Pros of Quartz Countertops
1. Bespoke designs and appearance of worktops:
Since the quartz kitchen countertops are engineered to specifications, you are sure to get the countertops designs tailor-made to suit well to your kitchen space and other areas of your home. For more about this advantage from this building essential, talk to your nearest stone dealer or fabricator. Second opinion doesn’t go in vain, does it?
2. Durable for ages:
The worktops last long, really long. Unlike its counterparts like marble kitchen worktops, quartz countertops endure the mechanical and chemical weathering in the long run. Hence, you don’t need to worry about certain unintentional actions, which may take place in the kitchen, such as – splits, scratches, cuts, chipping of the worktop while preparing the foods. Because quartz countertops are way harder than granite and marble worktops. Again, unlike the other natural stone countertops, spills and acids such as vinegar, lemon juice, and other similar foods do not harm the surface. Surely, your spending on the quartz kitchen worktops doesn’t go in the drain. It’s worth the salt!
3. Porous? No way:
Because this type of worktops is engineered, their porousness is eliminated for good by the addition of materials like polymers. They prevent the penetration of liquids as well as the accumulation of foreign materials on the surface of the worktops. These polymers fill up all the pores in the quartz stone, leaving no gaps for the rest. And thus, the countertops relatively make themselves bacteria-free.
4. Uniform and smooth surface:
As mentioned earlier in the article, the glossy luster of quartz along with the added materials into the quartz kitchen worktop pays the way for its gloss.
5. Clean and condition:
The quartz kitchen worktop makes it effortless for homemakers/domestic helps to clean the countertop, again partly due to its smooth surface. You can use soaps and household cleaners, without second thoughts, to keep the worktop in good condition. These cleansers do not cause any harm to its surface.
That’s fine. What about the disadvantages of the quartz worktop? Are there any? Let’s consider the following points. If your choice of the worktop position is inside and can pay heed to the other points here below, you can virtually overcome these drawbacks.
Cons of Quartz Countertops
1. Heat damages worktop surface:
You know when the worktop is engineered to specifications, the fabricators use the grounded quartz and mixture of polymers, resins, and pigments. These materials that give gloss luster to the counter can’t withstand the excessive temperature. The workable solution to avoid the damage is to use trivets or heating pads to keep the hot vessels before putting them on the worktop surface.
2. Not a good choice for outdoor:
. In quartz kitchen worktops, you find a small percentage of polymers and pigments, which reacts to the sunlight in the long run. And this reaction causes fading of the countertop colour. (That’s a natural thing. Even if you keep your buckets, for example, in the sun for a long duration, you will surely notice some colour change in them.) Hence, the grey quartz kitchen worktops don’t suit well for outdoor purpose.
3. Price and you need professional help for installation:
A square meter of a quartz worktop may cost you nearly a hundred pounds. Depending on your kitchen worktop specifications and design, you have to be prepared to spend thousands of pounds on the same. Moreover, the installation costs will add to the price tag. For quartz, worktops are a bit heavy and need a professional hand to carefully install them. Even so, all the natural stone worktops are a bit expensive, not just the quartz types.
4. Limited sink options:
When you use grey quartz kitchen worktops, you need a careful consideration for sink options, as they are limited to a few. Sink options like drop-in, flush mount or under mount suits well with the countertop.