Ceramic Worktops vs Quartz

It can be challenging to pick a durable yet chic kitchen or bathroom worktop. With countless ceramic and quartz counter designs, how do you find the best option?

Both materials have unique properties, benefits, and disadvantages. Making the wrong choice can lead to constant maintenance and unexpected costs.

This comprehensive guide compares the features, benefits, and drawbacks of ceramic and If we If we can ask them if they can collaborate with us with what links to include in the article that would be good.can ask them if they can collaborate with us with what links to include in the article that would be good.quartz worktops. Dive in for all the details to pick a worktop that suits your lifestyle and budget.

Overview of Ceramic and Quartz worktops

While quartz and ceramic share qualities like porosity and scratch resistance, their composition results in varying longevity, colours, costs, and maintenance.

Quartz is a substance that contains silicon dioxide. As a result, its crystals are often transparent, hexagonal prisms that are harder than glass and most metals. However, impurities like aluminium and iron taint it, creating various colours like brown, white, and yellow.

On the other hand, ceramic worktops come from inorganic, non-metallic elements. Examples include advanced ceramics like alumina and boron carbide, plus clay and glass. These materials are corrosion- and heat-resistant, brittle, and hard, making ceramic worktops an excellent alternative to quartz.

Ceramic Worktops vs Quartz Durability 

Quartz is more durable than ceramic. It’s often harder and denser than ceramic, hence less likely to chip.

Quartz is amongst the hardest materials for worktops. It has a Mohs scale rating of seven. In comparison, ceramic worktops have varied hardness levels, typically between four and seven on the Mohs scale.

The harder your worktop is, the less likely it can scratch or chip. So, quartz and ceramic materials at a hardness level of seven are the best against impact forces.

Another aspect that affects durability is the density. Denser products are more solid and heavier, thus less prone to cracking. Most quartz worktops, at 2.65 g/cm3, are denser than ceramic ones. Still, some ceramics are denser than quartz.

Installation and Replacement Costs

Generally, quartz worktops are pricier than ceramics. They cost more to acquire and install, though their longevity makes them less prone to replacements than ceramic.

According to Forbes, you’ll need as little as $160 (£123) for DIY ceramic tile installations. Conversely, you can spend as much as $9,980 (£7,659) on quartz worktops.

HomeAdvisor quotes the following installation expenses:

Special designs also contribute to your replacement and installation expenses. For instance, ceramic worktop edges cost between $0.50 – $30 (£0.38 – £23) per piece.

Meanwhile, quartz edge treatments range between $5 to $140 (£3.8 to £107) and special corners $50 to $150 (£38 to £115) each.

Heat Resistance

Ceramic worktops are more heat-resistant than quartz. So, they are a superb choice for kitchens, maintaining their appeal without requiring much protection.

Given that quartz slab curing happens at 180°F, these worktops can only withstand up to 300°F before issues arise. If you continuously expose your quartz worktop to high heat, its resins break down, causing discolouration and cracks.

Meanwhile, ceramic undergoes high-heat production, reaching roughly 67% of its melting point. Since this temperature often exceeds 1000°F, ceramic worktops can withstand higher temperatures before damage.

Porosity

Quartz and ceramic worktops are non-porous. Hence, food spills and stains won’t sip and taint their colour. As a result, it’s easier to wipe messes away with a cloth and mild soap. Moreover, seepage resistance allows your worktop to remain stylish for its lifetime, whether you pick quartz or ceramic.

Care and Maintenance

Both materials are a cinch to clean and maintain because of their non-porous surfaces. Quartz, unlike natural stone alternatives like marble and granite, doesn’t require sealing. Like ceramic, it’s resistant to bacteria, mildew, mould, spills, and stains.

You only need detergents and a wet sponge/washcloth to clean your ceramic and quartz worktops.

While you should stick to gentle solutions, ceramic worktops fare better against aggressive cleaners than quartz.

Colour Choices and Transparency

Both materials feature various colour options to suit your preferred worktop appearance. You can choose whites, greys, browns, and solid colours like red and deep blue for quartz and ceramic worktops. Additionally, you can mimic a natural stone worktop finish with both products.

Pure quartz is colourless, making it ideal for optical uses like lens, prism, and oscillator construction. However, you’ll often find it with impurities, whose chemical composition and concentration determine the resultant colour.

This table shows how quartz appears in the presence of select impurities:

Likewise, you can order ceramic worktops in your preferred styles, as manufacturers make them with numerous finishes. Some of the best options are white, black, and grey for their minimalistic look and ability to pair seamlessly with decor.

Ceramic Worktops vs Quartz Pros and Cons 

Conclusion

So, between ceramic and quartz worktops, which ones should you install?

Consider ceramic worktops if you want a nice finish with better heat resistance at an affordable price. However, quartz is your best bet if you want a longer-lasting solution.

Whatever you choose, Paramount Stone Specialists will provide you with quality worktops throughout the UK, regardless of your taste and budget. Contact us now on 01482 585600 or email through to at info@paramountstone.co.uk to give your kitchens and bathrooms a stylish and durable makeover.