In kitchen, there are many options for the countertops material, quartz, solid surface, granite, laminate and others. but we are going to discuss quartz and solid countertops here.
Most common features of these two materials:
- Both provide a wide range of colour selections. Come with the texture and feeling of nature stone. Have beautiful glazing surface after polishing.
- Both environmental friendly – without toxic substance or radiation. Can be touched directly with food.
- Both fireproofing materials
Differences:
- Made of different materials
- Solid surface is manufactured by mixing nature mineral powder (bauxite), acrylic, epoxide or polyester resin and coloring pigments, then chemically cured and heated into sheets form.
- Engineered quartz stone is a mixture of 93% quartz stone and 7% polyester resin and other additives, vibro compressed into slab form under vacuum condition.
2. Moldability
- Solid surface: almost limitless on design flexibility. Can be heated and bent into a variety of shapes.
- Engineered quartz stone: meanwhile quartz is a much harder material which makes the stone more rigid and compact. However this character also makes it almost cannot be moulded into other shapes other than slab form.
3. Scratch & Stain resistance
- Solid surface is a low-maintenance material but easier to get scratched and stained during daily use application.
- Engineered quartz stone has the highest resistance against scratch/stain/impact compare to all the other materials.
4. Repairability
- In most cases,Solid surface can be quickly repaired by patching, sanding & re-polishing in order to extend its usage.
- Engineered quartz stone surfaces cannot be repaired like solid surface once after installation because of its super hardness. However the hardness also make the quartz surface maintenance free under normal circumstance.
5.Heat resistance
- Solid surface is low in heat resistance. It is advised that do not place item with high temperature e.g. hot pot directly on the surface instead using a heat trivet.
- Engineered quartz stone surface is fairly high in heat resistant and not affected by temperature lower than 300o However for a better long-term usage it is also recommended that hot pots and pans never be placed directly on the surface but onto a heat trivet or chopping board.
6.Affordability
- Cost for engineered quartz stone surfaces is generally higher than the solid surface because its rigidness makes processing of it a more difficult task. Therefore the engineered quartz stone surfaces are most commonly used for kitchen countertops/bathroom vanity tops/kitchen backsplash etc. where the value added through processing can offset its considerably higher price.
