Kitchen worktop - quartz with 3 visible joins vs corian with seamless joins

[BigBadDee]

We're having a dilemma over whether to choose quartz or corian for our new kitchen. We really love the natural look of the marble-like quartz designs, (although there are a couple of corian designs we like too), but we will have a u shaped kitchen with a breakfast bar at one end of the u, meaning we will need 3 joins. With quartz, the joins are visible, but the corian would be totally seamless. Corian is £2k more than the quartz. Not sure if we'll be forever looking at the joins if we choose the quartz and wishing we'd opted for corian. Any strong opinions on which would be best... anyone been regretting the visible joins in their quartz worktop?

I have an L shaped kitchen and have one join. can't say I have ever noticed it. It is a very thin line. It might depend on the design on the granite. We have Verde Lara.

I’m not a huge Corian fan it’s too plasticky looking for my taste, I can see why the join free look would be appealing but the joins in my quartz are barely noticeable and it just looks so more natural compared to Corian, however it’s obviously playing on your mind and I’m a great believer in listening to those little nagging voices when it comes to spending a lot of money on something you will have for years, I think you should go with your gut and go with Corian.

Completely agree with bettyboo....we have quartz and I was worried as I can be picky about joins but honestly you can't notice them

I had corona until last year when I changed to quartz. Have a couple joins now but don't notice them at all. My main plus with the corian was the seamless element though, so I know why you're torn.

Thank you all for your feedback. Should have also mentioned that we have 11&15yr old DDs, so also have to consider the fact that corian is much less heat & scratch resistant that quartz. Think the problem is that it seems impossible to find a quartz showroom with a join in the worktop! Very helpful to know that none of you are noticing your joins. Also, must admit @BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo that corian does seem more plasticy now that we've seen some quartz displays.

@BigBadDee this is the most visible join in my quartz kitchen (around my Belfast sink):

Remember that Corian can scratch. More noticeable on darker colours. If you forget and put a hot pan on just one it marks. And it's stain resistant - which translated means it can(will)stain.

Sorry, I hate the stuff.

And to add to Toby's comment - I had white corian, it didn't scratch, but it stained - tea bags my DM put in the sink were my most hated thing!!!

I have u shaped quartz with joins and honestly they look fine - my fab kitchen maker has the joins line up with the cupboard line below which is a amazing attention to detail which is appreciated by all my architect mates and not noticed by anyone else!
I'm not completely sold with Corian - I've used it on various commercial jobs and although it's got some good qualities (believe me their rep has told me all about it) I just don't like it as much as quartz

Photo

That’s great - it does look much better lined up with the door. We’ll have to ask our fitter to do the same. Thanks @wonkylegs!

Thank you - that’s really useful to know - the worktop suppliers really push for the corian worktops but it was never on the cards for us anyway. Can’t be doing with having to be precious about a sink!

I have quartz, and love the robustness, but the joins are with the wood worktops (iroko) iyswim, so it looks like it's meant to join. And i love my wood even more than the quartz

Could your breakfast bar be similar - two different surfaces making it look like it's supposed to be joined?

Sorry - earlier reply to @Dinosauraddict should have read “ worktop suppliers really push for the corian sinks” not worktops. Thanks for the tip though @Dinosauraddict