Everything you need to know about quartz

Quartz is a naturally occurring mineral available in abundance. It is a very hard crystalline substance composed of silicon dioxide. Quartz countertops are typically made from the dust or chips of quartz bound together with resin. The composition of a quartz table top is usually at least 90% quartz.

Quartz is a popular choice for kitchen table tops because of its durability. Quartz is more durable than the majority of competing materials such as marble, granite, timber and laminate. Quartz countertops require little maintenance (a regular wipe-down with a warm cloth will usually do the trick) and can resist some damage from scratches, stains, chipping and cracking.

What types of quartz can be used for a kitchen countertop / kitchen table?

While there is only one type of quartz used for countertops, this quartz is applied differently by different brands. Each has a unique style of manufacturing and quality may vary depending on the distributor. The ten most popular brands of quartz countertops in Singapore are:

10. Vulcan

9. Arkstone

8. Hua Khian

7. Lian Hin Quartz

6. Iquartz

5. HanStone

4. Corian Quartz

3. LG Viatera

2. Silestone

1. Caesarstone

There are a few other notable brands of quartz which are somewhat harder to obtain. These countertop slabs are high end and often only available through certain specialty stores. Cambria Quartz is one such style.

How does Quartz compare to other materials?

• Quartz vs granite

Quartz is actually harder than granite. It has a greater durability and unlike granite, quartz will not need resealing. The price of quartz is more expensive on average, but it is also more environmentally friendly and its engineering process gives homeowners control over the aesthetic appearance.

• Quartz vs solid surface

Solid surface countertops are an older style of countertop manufacturing than engineered quartz. Quartz countertops are generally more durable and aesthetically pleasing. However, solid surface countertops are cheaper and easier to install.

• Vulcan vs quartz

Though Vulcan contains quartz, Vulcan countertops are considered separate to quartz countertops. Vulcan is an engineered product composed of blended clays, feldspars, kaolin and quartz. Primarily manufactured by Lian Hin, Vulcan is a strong contender against quartz as it has a similar durability and is actually more resistant to heat.

• Kompaclus vs quartz

Kompacplus is a new material made from layered craft paper and resin which is then compacted. Kompacplus has a similar durability to quartz and is actually less susceptible to stains and heat. It is cheaper than quartz and has a similar environmental impact. However, Kompacplus is less visually appealing and will not add to the resale value of a home like quartz does. For a more detailed overview of the differences between quartz and Kompacplus, see here.

Quartz table top Singapore: where can Quartz be used?

Quartz can have a variety of different applications in the home, though the most common by far is the kitchen. This is because quartz has the durability needed to cope with high traffic and heavy use over time, as well as resistance to water, wear and tear. Quartz will fit perfectly on the kitchen top to protect your benches, but can also be a great asset to a dining table if you find quartz slab in the perfect colours or style for your home décor.

What brand of quartz is best?

There is a lot of discussion about the qualities of different quartz countertops Singapore. To help narrow down the best choices, here is a comparison of the five most popular quartz table top design styles.

Brand	Silestone	Caesarstone	Lian Hin Quartz	iQuartz	Arkstone
Styles available	51	33	91	27	20
Textures available	(3) -Polished -Suede -Volcano	(2) -Polished -Rough concrete	(2) -Polished -Matte	(1) -Polished* *in various patterns	(1) -Polished
Thickness available	(3) -1.2cm -2cm -3cm	(3) -1.3cm -2cm -3cm	(1) 2cm	(2) -1.5cm -2cm	(1) 2cm
Warranty (years)	25	10	10	10	15

Quartz countertops Singapore: How do you know which brand of countertop to buy?

Something to keep an eye out for is the profile of the quartz. When it comes to single vs double profile quartz, double is almost always better. Double profile quartz is twice the thickness of single profile, which is comprised of just one layer of quartz.

While most single profile quartz slabs will still be thick enough for a kitchen counter, this is certainly something to keep an eye on because the thickness of single profile quartz will vary between brands. For example; at Lian Hin Quartz single profile refers to 20mm while for iQuartz single profile thickness is 15mm. Try to keep this in mind and reference the thickness with the durability that you expect the countertop to need over the years.

Caesarstone vs Quartz

A common misconception is that Caesarstone is a separate material to quartz. Caesarstone is one of the most popular brands of engineered quartz.

Quartz is the mineral from which Caesarstone (and indeed all engineered quartz) is manufactured, so perhaps this is where the confusion began. Pure quartz is not an option for kitchen benchtops and all countertop quartz products will be a form of engineered quartz similar to Caesarstone.

iQuartz vs Caesarstone

Both iQuartz and Caesarstone are name brands of engineered quartz. Of the two Caesarstone is better known in the quartz manufacturing industry. Caesarstone offers slightly more designs, with 33 styles on offer over iQuartz’s 27. Both have a warranty of 10 years.

Caesarstone has two available textures (rough concrete and polished) and iQuartz has a variety of consistencies, colours and patterns within the one (polished) texture. Caesarstone supplies in three thicknesses; 1.3cm, 2cm and 3cm, while iQuartz provides 1.5cm and 2cm options.

iQaurtz has a range of sizes depending on the series, spanning from 300cm x 140cm to 320cm x 160cm. Caesarstone has a standard size of 140cm x 300cm. Caesarstone is more expensive and will generally range into the $$ price range while select styles of iQuartz can have single digit price tags.

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