Quartz Countertops – What Do They Cost?
Although other stone materials have been the most popular options in the past, quartz is becoming a leading competitor when trying to decide what material is best for kitchen worktops.
Quartz offers the look of stone that so many homeowners desire, with the colours and designs that only something that is manufactured can offer. Continue reading to find out if the beauty of quartz is worth the associated cost.
Overview
Quartz looks like natural stone, but is modified and manufactured from natural quartz as well as resin. By being created in this way, the colours of quartz can be enhanced and be matched perfectly to the design theme in the kitchen. The colours that can be chosen are virtually endless, and they can meet any individual preference and style. While this is extremely beneficial, quartz does lack the unique patterns that natural stone has.
Quartz is becoming a growing competitor for granite as it is much harder and is much more durable because of this. It isn’t porous in nature and it is literally indestructible with normal wear and tear. It can be easily maintained and is simple to keep the surface clean and bacteria-free. It can be sanitised with mild soap and water or a household cleaner, and it does not need to ever be resealed.
To ensure the longevity of the quartz worktop, any spills should be cleaned right away. One thing that is important to keep in mind is that quartz can be damaged by heat, so one should always use heating pads.
Price of Material
The cost of quartz has a wide price range, variances depending upon the type of quartz as well as the quality. Note that all prices quoted here are approximate and will vary. On average, you can expect to spend around €68 per square foot of quartz, that being the material only.
For lower quality, the price is about €45 to €54 per square foot, whereas high-quality quartz will run closer to €90 per square foot. While the way that quartz is manufactured remains fairly consistent among all manufacturers, the quality cost differs depending on the longevity of the worktop as well as the rarity of materials.
Depending on the size of your quartz slab, it can cost anywhere from €2600 to €3500.
Factors to Consider
While quartz is extremely versatile and complements any design palette wonderfully, there are some disadvantages to this material for worktops. Some of these include:
- Lack of unique veining
- Not as heat resistant as granite
- Will have visible seams
- Not individual and can’t achieve the exact natural look of stone
How to Price Each with Vendors
On top of the cost of your individual piece of quartz, you will also have to pay for the cost to install the slab. This cost will once again have a wide price range, depending on the manufacturer and if you choose a big box store versus a local fabricator.
It will also change depending on how big of a worktop you need covered and if you choose to have any detailed edging or extra fixture and sink cut outs. On average, the cost of installing a piece of quartz is around €135 to €270.
Another thing that is important to consider is when vendors have their low season and may offer big discounts. Around the holidays tends to be a slower time off so it could be the perfect moment to make a purchase and get a discounted price or other large sale as a bonus for buying during that time of year.
We hope that this post has proved helpful, feel free to contact us with any queries and we’ll be more than happy to help!
