Quartz worktops in Milton Keynes

What quartz is made of

Quartz worktops are engineered stone: crushed natural quartz bound with resin and coloured with pigments, then pressed into slabs. Because the slabs are manufactured, one slab of a colour looks like the next. That matters in a long L-shaped kitchen or one with an island, where two or three slabs end up next to each other and none should look paler.

The resin is also why quartz is not porous. Spilled wine, coffee or oil sits on the surface instead of soaking in, so it does not need sealing.

Where quartz is the right choice

Quartz is a strong fit for busy family kitchens, rentals and anyone who would rather wipe a worktop than maintain it. It suits plain whites, concretes and soft marble-effect patterns, and it takes undermount sinks, drainer grooves and tight cut-outs well.

It is less suited to places where it would sit in strong sunlight all day, such as an outdoor kitchen or a conservatory, because some resins can discolour under UV over time. For those spots we usually suggest porcelain instead.

Heat, scratches and day-to-day use

Quartz is hard and resists everyday knocks and scratches, but the resin that makes it stain-proof does not like direct heat. A pan straight from the hob or a tray from the oven can leave a mark, so keep a trivet next to the cooker. Chopping straight on the worktop will blunt your knives long before it marks the stone, so a board is still worth using.

Silica and lower-silica quartz

Engineered quartz has a high crystalline silica content, which is a risk to the people who cut it, not to anyone using the finished worktop. The Health and Safety Executive has said dry cutting of engineered stone is unacceptable and that it should only be cut wet with dust controls. Lower-silica and silica-free ranges are now made by several brands. If you would prefer one of these, say so when you ask for a quote. The background is in our silica guide.

Thickness, edges and sinks

Quartz is usually fitted at 20 mm or 30 mm. A 20 mm top looks lighter and modern; 30 mm reads as more solid and suits larger kitchens and islands. For a deep look without the weight, a mitred edge bonds a strip to the front so a thin slab reads as thicker. Undermount sinks work especially well with quartz because the polished cut edge is on show, and drainer grooves can be cut into the surface beside the sink.