.

Compac

Compac was founded in 1975 and produces around 4.5 million square meters of quartz slabs every year. Compac is a leading quartz supplier who offer a lifetime warranty on all their products for complete peace of mind.

Caesarstone

The oldest manufacturer of quartz slabs in the world. Caesarstone manufacture over 70 different quartz colours, so you should find a Caesarstone quartz worktops that suites your kitchen. All Caesarstone worktops come with a 15-year warranty to provide full peace of mind.

Cimstone

They offer a range of high quality quartz all manufactured on high-tech Breton Spa machinery. Cimstone quartz is a non-porous hygienic worktop that is stain resistant, high abrasion and scratch resistant. Cimstone quartz is ideal for both residential and commercial uses. There is no need to seal or polish the worktop after installation, so it is maintenance free.

Cheap Quartz Worktops

One of the biggest drawbacks with quartz worktops is people opting for a cheaper wood or laminate option – this doesn’t have to be the case, in fact quartz is an extremely affordable and offers a significant longevity over their non-stone alternatives, not forgetting the considerably easier upkeep, avoiding swelling, mould and very unhygienic surfaces.

Marble 4 Life pride themselves on providing high quality stone surfaces at competitive costs. The added benefit is you are able to buy direct from our factory / showroom allowing you to avoid any third party costs, problems in communication or commissions, and better still, all our quartz surfaces are stored in our warehouse allowing us to provide a quick turnaround and quality service.

Why Buy Quartz Worktops Direct?

There is a lot to be said when purchasing quartz worktops directly from the factory / showroom. Realistically, there is a selection of three viable points of sale for quartz worktops – these being through kitchen companies, direct from the manufacturer or through second hand purchasing over the internet or locally. From experience, we have seen many issues arise as a result of not making a purchase directly from the manufacturer.

When buying through a kitchen company, there tends to be a number of third party costs involved such as commissions and other additional expenses, not to mention the communication issues. Kitchen companies tend to be in the middle, between yourselves and the quartz worktop supplier, meaning the organising and fitting of the worktop can be delayed. In addition, a professional stonemason is not guaranteed in fitting the worktop – the worktop of which you may not know the supplier of until it is fitted in your home.

Another large risk is purchasing a second hand worktop from auction websites and local based sales. Although quartz provides a solid and hard wearing worktop, it still needs to be looked after in order to maintain it’s perfect condition. A lot of the times, especially when dismantling a kitchen, these factors won’t be taken into account which leaves the quartz in danger of being cracked or damaged. These worktops will obviously need tailoring to ensure they fit your own personal kitchen which may also lead to additional costs on top of the quartz cost to make sure they fit as expected.

Buying direct from the manufacturer is much more beneficial to those looking to have the perfect worktop fitted. A main benefit is you are provided with a warranty so you can have complete peace of mind. Additionally, there are no middle man commissions involved, the price you are given is normally a trade price – the quartz will be professionally handled through the process, prepared and delivered or fitted in your home with no qualms.

Professionally Installed Quartz Worktops

Marble 4 Life are one of the UK’s leading providers in quartz worktops, offering highly skilled stonemasons to template and also fit your brand new worktop – it’s the same stonemason too, making sure the fitting is as per your requirements. Our skilled team in the factory will cut and polish the stone surface with pinpoint accuracy using the latest in CNC equipment.

Marble 4 Life strives off a strong reputation of happy customers and word of mouth. We do our upmost to ensure that every customer provided with a fitted quartz worktop feels informed, satisfied and pleased with the finish.