subject: Quartz Worktops For Style And Quality [print this page] Quartz worktops add a touch of style to any kitchen a dash of glitter and shine in amongst all the cupboards, machines and utensils. Theyre not as expensive as one might think, either particularly when they are compared in price and longevity over other popular worktop materials. The initial cost of a quartz work surface is higher than, say, a PVC one but then quartz lasts longer, looks better, is very difficult to scratch and doesnt take on water.
PVC or wooden work surfaces, both of which are reasonably common and popular alternatives to quartz, have a very low life span in comparison. A PVC work top, which is the normal alternative to quartz worktops or granite surfaces, is cheap and looks reasonable at first but it is cored with chip board or MDF, which of course absorbs water rapidly. And what is the primary substance that kitchen work tops are exposed to? Correct. Water. After a few weeks washing up, ones PVC work surfaces have started to take in water at the seams. You wont notice it initially, but after a while those tell tale chips will start appearing at the edges of the work surface joins thats where water has got into the wood below and caused the PVC topping to raise away from its body.
Quartz worktops, of course, dont have this problem. Quartz is completely non-porous, so water just sits on it until it is wiped off. Unlike the PVC covering on a cheap work top, too, quartz is almost impossible to scratch you could chop directly on a quartz work surface if you wanted to and there would be very little damage done.
Even wooden work surfaces, which are probably as good looking as their quartz compatriots, have some pretty major longevity issues. Wood looks good at first (and is practically as expensive as quartz and other types of stone): but even treated it is pretty difficult to keep in its original condition. Whilst quartz worktops are simply cleaned with a soft cloth and a gentle cleaner, to give years of excellent service, wooden work tops inevitably fade, sustain water damage and staining, and will scratch with ease. No amount of wood preserver or multipurpose polish can stop the clock wood starts well and ends poorly.
What about something more heavy duty then? Quartz, after all, isnt the only fruit when it comes to stone. Plainer granite, marble, or slate are all popular options. The difference between quartz and the other stones is its range of colourings and so its versatility, when it comes to fitting in with an existing colour scheme, feel, or decorative look. Quartz worktops are made of composite, which basically means one can have them any colour one chooses. Use a predominant fleck to get a particular hue red, grey, black, or white and back it up with flecks of other colours for depth and variety. Quartz work surfaces are made bespoke, so one can choose exactly the hue one desires.
When one considers all the advantages of quartz it can be made to look exactly how one wants and it lasts forever it doesnt seem so expensive any more. Quartz worktops are versatile, attractive and almost indestructible. Thats an investment indeed.
