Matt effect quartz (Silestone/caesarstone)
Susan
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (34)
Susan
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Silestone Lagoon or Caesarstone London Grey?
Comments (67)Following up with a few more details.. Counter edge is Eased 1.5 inch thick. Quartz thickness was 2cm. Fabricators built up the edge to 1.5 inches with mitred corners. The mitre cut hides the seam totally. In CA this is a standard process. 2cm Ceasarstone will not properly cover the 5/8 inch plywood rough top the cabinet maker installs. I almost went with an ogee edge since the house and kitchen is traditional style. But I thought it might be too busy for shaker. The eased edge works well with shaker style. I chose ogee for the bath vanity where the cabinets and crown are more detailed. It fits perfectly in the bath. Or if you have a center island ogee is a nice choice on the island with eased edge on the perimeter. Alot of people opt for that... The floor color is Natural Timber glazed chestnut. I used a dark brown grout but should have gone 1 darker to espresso or possibly black. The grout lines wound up lighter than the tile even though it looked like a good match before install. I went with 1/16th on the spacing, however the box recommends no closer than 1/8th. 1/8th grout lines are wide and the floor will look less like hardwood but I'm not sure if ignoring the directions will compromise my floor in any way down the road. I had the installer avoid "stair step" install method and tried to achieve random length install to mimic hardwood. Essentially when he got to a wall and had to cut a piece I had him start on the other side with the cut piece to achieve a random look. It worked for the most part but this process is tricky. It is better to be there the entire time they are installing so you can make the decisions. I much prefer real wood. The white oak with dark stain pictured all over houzz are the most beautiful kitchen floors but with a 3 yr old it doesn't seem practical, I think it would have gotten destroyed. The wood plank tile is a nice alternative and the cleanup is very easy. Alot of people have actually mistaken it for solid wood. The finish is a matte. Every crumb shows but I'm assuming this is the case with any dark brown floor. One of the keys is finding the tile that is 48 in long, this is the same size a lot of solid wood planks come in. The tile that is 24 in long leaves too many grout lines all over the floor and compromises the wood look. The long plank tiles create some issues with install though, it is wise to have someone who has installed these before. The 24 inch pieces are easier to install. This post was edited by LondonGray on Mon, Jun 16, 14 at 13:25...See MoreSilestone counter tops for my kitchen - matte finish ?
Comments (10)Honed finishes are much more difficult to live with. Although the material itself is stain proof, the texture of the honed finish makes cleaning more difficult. It holds on to dirt in the larger pores. But what is really annoying is the fingerprints from your hand oils. Silestone quit manufacturing the honed finish once already because of the complaints. Are you sure that you're looking at current sample pieces?...See MoreAny experience with Silestone Iconic White? Which quartz is right?
Comments (12)I used Silestone Iconic White countertops over the walnut base cabinets in my kitchen. It is the purest white you will find and looks fabulous with my upper high gloss white cabinets - even though the countertop is actually brighter than the upper cabinets. Definitely a great choice if you want an “Instagram Worthy” looking kitchen! The reflective nature of my high gloss white uppers minimizes the difference in the whites. There are some flecks here and there though in my Iconic White countertop - looks like a few ground black pepper flakes embedded in the slab used to fabricate my countertops. With the purest white even the best seam lines are also extremely noticeable. Fortunately my fabricator minimized the seams to just two small ones at the sink, but I can still see them from across the room. The installer didn’t caulk as well as I would have liked, so maybe with some extra effort on my part I can get the seams less noticeable. There was some chipping along the seams as well, which doesn’t help. I placed several White Zeus Extreme sample chips on top of my new Iconic White countertop and couldn’t tell a difference in the shade - the White Zeus Extreme was still whiter than my upper cabinets - so it would also have been a good color choice. I have read a great number of horror stories about Silestone, esp. White/lighter colors, staining and chipping even with the utmost of care, unfortunately only after making a $7k purchase for my kitchen remodel. While those stories may be extreme cases and not representative of the majority of purchases, those stories have me quite afraid to use my newly renovated kitchen. I will only use plain water and a soft microfiber cloth to clean - nothing else - and will not set anything down on my countertops that isn’t on a soft cloth or towel - and pray for the best. Fortunately I have a workstation sink to help minimize use of my countertop. Although I absolutely love the look, I won’t be purchasing Silestone again though - it’s just not the right choice for my comfort level and lifestyle....See MoreI need an alternative quartz to Caesarstone.
Comments (19)We put Caesarstone in our master bath about 3 years ago. Polished, not honed. The area around my sink looks dull, mottled, grimy. Also spots from water or something...We have cleaned it with vinegar and water or Mrs Meyer's countertop spray. Found out recently that Caesarstone says not to use Mrs. Meyers--Because it's "plant based." Seems strange to me, since people use it in their kitchen with plant based cooking oils splashing on it. My husband's sink doesn't look as bad as mine. I of course use makeup and more lotions. Also nightly contact lens cleaning (hard contacts require this). But I always wipe it dry when finished. Maybe it depends what pattern you choose. I think the grimy look I've noticed is called "patina" and it probably doesn't show on some patterns. I have Statuario Nuvo. When I contacted CS for advice on cleaning, they told me to use Soft Scrub Gel with bleach (this is also on their website). I tried that three times with no change. I'm looking for another brand for my kitchen remodel and will pick a pattern that is more forgiving, since I want ease of maintenance....See MoreJAN MOYER
6 years agoSusan
6 years agoWS Granite Tops
6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
6 years agoDCtoVA
6 years agoSusan
6 years agoSusan
6 years agoRyan Snow
6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoQuartz - Stone Care, Cleaning & Repair Experts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agodeegw
6 years agoDiana Bier Interiors, LLC
6 years agohighdesertowl
6 years agolookintomyeyes83
6 years agoKyle Hogan
6 years agoJoseph Corlett, LLC
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoQuartz - Stone Care, Cleaning & Repair Experts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJAN MOYER
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agosnow_momma
5 years agoAylin R
5 months agoAylin R
5 months ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN COUNTERTOPSWhy I Chose Quartz Countertops in My Kitchen Remodel
Budget, style and family needs all were taken into account in this important design decision
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSQuartz vs. Granite: The Battle of the Countertops
Read about the pros and cons — and see great examples — of these popular kitchen countertop materials
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Counters: Stunning, Easy-Care Engineered Quartz
There's a lot to like about this durable blend of quartz and resin for kitchen countertops, and the downsides are minimal
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNBathroom Countertops: The Pros and Cons of Engineered Quartz
See why these designers like engineered quartz for its durability, color options and more
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSWhat’s the Difference Between Quartzite and Quartz Countertops?
Weigh the pros and cons of these popular kitchen countertop materials
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Sinks: Granite Composite Offers Superior Durability
It beats out quartz composite for strength and scratch resistance. Could this kitchen sink material be right for you?
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Clean and Classic With a Modern Edge
A designer creates a bright and open kitchen with white oak, pale marble and matte black details
Full StoryKITCHEN COUNTERTOPSThe Latest Colors and Styles in Engineered Surfaces
Dark and light hues, sophisticated veining and textured finishes stood out at the 2020 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
Full StoryMATERIALSNew Looks for Engineered Countertops and Other Surfaces
See the top colors and styles for new engineered surfaces introduced at the 2021 KBIS trade show
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNAlternatives to Granite Countertops, Part II
Still looking for a new kind of countertop? Try sodalite, zinc, limestone, onyx and more
Full Story
Kyle Hogan