Some materials used in the hotel are casegods, and other guestroom furnishing has rivals of sorts. The list continues Laminate vs. Wood veneer, plywood vs. particle board vs. softwoods, and Granite vs. marble. This blog looks at the two popular materials that often go head-to-head in hospitality furniture fixtures: solid surface vs. quartz.
Both of these materials are used in hotels, and a mixture of solid surface and quartz blend amazingly and offer a unique level of functionality. Each material is different, and each has its place in providing hotels with a look that will meet their intended requirements and enhance ROI.
In this blog, we will discover these two materials and evaluate the difference between the two.
What is a Solid Surface?
It is a manufactured material with a strong surface and represents a mixture of dust, particles, minerals, and resins. It will enhance the pebbled appearance. It is a famous material in hospitality FF&E manufacturing the solid surface is easily fabricated in any shape, and the hotel furnishing design comes in different styles and appearances. Similarly to laminates, a solid surface looks like other materials like natural stone.
Moreover, a solid surface is readily available for purchase to exact specifications. It means you don’t need to purchase whoe large sheets like marble and granite. It is budget-friendly material and enables you to stretch your hotel casegood budget further. But, there is some specification to remember before adding the surface to the hotel.
What is Quartz?
Quartz used in the hotel is not 100% natural material. Instead, it is about 90% crushed quartz, and the remaining 10% includes a cement-based or polymeric binder. An engineered stone, quartz the polar, is the opposite of a solid surface. Due to its composition, quartz provides increased durability, which means it can hit without showing any damage. Quartz is a material easily fabricated without losing its integrity.
With its durability, quartz is scratch-resistant (a significant quality when mixed into casegoods with heavy use). The material withstands a temperature of up to 400 degrees F.
Solid Surface vs. Quartz
If you are looking for an easy-to-maintain, super hygienic, durable-to-outfit commercial facility, you can’t go wrong with a solid surface or quartz. But, these two materials have key differences that could dictate which option suits your requirements. So, let’s discover the qualities of both materials.
1. Scratch Resistance
Solid surfaces are scratch-resistant, and their extended use becomes more scratched with time. However, a solid surface will get scratched more easily than quartz, and it can easily be sanded and refinished to minimize minor surface scratches.
On the other hand, Quartz is unscratchable and never develops even minor scratches after several years of use. Though quartz is scratch – resistant so, it is not advised to cut directly on quartz, so you will need cutting boards instead of which surface you choose.
2. Heat Resistance
High heat conditions are not an essential factor in your facility, but in many educational atmospheres, heat resistance is a significant feature for your countertops. Solid surfaces are suitably heat resistant, from industrial kitchens to medical facilities; they can become damaged or melt if they come in contact with heat. Hot pans, heat utensils, hot surfaces, and open flame are never placed directly on solid surfaces like heat pads; use trivets and mats instead.
Quartz is heat resistant and bears a temperature exceeding 400 degrees F, and is usually preferred for high-heat applications like use in commercial kitchens. Although damaging quartz with heat is complex, using trivets and head pads protects the surface from damage.
3. Durability
Counterparts in commercial facilities like labs, medical centers with constant use, manufacturing facilities, unexpected friction and chemical exposures, and multiple tasks to be achieved today. The commercial counterparts are required to be durable and not able to bear continuous use but remain unchanged for years.
Both quartz and solid surface will perform well even with regular use; unlike any surface, they have limitations. Generally, quartz is considered more durable than a solid surface, with better scratch and stain resistance. However, solid surface performs well and are smoothly refinished like new.
4. Installation
If you plan to install counterparts yourself, the best choice for your needs is to be a solid surface. The solid surface can be cut smoothly with woodworking tools and create virtually indetectable seams that are accomplished with more than adhesive and fine-grit sandpaper. Reliable surface installation is relatively easy with its lightweight, hardwood, and non – splintering design.
Unlike solid surfaces, quartz is cuttable using a specific tool and needs professional installation. If you try by yourself, then there are better options than Quartz.
5. Cost
Both materials are relatively affordable in companion to natural stone, and if you are looking for an affordable of the two, you will be hard-pressed to discover differences. Both materials are cheap in primary forms, but they become expensive if you customize them.
Also Read: Which spray gun is best for spraying walls?
Conclusion
Besides all differences, the decisions between a solid surface and quartz are not rooted in taking sides. Instead of any material considered against each other for the hotel, choosing solid surface and quartz for hospitality FF&E is about picking the suitable material. Both materials have their application but share a common trait. At Sara Hospitality, we carry many materials and services that help our clients pick the best material option.