One of the most popular applications for quartz is as a kitchen countertop. This is because of the material’s resistant to heat, stain and scratches, crucial characteristics for a hardworking surface that is constantly exposed to high temperatures.
Some quartz, have also obtained an NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certification or CE certification, a third-party accreditation that ensures products meet stringent standards for public health protection. This makes certified quartz surfaces unlikely to harbour bacteria, providing a more sanitized surface to work on.
While quartz is conventionally used on kitchen countertops, they are actually suited for use in numerous other applications. Highlighting quartz’s low porosity and minimal maintenance requirements, Ivan Capelo, experts recommend having them in bathrooms as well, suggesting that they are suited as shower trays, basins, vanities, flooring or cladding.
Other applications our experts mentioned include kitchen backsplashes, drawer panels, TV walls, dining and coffee tables as well as door frames.
Is there any place we should not be using quartz?
Experts advises against using quartz on outdoor applications or areas that will be exposed to UV light, as this exposure will cause quartz to fade or discolour over time.
Do they come in standard sizes?
Most quartz slabs come in the following sizes:
Standard: 3200 (length) x 1600mm (width)
Jumbo size: 3300x2000mm
They also have a variety of thickness. the most commonly used ones in the market are 18 mm、 20 mm and 30mm thickness. However, there are also thinner ones at 15mm and thicker ones at 40 mm available.
How thick you go for depends on the look you are trying to achieve.
Experts recommends the thickness you choose should also be dependent on your application. “For instance, a thicker slab would be preferred for kitchen countertop applications, whereas a thinner slab would be more ideal for flooring or cladding applications.”
A thicker slab does not mean it has a better quality. Conversely, thinner slabs are harder to manufacture. The expert recommends checking with your quartz supplier on the Mohs hardness of the quartz you intend to get—the higher it is on the Mohs scale, the harder and more compact your quartz is and therefore of better quality.
What do they cost? In terms of pricing, how do they compare against other surface materials?
The cost is dependent on size, colour, finish, design and the type of edging that you choose. Our experts estimate that prices for quartz in the market can range anywhere from US$100 per foot run to US$600 per foot run.
In comparison with other surface materials, quartz can be on the expensive side, costlier than materials like laminate or solid surface. They have a similar price range to granite, but are cheaper than natural marble.
Post time: Jul-09-2021