Silestone is one of the popular materials made from natural quartz crystals that are used for making countertops, flooring, sinks, wall cladding and shower trays for kitchen and bathroom remodelling. This material is non-porous, durable and known for its strong resistant to stains, scratches, viruses and bacteria.
Many people prefer Silestone worktops for their homes because it is easy to customise and maintain. With this single material, homeowners can get high aesthetic appeal to their kitchen without any high-end maintenance.
Good for both Small and Large Kitchens
No matter what’s the size of your kitchen, Silestone is perfect for making countertop, floor, sink and wall cladding for your cooking space. No space is too small or big for this material, as it can easily be custom cut into any shape or size as per your requirement.
Contemporary Style
Silestone is perfect for any modern and contemporary kitchen type. Other styles that one can create using Silestone are rustic, vintage and American, as well as the Scandinavian kitchen.
Available in Most Colour Options
What makes Silestone quartz kitchen worktops interesting is the fact that it comes in a wide range of colours. Some of the trending colour tones are greys, whites and dark tones or pastel tones. This means you can pick in any colour of your choice and even make it reminiscent to marble or other natural stones without facing issues that come with natural materials.
Why Silestone is the Best Choice for Kitchen Countertops ?
● Scratch Resistant
Silestone is highly resistant to scratches and scorches. It is one of the most durable materials available in the market today. The material is, however, less hard and formal compared to granite and marble. But its better durability and soft appeal add aesthetic charm to any kitchen where it’s installed. Due to the durability and resistance to scratching, this material is considered the best for busy kitchens or open rooms.
● Non-porous Surface
The Silestone countertops have a non-porous surface, which makes them resistant to staining, viruses and bacteria build-up. During the manufacturing process, anti-microbial protection is added due to the naturally occurring quartz crystals to avoid bacterial growth. Hence, it is considered safe when health is a major concern.
● Easy to maintain
Silestone is easy to maintain without requiring any sealing or special maintenance that you need for granite or marble. All you need is a soft cloth and non-abrasive cleaning product to clean and maintain its shiny surface. There is no need for rigorous wiping or scrubbing. But do wipe off the surface immediately, especially with spillage of food that causes stains. Although the material is able to resist high impact, it is not indestructible, hence, it’s recommended to avoid dropping heavy objects on Silestone countertops. The heavy falling objects can cause cracks and scratches on the surface and you might have to repair the entire countertop. Make sure you use cutting boards and trivets when using knives and placing hot items respectively.
● Stain Resistant
As mentioned before, Silestone is resistant to staining. But always wipe off spills of lemon, wine, coffee, olive oil and vinegar. You’d surely not want these stain causing items to stay longer on the countertop surface to be an eye-sore or to leave any sort of marks behind.
● High Impact Resistant
Silestone is resistant to high impact and enables users to handle almost every object in their kitchen without worrying about any damage to the surface. However, it is recommended to avoid dropping any heavy objects on the surface because the material is certainly not indestructible.
● Warranty
The best Silestone supplier in London will always sell you the products with a warranty. You need to talk to them about the specific warranty on the product before making the buying decision. The warranty will remain valid for the specific duration, unless the damage is not caused by you, such as by dropping a heavy object on the surface, placing hot pans or pots on the surface, using sharp knives without cutting board or using an abrasive cleaning agent on the worktop surface.
Drawback – When Damaged Not Easily Repaired
While there are many amazing benefits of Silestone worktops, it is difficult to repair when damaged. Unlike natural stones, quartz cannot be repaired easily. If the product is not covered under any warranty, the homeowner may have to replace the entire slab even if the damage is little. Therefore, always keep in mind all the above-mentioned preventive measures when working on Silestone worktops.
What is the cost of Silestone Worktops and Silestone Countertops?
Silestone worktops cost is quite similar to other high-end worktop materials, such as high-quality marble, granite worktops, or porcelain. Silestone Prices in the UK in 2019, start from approximately £100+vat per square metre, depending on the quality and type of the countertop. Prices may also increase due to the available customisation options.
There are several online outlets displaying full prices of Silestone worktops although some may be misleading since the final price of a kitchen worktops is composed by both the cost of the material and the features chosen in the stone such as type of edge, cut outs, etc (labour). Rather than taking online prices for granted, we recommend requesting prices of the ‘installed product’ of choice.
Where Else to Use Silestone?
Apart from the kitchen, Silestone can even be used in other areas of your house like mudroom and bathroom. If we remain only to the main topic about kitchens, you can use Silestone in any colour, texture and style to integrate sinks or other interior decors with the countertop in your kitchen.
Maintenance Tips
Silestone maintenance is similar to what we have mentioned earlier, no matter where you place this material in your house and how you use it. Always use a heat-resistant mat to prevent the surface from damage from hot pans or pots. Don’t use an abrasive agent for cleaning the surface. Use trivets and cutting boards when preparing ingredients for cooking or working with other objects in a kitchen.
Published by Jesus Alberto Mouzo on June 17, 2019
