Quartz worktops have become a popular choice for most people these days. It is mainly because of its properties and great looks. This article describes the various qualities of a quartz worktop and its pros and cons. Read on to find all that you want to know about quartz worktops.

When you think of designing or redoing a kitchen, the first thing that comes to your mind is the kitchen worktop. Though a variety of materials are used to make kitchen work surfaces, the most popular one these days is the quartz worktop. The modern technology has made it possible to engineer this stone and give it an appealing appearance and impressive strength.

According to an expert at Compac Quartz UK, the quartz worktops consist of 93% quartz and 7% of other materials. These include colored pigments, and special resins that act as binders and grant strength to the work top.

Under mount sink and a set of 5 drainer grooves on Compac quartz Venecia 20mm by MKW Surfaces in London

How are Quartz Worktops made?

Quartz is a very strong mineral and ranks only third to diamond and Ruby. After resins are added to bind in the particles together, the material is baked at a very high temperature. Later it is also exposed to extreme pressure. The binder not only makes the worktop strong, but it also binds the particles in such a way that the worktop has no pores left in it. Though many manufacturers of quartz worktops like Compac quartz worktops prefer to market it as 100% natural, the truth is that the natural mineral of quartz is further engineered to give it the desired strength and color. This engineering adds to the durability and the attractiveness of the worktop.

Before you set out to install a quartz worktop for your house, there are few pros and cons of these worktops that you should know. Take a look.

Advantages of Quartz Work Surfaces

•    Non – Porous: The quartz work surfaces are non-porous. It means there is no space for germs and bacteria to breed.
•    Stain Resistant: Since it is non-porous, quartz worktops are also resistant to any kinds of stains. It makes them an ideal choice for kitchens where spillages are quite normal.
•    Low Maintenance: A dealer of Compac quartz worktop explains that, since binders are used to bind the particles, you do not need to seal the worktops every couple of years. It makes quartz worktops easy to maintain.

Disadvantages of Quartz Work Surfaces

•    Extreme Heat: If you thought that because Quartz is a strong material, it is heat resistant, think again. If you place something that it too hot on the work surface, it is prone to get damaged even if it is not very obvious.  Most manufacturers recommend using a trivet to place pans and pots at over 170C directly from the oven although the exact degree of heat as to when quartz quality may be compromised will vary according to the composition of each quartz color.
•    Not Always Seamless: An expert at Compac Quartz UK explains that at the homes where large worktops are required, it is not possible to install one large piece of quartz measuring over 3000mm in length. In such cases, two or more pieces are jointed together; it results in seams. However, these are minimal and resin matched with the manufacturer’s products and clients are usually surprised at how minimal these are once they can see the tops installed.

In spite of their initial costs, most people prefer to install quartz worktops in their homes because of its durability and great looks. In the long run, quartz provides the best value for money since unlike wood or laminate it would not rotten with the passage of time and unlike natural stones it does not require maintenance after its installation

Hopefully now, when you go about looking for quartz worktops, you would definitely, have with all the information that you need.