We offer all the established quartz brands, which vary in colour and finish to suit different tastes and budgets.
Tour Our Showroom
View our gallery of stone options, with the guidance of one of our experts.
Quartz Colours – Here’s 10 ‘flavours’ of the month
Our team have curated the most popular quartz colours chosen by our clients over the past month.
We offer a huge range of quartz colours designed for your individual requirements and style so we’re sure to have something that suits you.
Request A Quote
Our team are here to help with any queries you may have. Our emphasis is on friendly personal service together with expert advice. Fill in our basic quote form and we will contact you back to discuss your requirements and provide a quote.
Alternatively, please fill in our advanced quote form which goes into detail about your requirements.
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Introduction to Quartz Worktops
As one of the hardest stone materials, Quartz is extremely durable, providing a non-porous surface that is resistant to stains, scratches, abrasions & excellent anti-bacterial properties – perfect for a kitchen where food preparation, chopping, cooking and the spoils of daily life need offloading somewhere. Should you be looking for a material that provides the same strong, scratch resistant and easy-maintenance properties of natures granite but with a larger colour choice and non-porous properties, then man-made quartz may be the best option for your needs.
Quartz is a natural mineral stone very close to Diamond in strength; and it goes through a special patented process to make a quartz slab suitable for fabrication and final installation in your kitchen or bar. Approximately 93% natural Quartz features in each slab, with the remaining 7% a high-quality resin bonding.
The results are superb, you end up with a luxurious stone worktop, being extremely hardwearing and durable. With the advances in technology and manufacturing, the prices for such a luxurious material have fallen in recent years, and you really can transform any kitchen with this fantastic material.
With so many colour options we always recommend a visit to our Hertfordshire showroom where you can see the slabs and samples up close, even taking a sample of Quartz away with you to see how it would look in your room. If you can’t visit us yet, then you can browse our quartz colours page to see what is on offer from the major manufacturers.
Details Down: Material Properties
Quartz: Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silica (silicon dioxide) and is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust. It exists in two forms, α-quartz and β-quartz, with a transformation occurring at 573 °C, which can cause microfracturing in ceramics and rocks. Quartz is structurally classified as a framework silicate and compositionally as an oxide mineral. It has many varieties, some of which are gemstones, and has been widely used in jewelry and carvings since antiquity. Quartz defines the value of 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Quartz Countertops: The difference between the raw material Quartz, to the product you want in your home, is that kitchen counters are actually an engineered stone made primarily from natural quartz and then mixed with polymer resin binders and coloured pigments. This is where the benefits of modern engineering and natural stone absolutely shine. You’ll be able to read on further on this page to find out more about the benefits of quartz worktops in your kitchen.
I am worried about the silica content, what alternatives are there?
Great question! There has been a lot of media attention around the silica content in engineered quartz, this is because quartz itself has a high silica content. The manufacturing process is where the silica is a risk, at both the factories producing the stone slabs and also at fabricators like ourselves. We regularly have health and safety inspections and have in place excellent filtration systems to protect our stonemasons and staff at our factory. There is no cutting taking place in your home, so there is no need to worry about silica dust entering your property.
There are alternatives now entering the market called mineral surfaces, these still feature quartz, but with a much lower concentration of silica and the rest of the material is made up of other minerals – we are sure to have quartz and low-silica options available to you.
Details Down: Benefits
Consistent Patterning
The manufacturing process ensures uniformity of the colour and pattern throughout the slab. Quartz worktops have an evenly distributed colour and pattern known as ‘full-bodied’, this allows us to produce the stone not only with a pattern visible on the edge, but also when bespoke details such as drop-down edge profiles are needed. Bookmatching slabs are also very common with our quartz, so that veining can be matched.
Luxury Appearance
Quartz worktops are known for being able to emulate the beauty of natural stone such as marble and granite, and sometimes even offer something even more impressive. This material then makes it possible to create an expensive-looking result when this can be achieved for less cost than with the natural marble for example Calacatta & Calacatta Gold.
Heat Resistance
While quartz worktops are generally resistant to heat, they are not entirely impervious to it. The resins used in the manufacturing process can be sensitive to high temperatures. Therefore, it is recommended to use trivets or heat pads when placing hot pots and pans on a quartz surface to prevent potential damage or discoloration. Despite this, quartz worktops can withstand normal kitchen temperatures and occasional contact with hot items without issue.
Stain Resistance
Quartz worktops are highly resistant to stains due to their non-porous surface. This means that liquids and spills do not penetrate the surface, making it easier to clean and reducing the risk of permanent staining. Common kitchen substances like coffee, wine, oils, and acidic foods can be wiped away without leaving a trace. This stain resistance is a significant advantage in maintaining the pristine appearance of the worktop over time.
Easy Cleaning & Maintenance
One of the standout features of quartz worktops is their ease of cleaning and maintenance. They do not require sealing, polishing, or special cleaners. For everyday cleaning, a mild soap and water solution or a gentle household cleaner is sufficient. The non-porous nature of quartz also means it resists mold, mildew, and bacteria growth, contributing to a hygienic surface that is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms. Blog: Quartz Worktops Care & Maintenance
Sustainability
The long lifespan of quartz worktops means they need to be replaced less frequently, which reduces waste and the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and transporting new materials. Choosing eco-friendly quartz options supports sustainable building practices and reduces the overall carbon footprint of a renovation project.
10 Articles From Our Quartz Blog
Why Cawdor Stone?
Our specialist service and trusted suppliers ensure that your quartz is of the highest quality, providing a maintenance free worktop in a wide range of colours. We source only the best quality quartz from our suppliers, so you can be sure that your worktop will last for many years to come. All the quartz kitchen worktops we sell come with a warranty, EU approvals and specification sheets.
Being a man-made material, there are a number of manufacturers of quartz slab, and Cawdor Stone Gallery source from the market leaders who guarantee their products. We turn these slabs into the beautiful, yet easy-maintenance surfaces of your choice. The next step after you have chosen your perfect slab is to book in our template and fit teams.
Based just outside Stevenage, Cawdor Stone Gallery primarily operates throughout Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex & London, but we can also provide our services throughout the whole of the South East of England. For more information regarding the services we offer, simply contact the team today.
Working with Cawdor is easy, see these simple steps…
1. Select & Quote.
Browse our products online, call us or visit our showroom, select your desired stone and get in touch for a tailored quote.
2. Measure.
Our specialist team will accurately design and produce a template of your kitchen to exactly match your requirements, including vein matching, ready for the manufacturing process.
3. Fabricate.
After the template process, our expert fabricators work on cutting & preparing your stone kitchen worktop. They operate in a safe environment where we adhere to local health & safety rules.
4. Install.
Your granite, marble or quartz worktop is then fully installed by our very own qualified team, with a lasting finish, fit for many years to come.
Why choose Cawdor Stone Gallery?
Customer Comments
Cawdor House, 59a London Road, Woolmer Green, Knebworth
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We had an incredible experience with Cawdor stone. They were so attentive and helpful when we visited the showroom (on numberous occasions!) and took the time to talk us through all the different options. The template creator and fitters … More also managed the project perfectly without any issues at all. Our quartz worktop really is the show stopper of our whole kitchen and we are so pleased we went with Cawdor Stone who deliver work to the very highest of standards - highly recommend.
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Honestly you couldn't get better service on price , helpful attitude & patience in the showroom . Outstanding fitters taking the time to prepare & complete the installation flawlessly make the whole project as good as it can … More be .
If you haven't been a fan of granite before you will be after this level of service & commitment where nothing is a problem-in our case we are delighted we went with the matching upstand -almost too good to be true!
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