Choosing the right flooring material is not limited to its appearance alone. One has to list out other properties, including durability, texture, insulation, and maintenance, before finalizing their choice. The right flooring can brighten up your space, while the wrong choice can give you a tough time maintaining it. There is no doubt that both quartz and composite marble countertops are popular among users for the qualities they have to offer, but both materials, along with their commonalities, share some differences that become the deciding factor for a buyer.
Before being able to choose between these two materials, you need to be aware of the demands of your space. Quartz can be luxurious in its feel. On the other hand, composite marble overcomes the drawbacks of natural marble without sacrificing function. If you’re confused between the two, this article will give you a detailed comparison between composite marble vs quartz from manufacturing to application to make sure that you don’t have a hard time thinking.
What is Quartz?
Quartz stands second on the list of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust. Composed of silica, this mineral is found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Owing to its resistance to scratches and hardness, it is a popular choice for flooring.
The ratio between raw materials and resins determines the quality and strength of quartz tiles. A higher amount of quartz can result in tiles that are brittle, while a greater resin content makes the final product softer and less durable.
What is Composite Marble?
Composite marble is an engineered alternative to natural marble. Marble chips and dust, together with pigments and resins, produce this artificial solution, which, surprisingly, looks just as exquisite as natural marble.
Engineered marble, in fact, overcomes the challenges of staining, porosity, and high cost posed by natural marble flooring. With a higher density, it is less porous than its natural counterpart. It is easier to install, lighter, and more durable.
Comparing Quartz and Composite Marble
01. Manufacturing
Quartz
Naturally occurring clusters of quartz are unsuitable for use in flooring or countertops. Hence, it is first converted into its engineered version. Engineered quartz is a combination of quartz aggregates, resin, pigments, and additives.
After extraction, natural quartz is crushed and blended with resin in a ratio of 93:7. This is followed by the process of compaction, where the blended mixture is compressed into slabs. This reduces the porosity of the stone. Then, the slabs are cured at high temperatures to make them stronger and more resistant to stains. They are assessed, calibrated, polished, and packed after the curing process.
Composite Marble
Marble dust and chips are bound with resin and pigments to produce composite marble. Along with the residual marble products, other elements like metals, shells, and colored glass are also added. Bleached and granulated marble chips are mixed with resins and other additives.Unlike natural stone, cultured marble is not available in slabs. It is produced by pouring the mix into moulds and drying the blocks in the sun to attain the required strength. The dried blocks are cut into slabs of definite sizes and polished for sale.
02. Selection
Quartz
Engineered quartz is available in the market in a variety of colours and patterns. However, quartz tiles come in definite sizes, owing to which you cannot pre-order various sizes. Hence, dimensions become an important guiding factor in the selection of quartz tiles.
Composite Marble
Unlike quartz, composite marble is customizable to your liking. The market offers a host of choices in colour and veining. Composite marble overcomes the challenge of limited sizes, which gives it an upper hand in situations where you might be looking for variable tile dimensions.
03. Thickness
Quartz
Although quartz is strict about its dimensions, its options in thickness are good enough to satisfy the needs of its buyers. Depending on the function, quartz tiles are available in thickness of 10, 12, and, 25 mm.
Composite Marble
Composite marble comes in a wide range of thicknesses, generally 14, 15, 16, and 18 mm. However, customizations based on function are always possible.
04. Price
Quartz
Quartz is an affordable buy as compared to many other natural stones on the market. Given their high demand and range of options, quartz slabs are quite reasonably priced.
Composite Marble
In comparison to natural stones, the cost of fabrication and installation of composite marble is lower. In fact, it is cheaper than quartz flooring, making it a fine bargain.
05. Installation
Quartz
Owing to their standard dimensions, quartz tiles are more or less easy to install. Tile cuts and imperfections can result in wastage of around 10%.
Composite Marble
The advantage of using composite marble is that there is zero wastage during installation compared to other options. This is because the tiles are fabricated according to pre-established dimensions. For the same reason, its installation in different spaces is also quick and easy.
06. Durability
Quartz
For busy spaces that receive heavy traffic, quartz is a good choice because of its strength. The presence of resin in quartz also makes it scratch-resistant. It is slip-resistant and less porous, which means fewer stains.
Composite Marble
Composite marble slabs come with an outer coat of resin, which makes them resistant to scratches, stains, and impact. It is also moisture-resistant, which means it can withstand high temperatures without wearing out. However, unlike quartz, it may need re-sealing, which gives quartz an extra point in this department.
07. Maintenance
Quartz
Its high durability makes the maintenance of quartz a lot easier. It does not require sealing. Regular cleaning is just about enough. Quartz does not absorb liquids, meaning you can use any disinfectant without thinking twice.
Composite Marble
Unlike porous natural marble, composite marble is low-maintenance. The presence of resin makes it resistant to dirt. It is also unaffected by spills and stains, thereby needing minimal care and cleaning.
08. Appearance
Quartz
There are a host of patterns and colours to choose from when it comes to quartz. The tiles are highly versatile with their vast range of patterns, solids, and neutral colours. With so many options to choose from, quartz is a good fit for any modern interior.
Composite Marble
Engineered marble is manufactured under special conditions, minimizing imperfections and creating uniformity in design and texture. They are available in dozens of colours, patterns, and sizes. Their perfection and playability make them such a sought-after product for designers.
09. Texture
Quartz
Not only do quartz tiles come in a variety of colours, but you can also choose your texture depending on the look you want to achieve. You can embed the tiles with crushed stones for a shimmering finish. Honed tiles are an option if you want a polished appearance.
Composite Marble
Industrial processes make it simpler to create different textures on composite marble pieces. Sandblasting, CNC, shot blasting, and, water jet are some ways to have textures fashioned on the slabs. However, too much texturing increases the porosity of the marble, which demands sealing to make the surface spill-and-scratch-resistant.
10. Application
Quartz
Its strength, durability, and low maintenance make it a likeable product for application in high-footfall spaces like malls, restaurants, offices, and even homes. It is best suited for indoor applications because of its tendency to split under extreme heat.
Composite Marble
The uniformity and adaptability of cultured marble make it a competent competitor in the market. It is suitable for all types of spaces, including kitchens, toilets, countertops, and patios.
Conclusion
Quartz is more suitable for formal setups where strength and durability are important considerations. Commercial spaces, industrial projects, or even educational spaces like schools can use quartz without worry.Areas that demand elegance at a lower cost will welcome composite marble. It can replicate the beauty of natural marble, except it costs less and is easier to install. Hence, composite marble dining tables and composite marble flooring are recommended options for your home or the grand lobby of a hotel.
The conclusion is fairly simple. Composite marble and quartz have their own benefits, and both do away with the shortcomings of natural stones. However, as a user, some factors, such as personal preference and function, play a decisive role in finalizing the selection. Once you have that sorted out, there is no way you can go wrong with your design.
Author Bio
Brickly – Sakshi – Sakshi navigates the corporate world by day, and transforms into a wordsmith by night, bridging the gap between spaces and stories. Occasional travel and regular reading are her muse. Her LinkedIn following, a vibrant community of around 12k kindred spirits, emboldens her to continue this enriching exchange of ideas.
