The question “can quartz be polished?” usually comes from one of two places. Either someone is choosing between a polished and honed finish for a new worktop or someone with an existing quartz worktop has noticed the surface has lost some of its original shine.

Both are valid questions and the answers are different. This guide covers how quartz gets its finish in the first place, what can cause it to dull and what your options are for restoration.

How Quartz Gets Its Polish at the Factory

A polished quartz worktop gets its mirror-like finish during manufacturing. After the quartz slab is formed under high pressure and cured at high temperatures it passes through a series of progressively finer diamond polishing heads. This process gradually smooths the surface from a rough cut to a high-gloss finish.

The polishing is done at an industrial scale with heavy automated equipment that applies consistent pressure across the entire slab. This creates an even, uniform shine that would be very difficult to replicate by hand. The result is a surface that reflects light cleanly and has a smooth tactile quality.

Not all quartz worktops are polished. Honed (matte) and leathered (textured) finishes are also available. These are created by stopping the polishing process at an earlier stage or by applying a different finishing technique. The choice of finish is made at the point of purchase and affects the look and feel of the surface.

Why Quartz Can Lose Its Shine

A well-maintained quartz worktop should retain its factory finish for many years. When dulling does occur it is almost always caused by one of these factors:

DIY Polishing: What You Can Do at Home

For minor dulling you may be able to improve the appearance at home. For anything beyond surface-level haze we recommend professional restoration.

Professional Polishing and Restoration

If your quartz worktop has lost its shine across a significant area or has visible scratches a professional stone restorer can bring it back to its original condition. The process involves using handheld diamond polishing pads at progressively finer grits to re-polish the surface.

Professional restoration typically costs between £150 and £400 depending on the size of the area and the severity of the damage. This is significantly cheaper than replacing the worktop and the results are usually excellent. A skilled restorer can return the surface to a condition that is virtually indistinguishable from the original factory finish.

It is worth noting that not all damage can be fully reversed. Chemical burns that have penetrated deep into the resin may leave faint marks even after polishing. Heat marks can sometimes be improved. Deep scorching is usually permanent. This is why prevention is always better than restoration.

How to Prevent the Need for Polishing

The best approach to quartz maintenance is prevention. If you follow these simple habits your worktop should never need professional polishing.

• Use soft cloths only. Microfibre cloths are ideal. Never use scouring pads, steel wool or abrasive sponges on quartz.
• Stick to mild detergent. Warm water and a small amount of washing-up liquid is the only cleaning product you need. Avoid bleach, oven cleaner and abrasive cream cleaners.
• Always use trivets. Hot pans placed directly on the surface can dull the polish in the contact area. Make trivets a kitchen habit.
• Wipe up chemical spills immediately. If nail polish remover, oven cleaner or other harsh chemicals are spilled wipe them off straight away to prevent resin damage.

If you are choosing a new quartz worktop and want advice on which finish will work best for your lifestyle our team at Precious Marble can help. We offer the full range of quartz worktops in Bedford in polished, honed and leathered finishes.

For more care and maintenance guidance browse our full Quartz FAQ’s section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Questions

Browse all of our answers in the Quartz FAQ’s section for more expert guidance.