What Is A Quartz Worktop Made Of?
What Is a Quartz Worktop Made Of?
Quartz worktops are engineered, not quarried. Here is what goes into a quartz slab, how it differs from natural stone, and why the mix matters when you choose.
The short answer
Engineered stone
Mostly natural quartz, bound with resin.
Around 93% crushed quartz, plus resins and pigments, formed into dense slabs.
93%
Natural quartz
3
Main ingredients
A quartz worktop is an engineered surface made mostly from natural crushed quartz, typically around 93%, combined with resins that bind it and pigments that give colour and pattern. It is not solid stone cut from the ground but a manufactured material designed for consistency. To see how the slab is built, read how quartz worktops are made, and to compare it with natural stone, read quartz versus granite.
At a glance
93%quartz
Main ingredient
Natural crushed quartz mineral.
resinbinder
Holds it together
Binds the crushed quartz into a solid slab.
pigmentcolour
Look and pattern
Gives each slab its colour and veining.
What goes into a quartz slab
Crushed natural quartz
The bulk of the slab, around 93%, is natural quartz mineral that has been crushed into grains and granules of different sizes. Quartz is one of the hardest common minerals, which is what gives the finished worktop its density and durable surface.
Resin to bind it
Resin makes up a small share of the mix and binds the quartz grains into a solid, non-porous slab. The proportion of resin matters: quality slabs keep it low, while lower grade material can rely on more resin and filler. Our guide on how to spot low grade quartz explains the difference.
Pigments for colour and pattern
Pigments are added to create the colour and pattern, from plain tones to convincing marble-effect veining. Because the colour is engineered in rather than natural, quartz is consistent from slab to slab, unlike granite or marble.
Engineered, not natural stone
Put together, this makes quartz an engineered stone: man-made, but built around a high proportion of a natural mineral. It is different from natural stone such as granite and marble, which is cut and polished straight from quarried blocks. Our guides on quartz versus granite and quartz versus marble compare them.
Why the mix matters
The mix is what separates a quality slab from a poor one. A high quartz content and a recognised brand generally mean a denser, better surface. This is why it is worth choosing a named brand, as our guide to the best quartz worktop brands in MK sets out.
Key points
Around 93% natural quartz
The bulk of the slab is a hard natural mineral.
Resin binds it
A small share of resin makes the slab solid and non-porous.
Pigment gives the look
Colour and pattern are engineered in for consistency.
Engineered stone
Man-made, but built around a natural mineral.
To see quartz for yourself, visit our Elstow showroom, browse the quartz worktops range, or request a free quote.
Engineered around a natural mineral
Precious Marble supplies recognised quartz brands with a high natural quartz content. See full-size slabs at our 200m² Elstow showroom. 0% interest-free finance is available.
More from the guide
Common questions
What is a quartz worktop made of?
Is quartz a natural or man-made material?
How is quartz different from granite and marble?
Why does the quartz content matter?
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