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Original poster

Quartz is overarated…

64 replies

Justcannotbearsed · 27/10/2021 07:18

Had a quartz worktop fitted. Now wondering if it’s a bit all fur coat and no knickers. Looks fabulous.

But, if we change built in hob, if it breaks for example, we will have to get exact same one as can’t change shape of cut out.

Everything clinks, bowls, plates etc, it’s noisy. Sets me on edge a bit.

Can’t put anything hot on it, like a baking tray, whereas laminate could get away with leaning a corner of a hot tray on it.

Stains, yes they wipe away with a bit of barkeepers friend, but I want to be able to put a tin on the worktop and not leave a rust stain.

Its effing expensive.

Laminate? Cheap and easy if you want to change it
Bombproof with stains.
Soft rather than clinky.

OP posts:

BarkminsterBlue · 27/10/2021 09:53

I love our quartz. It's still absolutely perfect.

You can't put hot pans on laminate. It melts (source: bitter, expensive experience of a university houseshare).

Daughterpanic · 27/10/2021 10:12

I've also attached resisted it.

I have gone for cheap laminate I thought it woud be less worry. I really don't want to live in a house with precious materials we can't comfortably use in day to day life. I want to enjoy my home so I went for laminate and I thought it would be easier to update in a few years for a fresh look.

My love is marble however I don't mind about marble stains. So in future if I won the lottery I'd get marble.

SollaSollew · 27/10/2021 12:08

Another quartz lover here, I put hot pans on it all the time and have had no problems, stains come out with a bit of Cif and a good scrub.

I know what it's like when something's new and you don't want it to get ruined so you treat it very carefully, then when it's not new anymore you relax about it a bit and it's less fraught with the worry of damage. So in summary...maybe give it a few more months more before you write it off as not worth it.

BaronessBomburst · 27/10/2021 12:14

So granite is totally indestructible? I'm thinking of DH, baguette, a bread knife, and an aversion to using a chopping board here.....

How about granite composite, which is a lot cheaper?

chloechloe · 27/10/2021 12:21

@BaronessBomburst

So granite is totally indestructible? I'm thinking of DH, baguette, a bread knife, and an aversion to using a chopping board here..... How about granite composite, which is a lot cheaper?

Granite is indestructible. Ours has been in 6 years and looks like new. No problem for your DH to chop away on it.

Have no idea about composite granite.

Sparkai · 27/10/2021 12:30

Like anything there is good quartz and bad quartz worktops by virtue of it being a composite. It's hard for the layperson to tell the difference though, and it's often not by looking. The type of polymer resin is the key: harder = better scratch resistance and more hard-wearing but more brittle so harder to cut and fit.

hennybeans · 27/10/2021 13:03

I love our quartz work tops. They're white with grey flecks and little sparkles. They don't show dust or smears, and reflect light. We only have issue with squash spilled by dc and is left to dry that stains, but barkeeper's friends gets anything right out. I wouldn't generally ever put a hot pan on any surface except the hob or trivet just out of habit.

BaronessBomburst · 27/10/2021 14:49

Thank you ChloeChloe

LittleOverWhelmed · 27/10/2021 15:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Saz12 · 27/10/2021 16:04

It’s prettier than laminate, but I agree just so expensive in comparison! Dreadful for the environment too (apparently), even worse than the plastics in laminate. So you’ve got to be sure about it as difficult to justify replacing it after a few years!

GreenLunchBox · 27/10/2021 16:24

@CRbear

Quartz is formed in 573 degree temperatures. If you can’t put hot things on it, it’s not quartz. (geologist)

Thank you! I thought I was going mad...I do put hot things on mine and it's fine

GreenLunchBox · 27/10/2021 16:26

@Bookmarket

I love mine too. Its the one thing I'd definitely have again if we moved house or fit a new kitchen. The little mirror speckles in mine please me greatly when the sun shines in and I get coloured reflections on the ceiling.

I can put anything hot down on it. The only time I have issues with stains is when making a curry and some drops on the worktop. I've figured out you can leave neat washing up liquid on turmeric stains for a few hours and then the stains wipe away.

Yes, curry is the only thing I've noticed stains, but as you say it comes up easily enough

BusySittingDown · 27/10/2021 16:33

You can put hot things on it. The guys who recently installed ours told me that you can't but we've had it for years in previous kitchens and I always put hot trays out with gay abandon.

I love it! It's so nice.

GreenLunchBox · 27/10/2021 17:26

@BusySittingDown

You can put hot things on it. The guys who recently installed ours told me that you can't but we've had it for years in previous kitchens and I always put hot trays out with gay abandon.

I love it! It's so nice.

Haha, you rebel, you

GreenLunchBox · 27/10/2021 17:27

🙈

XingMing · 27/10/2021 17:50

No problem for your DH to chop away on it.

Granite spells death to your knives though! I'd murder anyone who used my expensive Japanese knives on a stone surface.

Redsquirrel5 · 27/10/2021 18:06

I have green. I love it. I have a slate trivet to put hot pans on. Just leave one out all the time.

jaundicedoutlook · 27/10/2021 19:33

Quartz is not impervious to heat- we once left a nasty mark behind in a holiday let with a hot pan from the oven.

Granite is generally fine with heat but if it is a light colour it can stain with things like red wine and turmeric. We had granite in our last house and didn’t damage it, except a chip from a heavy pan collision.

Dekton (which we’ve just got in our new place) is impervious to heat and stains and we love it, but you have to be careful with chips from heavy collisions. We have a 6m run of it down one wall which is making me a bIt paranoid, but so far so good…

XingMing · 27/10/2021 20:20

Not being judgey, much, but clearly worktops trump knives. Unless you cook, and then I'd compromise on the worktop and have really good sharp knives. You could shave with most of mine, but my only DS is 22 and a trained chef, so would agree with me!

Rainbowshit · 27/10/2021 22:31

Not getting your love for laminate. It's awful. Definitely less impervious to heat than the quartz I have. It's amazing, hasn't stained with curry or red wine.

Shadowboy · 27/10/2021 22:47

@CRbear

Quartz is formed in 573 degree temperatures. If you can’t put hot things on it, it’s not quartz. (geologist)

Also geologist here, the quartz they use is not ‘quartz’ as we understand it, it’s a fine powered crush mixed with somewhere between 3-10% resin. It’s a ‘man made’ surface.

dazzlingdeborahrose · 28/10/2021 10:03

I love my quartz work top. Impossible to stain - even curry stains can be removed with a bit of spray or washing up liquid. I have put hot things down on it with no ill effect. I try to use trivets on any surface I've had. I've had laminate surfaces, granite surfaces and quartz. Quartz is my favourite so far.

YouJustFoldItIn · 28/10/2021 10:48

We have granite worktops and they're indestructible. Boiling hot pans, just stick them on the worktop. We obviously have chopping boards etc but there aren't any scratches on it after 14 years.

Same. I've had it fitted in two kitchens and have never regretted it for a second. So low maintenance it's ridiculous and really easy to keep clean. Costs a lot but totally worth it.

maofteens · 28/10/2021 10:55

Laminate looks ok but in no way passes for stone. And it can burn and peel. I've had good quality laminate in kitchens but only because of budget. I've just had quartz fitted and it's great. You must be pretty heavy handed if you don't like the sound - which will be the same if it's quartz, marble, granite, composite...

BalladOfBarryAndFreda · 28/10/2021 10:57

I’ve had quartz put in 7 years ago (replaced granite) and it’s great. We put hot stuff on it all the time, no worries?!

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