Quartz vs. Stainless Steel
Are Stainless Steel Worktops for you?
A kitchen with an industrial vibe has never been more on trend. As more and more people move towards open plan living, having the kitchen of your dreams has become increasingly important for many homeowners.
The scope of what is available and the different looks that can be achieved seems never ending and with materials such as wood, brick, concrete, glass and stainless steel the industrial inspired kitchen will never be out of reach. You can have a worktop worthy of any 5 star restaurant in the comfort of your own home.
Typically associated with commercial kitchens, stainless steel might not be everyone’s go to material for the home, but there are many benefits to using it and some people are now even using it in domestic kitchens.
The reason why commercial kitchens use stainless steel worktops is because it is almost indestructible. It is extremely durable and can withstand almost anything.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Stainless Steel?
The non porous properties of a stainless steel worktop means that it is resistant to bacteria and germs so keeping it clean and hygienic will be easy. Nothing will penetrate the surface meaning there will be no staining from any spillages, including acids and oils.
Stainless steel is also resistant to heat so there won’t be any damage if a hot pan was to be placed directly onto the surface.
Their reflective surface can also make your kitchen look larger, so perfect for anyone with a smaller kitchen who is after a modern, on trend look. They are also easy to install and the neutral colours means it will pair with almost any colour scheme.
Stainless steel worktops might not be everyone’s choice as they, of course, can be seen as cold and less homely and as with anything, there are always some drawbacks to be aware of.
They can be noisy if anything is dropped on to them and they can also dent and although they are extremely hygienic, they can smudge or show finger prints so they might need wiping down more regularly.
They can also scratch and be prone to showing signs of wear and tear so if you want your kitchen worktop to look pristine for years to come, this might not be the surface for you.
Is Quartz the better option?
There are, however, other ways to create an industrial look within your kitchen but with using other alternatives to a stainless steel worktop, such as Quartz.
Quartz is also extremely low maintenance as well as being hard wearing and scratch/ stain resistant but won’t dent or scratch in the same way that stainless steel would but can still give your kitchen that industrial twist. Quartz can offer a more versatile solution to suit a range of different styles and are ideal for any kitchen where durability and design are required in equal measure.
By keeping colour schemes neutral and introducing darker shades of grey and black, the industrial style can be recreated in any kitchen.
Couple darker cabinets or feature walls with a lighter worktop such as Vicenza or Sahara.
The larger the space, the darker the colour you can experiment with.
For a more contemporary feel, Concrete Gris is perfect for teaming with metals and exposed brickwork.
There is a wide range of colours available, all of which are highly scratch and stain resistant so will continue to look as good as the day you installed them for a long time to come.
| Quartz | Stainless Steel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scratch Resistance | ||
| Stain Resistance | ||
| Heat Resistance | ||
| Impact Resistance | ||
| Flexural Strength | ||
| UV Resistance | ||
| Pattern Consistency | ||
| Hygiene |
- Excellent:
- Very Good:
- Good:
- Low:
- Very Low: