In 2001, Caesarstone debuted its range of engineered quartz benchtops in Australia. Since then, Caesarstone has dominated the market for engineered stone and quartz kitchen and bathroom countertops. Kitchen designers initially promoted Caesarstone as a less expensive alternative to granite, but additional advantages of Caesarstone and other engineered stone tops became apparent quickly.
Caesarstone is available in a much wider range of colours and patterns than granite. The glaze finish makes the surface smooth, allowing it to be more resistant to stains and scratches than natural stone. The material also does not need sealing or re-sealing, which saves time and reduces costs for kitchen remodelling projects. In recent years, there has been an industry trend toward increasingly higher-end finishes on all engineered quartz workspaces. This post may mostly focus on “premium touches” that can make a Caesarstone countertop stand out from a standard one.
What is Caesarstone?
The brand name “Caesarstone” refers to engineered stone products that are made of a blend of quartz, resins, and other additives. It has the look of natural stone but is more consistent in appearance, with versions that resemble natural stone available. This substance may also be referred to as a composite.
What makes it so unique and desirable? The use of materials adds to Caesarstone’s appeal, as it is:
- The most durable of the three materials is ceramic.
- Unlike natural stone, it’s less likely to fracture or break.
- More porous than marble or granite.
- Stains are less likely to appear on travertine than marble and granite, which makes it a more stain-resistant material.
Caesarstone Benchtop Types
If you were first introduced to Caesarstone after it became available in the Australian market, you’ll be surprised by its product range today. There are now six distinct product lines:
- Standard Caesarstone benchtop
- Caesarstone Deluxe
- Premium Caesarstone slabs
- Supernatural Caesarstone benchtop
- Supernatural Ultra Range Caesarstone benchtop
- The stone, which is called Concetto, resembles a semiprecious gem.
Expect price fluctuations based on which product line you pick. The least expensive is the Standard range, followed by the Deluxe, Premium, and Supernatural lines. Prices differ, but purchasers and kitchen designers say that the Supernatural series costs 15% to 20% more than the Standard collection or perhaps somewhat further.
The price of your benchtop may also be determined by its thickness and edge profile. The most popular thickness for Caesarstone is 13mm, which may be purchased in a variety of colours. Other choices include pencil, laminated double-thickness and mitred edge with a large fascia panel attached.
Caesarstone Price
Caesarstone offers four different price levels, Standard, Deluxe, Supernatural, and Supernatural Ultra. The Caesarstone cost of a product varies depending on the range selected. For example,
- The price of sand ranges from $416 to $550 per square meter or $1,749 to $2,699 per slab (including taxes).
- The specialty range covers materials from the top-end premium to the bottom-middle economy. The value of each square meter is between $524 and $785 (including tax), with a minimum price of about $2,199 for each slab.
- The sum rate for the supernatural range is between $666 and $1,190 per square meter or between $2,799 and $4,999 per slab.
- The following information is for the Supernatural Ultra Range, The price per square meter or per slab starts at $1,190 (including GST) and goes up to $4,999 (including GST).
Caesarstone is a man-made stone. It consists of quartz aggregates, polymer resins, and organic pigments in combination. Because to its strength and durability, it far surpasses natural stone and marble when it comes to your kitchen worktop. Caesarstone benchtops are heat resistant, stain-resistant, and scratch-resistant. In Australia, it is also the most well-known brand of quartz worktops as well as engineered stone.
Caesarstone Benchtops Cost
Caesarstone benchtops cost around $390 to $550 per square meter for an engineered stone worktop, as well as installation. Benchtops are built of natural stones, so this is how you may be quoted. The 3000mm x 1400mm Caesarstone comes in slabs. Expect to pay:
- For $1,549, you may have a custom 20mm polished slab from Nimbus.
- For $1,899, you may have a deluxe 20mm polished slab from Buttermilk.
- For $2,699, you may have a supernatural 20mm polished slab from Taj Royale.
- For $3,999, you may have a polished marble looking quartz slab from Calatta.
Natural Stone Benchtop vs Caesarstone Kitchen Benchtop
If you’re torn between Caesarstone and natural stones like granite or marble, here’s a sample of each material’s cost for comparison in order to help you make a decision. This estimate is based on 5 meters of the slab with a standard depth of 600mm:
- $625 for a laminate with rolled edges
- $2800 for a Sink-top Kitchen Installation with Caesarstone ($3000 and up depending on design)
- Granite is $3300
- Marble is $3500
Caesarstone Benchtop Installation
In certain states, you’ll need the services of a qualified tradie to put your kitchen benchtop in place. In NSW, for example, you’ll either require a builder’s license, a Minor trade work license, or a stonemasonry license. If your kitchen builder is handling it all for you and is appropriately licensed or engages competent contractors, they may need to be so. Check with your local licensing body or council before beginning any work on your benchtop countertops.
To figure out how much your benchtop may cost, get quotations from kitchen benchtop installers. Also, remember to inquire about labour fees. A stone benchtop is more expensive to install than laminate ones since they may be trimmed down to size.
Is Caesarstone More Expensive than Quartz?
When it comes to quartz vs engineered stone, the latter is generally more expensive than the former. If you go for Caesarstone, expect to pay $550 per square meter. To give you an idea of how much quartz costs, there are companies that offer $100 per square meter. Quartz may also be sourced locally at a lower cost than the imported price of Caesarstone.
Caesarstone is a brand of engineered stone. The reason behind its popularity might be its durability, scratch-resistance, and non-porous surface that makes it impervious to moisture. It is stain-resistant and easy to clean. Caesarstone benchtops need no sealing or waxing to maintain their appearance throughout the years.
On the other hand, natural stones don’t have these qualities when they are not layered with an additional finishing material such as polyurethane sealant, epoxy resin, etc. These substances prevent staining and water damage by creating a protective barrier over the stone’s porous surface. At best, natural stones can be sealed after years of use and maintenance for protection against water seepage and dirt build-up on the porous surface.
Caesarstone Benchtop vs Engineered Quartz Benchtops
So, which is better for your kitchen countertops engineered quartz or natural stone? Engineered stone benchtops quickly are becoming available in Australia. Here are some factors to consider when picking the right stone benchtops:
- Durability
When it comes to durability and resistance to heat, scratches, etc., engineered stone outperforms natural stone. Quartz does not alter in colour as marble does when heated. Caesarstone is stain resistant, whereas marble may fracture when exposed to highly acidic foods like lemons. The disadvantage of manufactured stones is that they do not have the same weight as natural ones, at least not load-bearing weight. As a result, depending on what’s in your home, you may need extra support under the working space as well as appropriate cabinet anchoring.
- Maintenance
Many homeowners who have natural stones perform cleaning, sealing, and polishing as part of their upkeep procedure. However, since some stones are naturally more stain-resistant than others, this does not have to be done on a regular basis. After a few years of usage, engineered quartz benchtops may require re-sealing unless they are factory sealed because they aren’t as well as most natural stones. It’s also non-porous, so food proteins won’t be trapped in crevices or pores of the stone, making cleaning a snap. Note that a Caesarstone benchtop needs to be sealed just as frequently as other stones, however, you’ll only need to do it every once in a while depending on how often you use your kitchen counters.
- Price and installation costs
Cheaper countertops constructed of engineered quartz are already accessible on the market. However, if you want an engineered stone worktop, be ready to spend more, especially for bigger areas with Caesarstone by your side.
- Appearance
Quartz, as well as other man-made stones, is undoubtedly lovely. They also come in a variety of hues depending on the location of mining. Because some engineered stones include veins of metals like gold or silver, they have style and value to your property. Other types of manufactured stones may be produced with colouration for design effects like wood grain or granite-like patterns, making them blend in well with current kitchen cabinets and furnishings. Natural stone, on the other hand, has variations in colour due to its composition, such as veining and fossils, but these are what set the stone apart.
- Availability
You may work with your local dealer to select the perfect countertop for your kitchen, but depending on their current stock, this might limit your selections. Natural stones, on the other hand, are available all over the world, allowing homeowners to customize their kitchens in terms of types and colours. You’ll be able to pick from marble, granite, soapstone, limestone, travertine, sandstone, and other stones that are widely accessible in every region of the globe.
- Cleaning/Scratches
Quartz is a hard material, so it doesn’t scratch as readily as engineered stone because it is composed of minerals crushed into a powder that is combined with polymer resin to form engineered quartz. To scrape, you’d have to use hard, heavy objects or sharpen the object being used on the quartz. If you want additional protection, though, engineered stone worktops are an option.
- Environmentally friendly
Quartz is a type of mineral that is formed via the heating of crushed minerals at high temperatures with chemicals such as silicates and metal oxides that bind them together into a solid mass, making it an environmentally safer option than natural stone. It’s also not biodegradable, hence not friendly to Mother Nature. Quartz, on the other hand, is made from crushed minerals that are then bonded together by chemicals like silicates and metal oxides. Quartz is mined in many other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although some quarries do mine quartz as well, overall, engineered quartz has a lower environmental effect than natural stone.
