Quartz kitchen worktops

What it is

About 90% ground quartz mixed with resin and pigments, pressed and cured. The resin closes the pores, so wine and oil don't soak in. It's also the resin that sets the limits. A hot pan straight off the hob can leave a pale ring, and strong sun under a skylight can change the colour over the years.

When it makes sense

If you want a white or pale grey kitchen that's the same colour end to end, and no upkeep at all. Two slabs of the same colour match closely, so joints are easier to hide. If you love Calacatta but cook with lemons every day, a marble-look quartz is a fair compromise. If you slide pans across the top of a range cooker, look at granite or Dekton.

Sizes

2 and 3 cm. Most slabs are about 3 m by 1.4 m, some brands do 3.2 by 1.6 m, which you may need for a long island without a joint. A 3 cm top is around 70 kg per m². Past about 30 cm of overhang we add brackets.

Edges and sinks

Quartz takes clean, sharp edges and mitres well. Undermount sinks are the usual. We can cut drainer grooves, but they go through the surface and on some colours the inside looks slightly different. Behind a gas hob, keep the clearance the hob maker gives, or use another material for the splashback right behind it.

Silica

Cut dry, quartz gives off silica dust that harms stone workers, so we cut it wet. Once it's fitted, there's nothing to worry about.

Upkeep

Soapy water and a soft cloth. No oven cleaner, bleach sprays or scourers, and always a trivet. Upstands and sills from the same slab keep the colour identical.

Every worktop is priced on a free quote. Call +33 7 45 20 76 39.