The sector of stone worktops in London is always feeling the increased demand for both artificial and natural stones, with granite being a popular choice. But quartz is becoming more and more popular as well, quickly overtaking granite for the top rank. A few unusual stones, such as soapstone and limestone, are also becoming more and more popular and are being used in kitchens and baths.
The elegance and grace of both natural stone and engineered stone products, particularly quartz-engineered stone, offer a variety of colour and design possibilities that appeal to both kitchen designers and homeowners. There is also a large assortment of stone worktop hues and treatments that are designed to be more stain- and mould-resistant.
Quartz
A growing number of designers and homeowners these days are also favouring manufactured quartz worktops in London. Additionally, it is eliminating granite’s rivalry for the title of most popular stone for residences. In terms of scratch, stain, and resistance tests, quartz has performed comparably to granite. In contrast to granite, it is also regarded as a low-maintenance champion.
Because quartz is a manufactured stone, it comes in a wide range of colours thanks to the addition of pigments. While matching up the veins and flaws in natural stone can be more difficult and costly, seams in kitchen countertops are easily concealed by such a solid colour, especially dark ones. You can easily pick a countertop that matches the colour scheme of your kitchen design because there are so many options available. The solid colour of quartz is great for kitchen designs that are minimalist, contemporary, or transitional, but if you want a more natural-looking surface that is also quite durable, manufacturers are starting to develop quartz that seems more organic.
In terms of robustness, natural quartz is among the toughest substances on earth, and it gets even stronger when combined with resin. It is just as strong as granite but doesn’t chip or have unseen striations that eventually show up as cracks. Because quartz is more flexible than more unyielding natural stone, installing it only requires epoxy and not screws. Quartz, however, is very heavy, thus a qualified professional is needed to install it.
In addition, quartz may be manufactured to resemble marble without costing as much as other natural stones. Quartz is very resistant to scratches, chipping, and stains.
Natural stone worktops in London are a timeless favourite for kitchen design. Granite and marble have a classic appeal due to their sturdy construction and opulent appearance, but a formidable rival has emerged.
The fact that quartz is environmentally friendly is another factor in its favour. Quartz is not only sanitary and easy to maintain, but it also has a low indoor pollution rating. Quartz is a better option if you’re thinking about remodelling your kitchen or installing new counters and cleanliness, health, and simplicity of upkeep are your key concerns.
As previously mentioned, there are numerous varieties of quartz worktops in London. Colourless is pure quartz. Different colours are caused by impurities like radiation, phosphates, silicas, and iron oxides. Such impurities can cause multicoloured quartz.
Granite
Given that granite has been a popular choice for designers over the past 20 years, it is evident that most homeowners love it. Popular patterns that have been commonplace in most houses, such as salt and pepper counters, have grown less popular.
Marble
The sensation you experienced when you steadily gazed at your kitchen worktop and remembered when you first saw it is what gives this natural and timeless classic its enduring appeal. Marble possesses a unique quality that lets you see into its past, much like when you recall an old burn from a cooking pot.
Marble is a very popular choice for bathroom worktops because of its beauty, which can be used in many different areas of the house.
Soapstone
Because soapstone is rather soft, matching sinks and drain boards for the worktops can be simply carved out of it.
It can also be scraped, but by applying mineral oil, it can almost completely disappear. Sandpaper can be used to sand major scratches or chips.
Concerning this kind of natural stone, the options are endless. Homeowners are always presented with a variety of grey, green, and somewhat blue tints to select from.
Slate
Slate does not discolour when it comes into contact with hot pots because it is largely heat-resistant. It is difficult to chip or scratch. Additionally, it resists stains even from acidic substances like wine, vinegar, tomato juice, and oil cleansers.
Limestone
Limestone is another stone that is gaining popularity in kitchens. This stone is delicate and somewhat porous. To keep limestone stain-free, adequate maintenance and sealing are necessary when utilising it correctly. The virtually creamy aspect that makes limestone lovely is what most people search for in this natural stone, even though it may be porous.
This stone can even outperform other natural stones in terms of construction strength due to its resistance to heat and stains. There are still many options available when it comes to production techniques and the newest designs for engineered stone, even though it is occasionally criticised for being too uniform and lacking in natural beauty, which is typically associated with organic patterns.
Engineered Granite
In the market for kitchen worktops, engineered granite is largely new. But it’s also becoming more well-known since it’s finding its way into combinations containing quartz, stone, and other artificial stones.
Engineered Marble
The best Italian marbles with varying grains, sizes of flakes, and chips are used to create distinctive marble surfaces in a variety of hues in Verona, Italy, the global leader in marble surface manufacture.
Reach out to a quartz or other stones dealer now that you have made up your mind.
