Dekton & Quartz - A Comparison

As an industry standard, quartz is growing a reputation that draws many to this engineered material. Additionally, it has been featured on television as a desirable material to use for kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities. Furthermore, home-centric websites have written many articles educating homeowners on the basics of quartz to an even greater degree in modern times. So how does DEKTON® stack up when compared with quartz? To find out the answer to that question, we need to consider some specific aspects of getting and owning each material. In the light of those comparisons, we can see clearly the similarities and the differences between quartz and Dekton materials.

The Characteristics of Dekton & Quartz

So what are the characteristics of each of these materials and how do they compare to one another? When you look at the similarities and differences between quartz and Dekton, it shines light on which material might be best for your use. This information can help not only the home owner, but also the fabricators and installers. Knowing the differences in the materials can help professionals with working the materials. Let's look at the qualities of each material.

Engineered, but in different ways. Engineered stone is defined in various ways; depending on who is defining it. So, to clarify how we are using the term, let us elaborate briefly. When we use the phrase engineered stone, we mean that it is produced through the efforts of engineers that use a process to get a set of specific results. However, as you will see, our definition is general in nature and allows for various methods.

Quartz: sometimes people hear the word quartz and they automatically think of a natural material. This is because quartz is a kind of natural mineral and it is found in various natural stones. However "quartz", as we use the term here on this website, is actually engineered using a process that combines the natural quartz mineral with resins to form a surface that consists of 90% (and often times more than 90%) quartz by the weight. This means that 90%+ of the weight of the slab is a result of the natural mineral quartz and 7%- is made up of other materials like polyester resins. This is not a complete explanation of how quartz is engineered. Rather, it is a very simplified description of the process. But how does this compare with Dekton?

Dekton: as we mentioned earlier, the term engineered stone simply means that it is produced in a controlled way using an engineering process. This describes the process of working with DEKTON®. So what is Dekton's engineering method? Dekton is created using the same raw amterials found in natural rock that has undergone the metamorphosization process. The process used to engineer Dekton is called "sintering". However, Dekton's specific method is called TSP (Technology of Sinterized Particles). The process includes putting the raw materials under extreme pressure, heat, and perhaps even other forces to actually change the materials into a new substance. The result is what Cosentino refers to as an ultracompact surface named DEKTON®. If you would like to learn more about this material, you can read more on our page entitled Information About Dekton.

So, there you have it. Both materials are engineered, but in different ways. Also, quartz contains not natural materials and DEKTON® does not. But how does that affect buying and owning surfaces made from these materials?

Dekton and Quartz Fabrication and Installation

Now that we have seen the similarities and differences between the quartz and Dekton materials, we can explore how that affects the fabrication and installation process. Let's make the installation and fabrication comparisons now.

The fabrication process requires very specific tools. Diamond coring bits, bridge saw blades, and polishing pads are all tools that you need to have in order to fabricate and install either of these materials. The diamond tools are made to cut, shape, smooth, and finish the surfaces being fabricated. This is one similarity between Dekton and quartz surfaces.

Another similarity is the color selection. It is true that quartz is available in more colors than Dekton. However, remember that you are comparing one line of material (Dekton) with an entire type of material (quartz) which has many brands. This is not really comparing oranges to apples. Rather, it is more like comparing apples to citrus. So, how about the differences?

The differences between the fabrication of Dekton and that of quartz involve the nature of the materials. As we mentioned earlier, Dekton is produced by exposing the materials to intense pressure and heat. This results in a slab that is very compact. Quartz on the other hand, is not as compact in form.

Dekton too has "internal stress" that affects the way the material must be handled, prepared, and cut. Knowing these best practices is what differentiates the fabrication process of Dekton from that of quartz.

Dekton Care Versus Quartz Care

Once the materials are installed, the long-term comparison can begin. There are three main areas to compare quartz with Dekton. These areas are:

• Stain Resistance
• Scratch Resistance
• Heat Tolerance

By comparing these areas, you can get a good picture of the landscape. Let's look at these three areas and see how they are similar and where these two materials differ regarding owning them.

Resistance to Staining

Both Quartz and Dekton are relatively easy to care for as far as stain resistance and cleaning are concerned. Why is that the case? Because both materials are non-porous and anything that could discolor them stays on the surface of the slab. And although some substances can dry on the surface, you can simply use an appropriate cleaning product to remove the substance from the stone's surface. This is the main similarity in care and maintenance. But what about the differences?

Scratch Resistance

One area of difference between Dekton and quartz is in the resistance to scratches. True, both materials are scratch resistant. However, when using quartz you are encouraged to use cutting boards and trivets to protect your countertops form damage. With Dekton on the other hand, you are free to cut your vegetables up right on the countertop if you so choose. Granted, many decide that keeping knives sharp is a good contributor to ease of cooking. Yet, it does illustrate well how durable Dekton surfaces are when it comes to scratch resistance.

Tolerance to Heat

Finally, quartz and Dekton materials differ in the way they tolerate heat. Quartz is made up of resins and even during the fabrication process professionals must use polishing pads that will not "burn" the material when being polished. In fact, there are specific polishing pads for quartz that protect the quartz from burning during the polishing phase of fabrication.

On the other hand, Dekton is produced in very extreme heat and once it is changed into the ultracompact surface, it can withstand an extremely high temperature. So much so, that it does not need a trivet. That's right, you can set pots and pans directly from the stove directly on Dekton countertops. This is not something that other types of surfaces recommend. In fact, they discourage it.

In closing, there are a number of similarities between Dekton and quartz surfaces. There are also differences. In this article we have looked at those differences and similarities and highlighted some of the reasons why these differences exist. Now, if you are a fabricator, you'll need to get familiar with how to work with Dekton. And if you are a consumer, you will need to decide on the proper Dekton color choice for your selected design style.

Whichever you go with, we hope you enjoy your chosen material.