What is mineralstone?
Composite is a man-made, masonry material formed with quartz as on of the main components. Although mineral stone manufacturers around the world number by the dozen, Jetstone chooses to work exclusively with leading, NSF-certified mineral stone suppliers such as Silestone, Diresco and Ceasarstone. The NSF certification gives you the assurance you are buying a mineral stone worktop that complies with food safety standards!
Mineralstone has a fairly regular colour and structure, but the fact that it is formed from natural raw materials means that variations in colour and structure (for example, compared to samples) can never be ruled out.
Mineralstone in everyday use
The characteristics of mineralstone can differ somewhat by color and surface, but in general the material has a good scratch resistance. Although mineralstone is highly resistant to heat damage, there is a risk of ‘thermoshock’ occurring if the worktop is subjected to large temperature differences (for example, placing a very hot pan on a cold surface). Thermoshock causes irreparable damage. Because of this we recommend to always use a coaster.
Mineralstone with a polished (glossy) surface is very stain resistant, especially in mixed colours. On solid colours and mineralstone materials with a matt (satin) surface, stains might stand out more, but with the correct maintenance these stains usually can be removed properly.
Mineralstone finishes
The majority of mineralstone surfaces supplied by Jetstone have a polished finish (high sheen). In addition to its luxurious look and feel, a benefit of this type of finish is that the top layer is sealed, making it less susceptible to staining.
Certain mineralstone colours can also be supplied with a satin surface (matt and brushed). Quartz with a matt finish gives the worktop a rustic appearance, however the top layer has a relatively open structure, which means the materials are more susceptible to staining, mainly during the first months of use. This will improve over the course of time and the material will also become slightly darker in colour.
Specific material characteristics
The production process and the natural ingredients of mineralstone can cause small pigment spots and ‘high contrast contaminations’ (e.g. light dots in a dark material or vice versa). These characteristics do not impair the quality of the material.
Want to know more about the characteristics of quartz and how this product relates to other materials? Then view our special page about material properties.
