Blistering on quartz composite worktops
This popular material is beautiful and durable but not indestructible. Selecting a good quality brand, and correct usage and maintenance are key to keeping your kitchen worktops in tip top condition. Here at stoneCIRCLE, we only supply the best quartz brands available in the market place with proper warranties in place, as some cheaper makes can be prone to quality defects.
We talk you through why bubbles appear on some quartz worktops after prolonged use.
Good quality quartz brands employ stricter manufacturing processes and use better raw materials.
why blisters occur
Surface bubbling on engineered quartz is caused by the combined effects of the inherent characteristics of the material and the environment in which it is used.
The bubbles are due to gases from the resin in the slab decomposing when it is exposed to high temperatures. The trapped gases lift the hard surface layer and cause blisters.
The reasons that this occurs are given below in order of importance:
CRL quartz worktop for stoneWORKTOP
direct contact with hot objects
Quartz is made up of approximately 90% quartz particles and about 10% resin, pigments and other additives. Resin has very little resistance to heat. Sustained contact with objects over 150°C is very likely to cause the resin to burn producing gases. These gases expand within the enclosed slab, until they meet the hard quartz surface. The pressure forces them through and blisters or bubbles form. When these burst they leave behind surface pitting.
The biggest cause of this is putting hot objects such as pans, kettles etc directly onto the surface.
chemical corrosion
Quartz has relatively good acid and alkali resistance, primarily due to its dense surface. However, prolonged exposure to corrosive substances, such as bleach, paint removers and oven cleaner, may allow the chemicals to penetrate and corrode the resin, damaging it and making it more susceptible to generating gases when heated, leading to blistering. This can be made worse if the surface is scratched or damaged already, giving the chemicals easier access.
how to prevent blistering
choose a high-quality brand of quartz
At stoneCIRCLE we only supply reputable brands with the highest manufacturing and quality control standards for both our stoneCIRCLE and stoneWORKTOP range.
always use heat protection
Never allow any object with a temperature over 60°C to make contact with the surface.
proper cleaning
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Clean with mild detergents (e.g. washing up liquid) and a soft cloth. Wipe up any spills promptly.
avoid dropping heavy objects and scratches
Heavy impacts and sharp objects can damage and scratch the surface leaving it more open to penetration by cleaning fluids, and spills of wine, ketchup etc.
what to do if blistering occurs?
minor bubbles
Contact a stone repair specialist. They will try to cut the bubble open, inject a specialised product, and then polish the area. Please bear in mind that it is a repair and the extent to which it will still be visible is up to the craftsman’s skill.
severe or widespread bubbling
This tends to be a sign that the work surface is badly damaged and any repairs may not last. The safest solution is to replace that section of worktop.
