Kitchen worksurface question

[LimoncelloSpritzplease]

Considering a quartz worktop for the first time ever. We have a lot of work surfaces to cover so got a quote for one of the cheaper strata quartz white work surfaces. The sample has arrived and had a scratch on. I tried to wipe it off but couldn’t now I am worried that it may accidentally get damaged too easily. Is silestone which we have a sample of but its less shiny/glossy any better? Any advice we can just about afford the Silestone but not much more.

I have a quartz worktop that although not Silestone is made by them (I was told repeatedly this is the case). Well after one month I dropped a small spice jar (now in a basket so it shouldn’t happen again) from a wall cupboard shelf and it chipped the edge of the worktop. It’s a tiny chip so I won’t pay the expense of getting it repaired but it’s still annoying, Had a laminate previously that I t didn’t have to worry about!!

Try barkeepers friend. That got anything off my quartz surfaces. If that doesn’t work then yes look at another brand/colour/style.

I was told by a salesman that the cheaper quartz come from China and are not as good( but who knows). Was told Italian quartz are pretty good.

My dekton sample (same manufacturer as Silestone) also arrived damaged. I can definitely see how it could have happened as it was just posted in an envelope with a simple bubble wrap.
There’s lots of mixed reviews out there regarding Cosentino. Maybe worth considering a less expensive brand. But quartz may chip. Regardless of the brand.

We are only opting for the more expensive surface (quartz or silestone) as we are both close to retirement age and wanted to treat ourselves as previously we have only had laminate but the edging on the laminate corner looks awful and really cheapens the look.

I love my silestone worktops. Had them for six years and haven’t noticed any damage or stains. I wouldn’t hesitate to have them again if we ever fitted a new kitchen.

I have silestone and no problems with them yet. They look and feel great too.

I have quartz. It marks very easily. My friend has silestone ... which can be sanded to remove scratches and can be repaired.

We have quartz. We were told to wipe turmeric off straightaway; and to use one of those bathroom cream products to try to get off, if it did stain.

So far, after a year, no scratches or stains - but we do use glass chopping boards all over the place to protect it. (I always use chopping boards anyway, as one of the cats walks all over the counter tops)

Quartz can get heat damage as well as chips, and there are lots of variations in quality out there.

As per a previous poster, we got Dekton (had it about 4 years now) and I was worried about chipping. Nothing so far (without wanting to tempt fate) even with a few heavy pan dings. It is basically a giant ceramic tile though...

I have quartz. I don't chop directly on it or put pans down on it. Not really a good idea for such an expensive surface.

Have chipped the edge a few times banging pans against it. But these are only micro chips and barely visible (you can feel them if you run your finger over the edge). It is possible to get repair kits if the chips are bigger.

I think the key to keeping a nice surface is to get the most durable surface you can AND treat it with kid gloves. I don't think there is much out there that is indestructable.

I went with laminate but shopped carefully to get an edge I liked. This type has a plastic bead around the edge. It’s smooth, nothing to snag when you wipe it. And it’s bombproof laminate worktop.

You have to shop hard though, to find a pattern you want with the edge you want, and a colour that makes the edging discreet.

I just couldn’t cope with paying significantly more for a surface I needed to be more careful with.

Where are you planning to get it from? We found that there was a huge difference in price between sellers. Al-Murad were excellent and the quality is amazing- saved a LOT against our kitchen supplier's quote. Gemini were pushy, though had good prices.

We are only opting for the more expensive surface (quartz or silestone) as we are both close to retirement age and wanted to treat ourselves as previously we have only had laminate but the edging on the laminate corner looks awful and really cheapens the look.

Local kitchen supplier not rip off WREN or anything. We have used them before 20 odd years ago. But because we have such a large surface area to cover (much less wall cupboard space because of the layout) the cost is massive.

Have you looked at compact laminate? The samples I've had look visually very similar to quartz. When you touch it then it feels warmer but not plasticky IMO. Supposedly it's harder wearing.

They will be likely subcontracting it.

Absolutely nothing to stop you getting the quartz elsewhere.

A few places worth looking (in no particular order- just ones I know ship/fit and templates across the country)
https://www.geminiworktops.com/
https://naturalstonesurfaces.co.uk/
https://al-muradgranite.co.uk/

BTW: we actually found our local kitchen places expensive (check out DIY kitchens or Better kitchens)

@myplace could you tell me which brand that is please- sounds great 👍

https://www.worktop-express.co.uk/apollo-marble-laminate-worktops/

Check the individual ones to make sure they have the right edge! There’s a name for it but I can never remember. They sent me a photo from the warehouse. Excellent customer service.

You have to be careful with colours, imo. Light ones worked fine. The dark ones had a white edge where the paper pattern met the composite base.

Also, lots of joiners I tried wouldn’t work with it.

@myplace thanks very much, that looks great!