Smashed quartz tabletop
Black Silestone worktops are very popular, but when cleaned and maintained improperly, they can become brittle, and the polish on the surface does not last forever. This picture shows a chip on the edge that was caused by a plate being dropped on it. The customer did not have the chip to put back in, so we had to mould a piece of quartz, glue it back in, and reshape it to match the existing edge. The worktop seems to become brittle over time; in my opinion, this is due to how it is maintained. Soap and water to break down grease and oil and obviously cleans it like we all do, but since this is engineered stone, it breaks down more easily. I always advise my customers to use a bit of polish on it—specifically, furniture polish containing wax—which, in my opinion, nourishes the surface and makes it less brittle. This way, when things are dropped on it, it does not chip or get damaged as easily. This is based on experience. Therefore, when buying quartz worktops, always ask your supplier for the does and don'ts of maintaining your quartz worktop.