Carrara Quartz Worktops

Carrara quartz worktops are a beautiful accompaniment to your kitchen. As well as being bright and modern, they are extremely hard wearing, heat and stain resistant. Carrara quartz worktops are elegant and attractive in appearance, and they are available in a range of different finishes which is perfect for freedom of design.

Carrara Quartz Worktops at a Glance

Carrara quartz is an engineered stone made from natural stone blended with resins, designed to look like white Carrara marble but perform far better in a kitchen. It has the same white surface with faint grey veining, and comes in matt, semi-matt or polished finishes. Unlike marble, it is non-porous, so it resists staining, harbours no bacteria and needs no sealing, and it stands up well to scratches, chips and impact. It is also highly reflective, which brightens a room. At Handmade Kitchen Company we supply and fit quartz worktops as part of a bespoke kitchen.

Carrara quartz or Carrara marble?

Many people are drawn to the idea of white Carrara marble for their kitchen worktops. It is visually stunning but has various setbacks. White Carrara marble is a soft stone and is very porous, which means it is likely to stain easily and requires high maintenance. Carrara quartz is a perfect alternative, as it has been created to look very like Carrara marble but is a lot harder. Carrara quartz is an engineered stone made from a mixture of natural stone and resins. It is very tough and can withstand chips, scratches and stains. The colouring is a white surface with a faint grey pattern running throughout the stone, and it is available in matt, semi-matt or high polished finishes. A big feature is that it reflects light exceptionally well and brightens up your kitchen. This is why many people are opting for Carrara quartz as an alternative to Carrara marble.

Benefits of Carrara quartz worktops

Heat resistant

Carrara quartz worktops are very resistant to heat. That said, common sense should be used and it is not advisable to place or leave hot pans directly on them from the hob or oven. It is better to use heat pads or wait until the pan has slightly cooled down.

Scratch and chip resistant

Carrara quartz worktops are highly scratch and chip resistant. They will withstand most scuffs or scratches, providing you are sensible by not chopping on the surface and by using a protective aid such as a chopping board. They are also extremely resistant to impact, so dropped pans or cups will not dent the surface.

Hygienic

Carrara quartz worktops are extremely hygienic, because the surfaces are non-porous and will not soak in any spills. This makes it hard for bacteria to harbour and for any mould or rot to form. Carrara quartz worktops are highly favourable with chefs and catering establishments, as they provide a clean, safe surface for food preparation. Cleaning them is also very simple, as easy as wiping over with a damp cloth.

Stain resistant

Because they are non-porous, Carrara quartz worktops are remarkably stain resistant. The colour and pattern of the surface will also enable you to spot small stains easily, allowing you to clean them precisely. Tough stains such as red wine, coffee, cooking sauces and food colouring will not soak into the surface and can be wiped away with ease. They are also very resistant to acids such as lemon juice and those found in household cleaners.

Easy maintenance

Carrara quartz worktops are very easy to maintain provided that you are sensible with them. Spills can be wiped up easily with a damp cloth and spray. Tougher substances such as paint, egg, cheese and nail varnish should be left to dry so they can be scraped off with a plastic knife. Avoid placing damaging materials on your surfaces such as gloss paints, permanent markers, ink, paint strippers, wax and harsh chemicals. This will maintain the life of your surfaces and keep them looking as good as new.

Where Carrara quartz works

Worktops and other surfaces made with Carrara quartz are not only stunning to look at, they are also very practical and make life easier. Given responsible care, they will last countless years and maintain their beauty throughout. The elegance and impressive hardness and durability is ideal for families, chefs, avid cooks and busy households with high traffic in the kitchen. Carrara quartz can also be used as a splashback behind the hob or the sink, where the same non-porous, easy-clean qualities make it a practical as well as a good-looking choice.

Carrara Quartz FAQs

What is the difference between Carrara quartz and Carrara marble?

Carrara marble is a natural stone, soft and porous, so it stains easily and needs sealing and careful maintenance. Carrara quartz is an engineered stone made from natural stone and resins, designed to look similar but to be much harder, non-porous and far more practical in a working kitchen.

Is quartz better than marble for a kitchen worktop?

For most kitchens, yes, on practicality. Quartz resists stains, scratches and impact, needs no sealing and wipes clean. Marble is beautiful and develops a patina over time, which some people love, but it demands considerably more care, particularly around red wine, citrus and oil.

Can you put hot pans on a quartz worktop?

It is not advisable. Quartz is heat resistant rather than heatproof, because the resin content can be affected by extreme heat. Use trivets or heat pads, or let a pan cool slightly before setting it down.

Do quartz worktops need sealing?

No. Because quartz is non-porous, it does not need the regular sealing that natural stone such as marble or limestone requires. Day-to-day care is simply a wipe with a damp cloth.

Where does Handmade Kitchen Company fit quartz worktops?

We design, hand-build and hand-paint bespoke kitchens, and supply and install worktops to match, from our workshop in Essex, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London. If you have any questions about Carrara quartz worktops or any of our other kitchen worktops, then please don't hesitate to contact us here at Handmade Kitchen Company. You can also visit our showroom to see many of our worktops in fully functioning displays.