Designed For Life
What are Silestone Kitchen & Bathroom Worktops?
Silestone kitchen worktops are a popular choice for homeowners and designers looking for a durable and elegant surface for their kitchen. These worktops are made from engineered stone, which is a combination of natural quartz and other materials, such as pigments and resins. Silestone kitchen worktops offer many benefits including a non-porous, scratch-resistant and durable surface, which makes them a great choice for hard working and long-lasting kitchen worksurfaces.
Aesthetic Appeal of Silestone Worktops
Silestone worktops have a visually appealing surface appearance that combines the natural beauty of quartz with the versatility of engineered stone. The material showcases a wide array of colours, patterns, and finishes, allowing homeowners to match their personal taste and seamlessly integrate it within various kitchen or bathroom design styles.
Silestone can also mimic the appearance of natural stone, such as marble, granite, or limestone, with intricate veining patterns that add depth and character to the surface. This allows you to achieve a luxurious and high-end look for your home but without the maintenance requirements of natural stone.
How are Silestone Kitchen Worktops Made?
Silestone kitchen worktops are made from a blend of natural quartz and other materials, such as pigments and resins. The raw materials are first crushed into small pieces and then blended together to create the desired colour and/or pattern. The resulting compound is then poured into a Mold, where it is compressed under high pressure and heat to create a solid surface. This process is called “vibrocompression” and it results in the creation of a very strong and consistent surface material.
Is Silestone the Same as Quartz?
Silestone work surfaces are not exactly the same as quartz but are closely related. The main difference is that where quartz refers to the natural mineral itself, instead Silestone is a brand of engineered quartz. Whilst Silestone is made primarily of natural quartz (approximately 90-94% quartz crystals), it also contains resins, pigments and other materials to achieve its highly durable and aesthetically pleasing finish.
Pros of Silestone Kitchen Worktops
- Durable: Silestone kitchen worktops are extremely durable and resistant to scratches, stains, and heat. This makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas in the kitchen.
- Low Maintenance: Because of its non-porous surface, Silestone kitchen worktops are very easy to clean and maintain. They do not require sealing or regular maintenance like other natural stone surfaces such as granite.
- Wide Range of Colours and Patterns: Silestone kitchen worktops come in a wide range of colours and patterns, which allows homeowners to find the perfect style for their kitchen.
- Resistant to Bacteria: Silestone kitchen worktops are resistant to bacteria, which makes them a hygienic option for kitchen worksurfaces.
- Eco-Friendly: Silestone kitchen worktops are an eco-friendly choice because they are made from natural materials and as a long-lasting surface material, they do not require frequent replacement.
Cons of Silestone Kitchen Worktops
- Expensive: Silestone kitchen worktops are more expensive than some other types of worktops, such as laminate or solid wood.
- Requires Professional Installation: Silestone kitchen worktops are heavy and must be installed by a professional. This can add to the cost of the worktop.
How does Silestone Compare with Granite?
Silestone kitchen worktops are similar to granite in that both materials can withstand the demands of daily kitchen use, providing a durable and long-lasting work surface that resists scratches and heat damage. However, granite is a porous natural stone and requires regular sealing to prevent stains. Comparatively, Silestone kitchen worktops are non-porous which makes them more hygienic, and as they don’t require sealing this also makes Silestone an easier material to maintain.
Where Silestone and granite also vary is in their appearance. Silestone is an engineered product, which allows for greater control over its colour, pattern, and overall appearance. They deliver a more consistent and uniform aesthetic across the entire work surface, which in turn makes it easier to match slabs and create a seamless look across your kitchen or bathroom. Additionally, Silestone is available in a wide range of colours and patterns, allowing you to find the perfect match for your kitchen or bathroom design.
One-Of-A-Kind Beauty Of Natural Stone
Different to Silestone, Granite, being a natural stone, has unique variations in its pattern and colour. These variations prove a massive draw for some homeowners who appreciate the one-of-a-kind beauty that natural stone provides. However, it can also make it more challenging to match slabs and achieve a seamless appearance. When selecting granite, it is essential to view the actual slabs that will be used for your project to ensure that you are happy with the colour and pattern variations.
Ultimately, the choice between Silestone and granite will depend on your personal preferences, design goals, and the level of maintenance you are willing to commit to.
How Do Silestone Kitchen Worktops Compare with Other Popular Worktop Materials?
- Cambria: Both Cambria and Silestone kitchen worktops are made from a blend of natural quartz and pigments that are combined and then formed into a solid surface. However, Cambria kitchen worktops have a wider variety of designs, patterns and colours to choose from, and they also have a more natural look and feel than Silestone kitchen worktops, which are more uniform and consistent in colour and pattern.
- Natural Stone: Unlike natural stone, engineered stone surfaces like Silestone can have a more consistent pattern and colour. It is also more flexible in terms of customisation, as it can be produced in a wide range of colours and patterns. Engineered stone is also more resistant to bacteria, compared with natural stone, which makes Silestone a more hygienic option for kitchen and bathroom work surfaces.
- Solid Wood: Solid wood worktops are less expensive than Silestone kitchen worktops, but they are not as heat-resistant or durable. They also require regular maintenance and can be damaged by water.
- Laminate: Laminate worktops are much less expensive than Silestone kitchen worktops but are not as durable or heat resistant. They can also be damaged by scratches and stains.
Talk to Our Silestone Worktop Experts Today
In conclusion, Silestone kitchen worktops offer a stylish, durable, and low-maintenance option for homeowners seeking to enhance the aesthetic and functionality of their kitchens. As an engineered stone made primarily of natural quartz, Silestone combines the beauty and strength of natural stone with the versatility and uniformity of a manufactured product. Its non-porous nature makes it resistant to stains, scratches, and heat, while also offering a hygienic surface that requires minimal upkeep. With a wide range of colours, patterns, and finishes to choose from, Silestone worktops cater to various design preferences and can seamlessly integrate into any kitchen style, providing a sophisticated and long-lasting surface that meets the demands of modern living.
Want to know more? For any questions or to arrange a visit to our Oldbury worktop showroom and discover our range of Silestone work surfaces in person, please call our friendly team of experts today.
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