Quartz vs concrete – battle of the surfaces

The industrial concrete trend has been around for some years, featured on TV and in high-end architectural and interior design magazines. Poured concrete kitchen worktops, splashbacks and cladded walls are becoming highly fashionable, but there are shortcomings with the real thing, explains Jon Stanley, Vice President of Marketing at Caesarstone UK.

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specialist is required, it is costly, can be messy and time-consuming to make; prone to cracking, staining and bacterial growth. Not to mention the environmental impact of real concrete production is huge, even without the added weight of trend-led demand in residential design. Concrete also needs considerable maintenance. A true virtue of Caesarstone’s Rugged Concrete quartz material is its tactile texture; it has a coarse appearance that authentically emulates the randomly pitted finish of concrete, whilst remaining smooth to the touch.

Quartz is an ethical choice for eco-aware architects and is not so much an imitation, rather a superior alternative. Innovators such as Caesarstone use up to 42% reclaimed quartz in some materials, making a real impact on preserving the world’s precious resources. Sustainability and an awareness of the environment should be a fundamental part of any serious business. When specifying for a new project, it is important to look into the eco credentials of suppliers. Caesarstone, for example, is the first quartz manufacturing company to have received the British ISO 14001 certification – a standard that recognises competence in environmental management and performance.

The Caesarstone Concrete series embraces the trend for industrial decor and raw materials used in design. The Concrete Series comprises a variety of finishes that exquisitely achieve the coarseness of concrete to create a real design statement. The addition this year of 4033 Rugged Concrete strives to push these boundaries even further. Rugged Concrete will make a daring and bold addition to a room; its urban-inspired design, accentuated by dark grey tones and unique imperfections, offers a textured look to its finish.

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