Pitfall‑Avoidance Guide: Four Tips to Help You Tell Real Quartz Stone from Fake

Release date:

2022-09-26

Author:

Zhongxun

Kitchen countertops are used very frequently in everyday life, so their quality directly affects both user comfort and the overall quality of the renovation.

However, many people complain: why did the quartz countertop I paid a premium for start to discolor, get scratched, or even crack after only a short time? Chances are, you’ve ended up with a “fake” quartz countertop.

In fact, high-quality quartz countertops boast excellent wear resistance, heat resistance, and stain resistance, making them highly resistant to scratches and discoloration in everyday use. So how can you tell whether a quartz countertop is of good quality?

Method 1: Look

One crucial factor in assessing the quality of quartz stone is its surface finish, as it directly reflects its stain resistance. The simplest test is to draw a line on the surface with a marker and see if it can be wiped away: if it comes off easily, the material has strong stain resistance; if not, its stain resistance is poor, and such products are best avoided.

In addition, quartz stone manufactured by reputable producers bears a spray‑on code on the back—be sure to check the marking carefully.

Method of determination No. 2: Scratch

When assessing hardness—i.e., wear resistance—the simplest method is to scratch the surface with a steel knife; using a key will not provide an accurate indication. Quartz stone is made from more than 90% quartz sand combined with resin, achieving a hardness of around 6 on the Mohs scale, whereas engineered stone is composed of marble powder and resin, typically scoring 4–6 on the same scale. In short, quartz stone is harder than engineered stone and offers superior resistance to scratches and abrasion.

When a steel blade is drawn across the surface, a white mark indicates fake quartz stone, as its lower hardness allows the blade to cut through the surface and reveal the white interior. In contrast, genuine quartz stone will only show a black streak; this occurs because the steel blade cannot cut through the quartz and instead leaves behind a trace of the steel itself. The stark contrast between black and white instantly reveals the difference between real and fake.

Method 3: Burning

Due to its inherent material properties, quartz stone exhibits excellent heat resistance; temperatures below 300°C have no adverse effect, and it will neither deform nor fracture. In contrast, engineered stone, which contains a significant amount of resin, is particularly prone to deformation and scorching under high-temperature conditions.

Press a lit cigarette butt against the tabletop, or hold it directly over a flame; if it’s hard to ignite and goes out quickly, it’s genuine; if it burns steadily, it’s a substandard product.

Method Four: Acid Test

High-quality quartz countertops typically contain premium all‑aluminum powder, and just a small spoonful of white vinegar can expose the true nature of inferior engineered stone and quartz surfaces. However, other types of vinegar—such as aged balsamic vinegar—are ineffective.

Pour a tablespoon of white vinegar onto the surface of an artificial stone or quartz countertop. After 30 seconds, if numerous tiny bubbles form, it indicates that the quartz is of inferior quality. This is because the calcium carbonate in low‑grade quartz reacts chemically with the vinegar, producing bubbles. Such countertops are inexpensive but prone to aging, cracking, and color absorption, resulting in a short service life.