Stone Surface Guide
Engineered Stone
Visit quartz worktops to learn about quartz and discover colours.
Last updated: 26 March 2026
Man-Made Manufacturing Differences of Engineered Stone
Durability of stone working surfaces is a major deciding factor in a final worktop choice, this is where engineered stone excels.
Engineered stone / man-made worktops are both constituted with natural minerals from the same source as natural stone. The possibilities and uses of man-made worktops are too broad to list, but include access panels, windowsills, desks, hearth, walls and floors.
Engineered Quartz Worktops
Man-made with resin as a binding agent during its manufacture gives engineered materials a flexible strength that allows for the most complicated stone surface fabrication. Despite is artificiality, modern engineering techniques allow for some very interesting colours and designs that imitate natural stone appearances. Engineered quartz is an internal use only material as UV will discolour the surface if used externally.
Low-Silica Quartz
Alternative eco-friendly worktop materials are very similar to quartz but with a very low silicate content. Quartzforms have its brand of low silica quartz called 'Ecotone', and other premium quartz brands such as caesarstone and compac also have thier eco-friendly alternatives with low-silica and low-VOC resins. Low and silica free worktop slabs are designed to improve working safety from dust inhalation when working with the stone. Quartzforms 'Ecotone' can be used for both internal and external applications.
Porcelain / Dekton
Dekton and porcelain are very hard materials akin to the density of glass. Man-made Porcelain differs to quartz in its minerals and manufacture techniques, making porcelain a tough stone but without the flexibility that quartz boasts. As an harder material, fabrication costs start higher than quartz or Ecotone due to cutting methods and care required during fabrication.
Manufactured With Natural Minerals
Man-made stone and engineered stone are both different terms to describe the same group of artificial stone stypes.
Each man-made / engineered stone type differs in the way they are made and the resulting resistances that each has to offer.
Material Classification
Essentially, stone surfaces can be classified into two groups, natural and man-made. The terms that describe these differences in composition more accurately are 100% natural stone and man-made stone (also known as engineered stone). Both engineered and natural materials come from same source by different methods. Natural stone is cut directly from the source rock. Engineered stone types differ by composition, they are composed of the same natural minerals but refined and reconstituted with additional binders and ingredients.
Manufactured Differences and Applications
Despite differing manufacturing techniques in respect of the minerals and raw materials used all engineered stone requires extreme pressure and heat-to-catalyze reactions that replicate metamorphoses and crystallisation processes that happen naturally with natural surface materials. With the exception of engineered quartz material which is for internal use only, all can be used internally and externally and for a wide range of applications which include bathroom worktops and cladding, walls and floors.
How is Engineered Stone Manufactured?
The processes used to manufacture engineered stone is a replication of the processes used in the formation of rock deep inside the earth.
The processes require intense heat and extreme pressures to initialise crystal growth within the engineered stone mixture.
How are they Manufactured?
The processes used in the manufacture of engineered stone replicates the processes used in the formation of rock within the earth. Although there are differences in the techniques used, especially for different engineered stone types, the processes that mimic nature are the same. Intense heat and extreme pressures are applied to a specially formulated mixture that is first compacted.
The applied heat and pressure is essential to catalyze reactions of the mineral content, stimulating crystal growth and various other chemical reactions. When cooled, the mixture is transformed into an extremely dense and hard material. The hardness is derived from pressure and the crystals which when subjected to intense heat grow and interlock. Several processes, which include polishing and calibration finish the surface to a variety of surface finishes ranging from rough (hammerbushed) through to a smooth and high polished surface.
A more detailed manufacturing procedure for engineered quartz may give you a little more insight into such processes.
Dekton Sintered Stone Surfaces
The sintering process involves much higher heat and pressures to catalyze reactions in the raw materials, resulting in extremely dense engineered stone materials. Benefits attained from the hardness and density of a sintered material is its increased scratch resistance and reduced porosity, making these engineered stone surfaces resistant to weathering. Dekton surfaces are widely used for external cladding and flooring.
Specification Benefits of Engineered Stone
The processes used to manufacture engineered stone is a replication of the processes used in the formation of rock deep inside the earth.
The processes require intense heat and extreme pressures to initialise crystal growth within the engineered stone mixture.
Content Benefits
The minerals used along with the amount of compression applied in surface manufacture also determines the end qualities of each surface material in regards to its hardness, porosity and other resistances. Additions of polymers as binders during manufacture of man-made quartz also have an effect on the final appearance and its resistances. Similarly for the new generation engineered stone worktops such as man-made ecotone worktop surfaces. The polymers not only increase the flexible strength but also make it a non-porous material with positive effects that attribute to bacterial resistance.
However, with any material that leans towards particular strengths, something has to give. Denser materials with less binder content in the form of polymers, have a reduced flexible strength, which is a key to the success of quartz worktops as kitchen worktops. The lack in flexible strength results in surfaces with characteristics very similar to glass. Highly polished surfaces are sought by many for worktops, but, for polished dekton worktops, these are coated with a glazing. The glazing is noticeably restricted to the top surface, and without care, the glazing can chip along outer edges, leaving exposed razor sharp edges. We advise the use of matt finishes for dekton, or any porcelain for that matter, especially if requested as durable kitchen worktops.
Textured Finishes
Dekton has a variety of surface finishes, each designed for specific purposes and its surfaces are not restricted to the worktop market. Strengths and resistances make dekton worktops perfect materials for inside and outside wall cladding. Dektons surfaces finishes are standardised to the more delicate textures that natural granite can be finished to, for example polished, honed and leather finishes.
Cost Differences
Manufacturers place their materials in as much as six different price groups; the more natural the slab looks in its imitation of its counterpart, the higher it will be grouped. Manufacturers price groups differ in respect of the brand, design, and where they are manufactured. Worktop surfaces can be expensive, but they can also be fairly cheap! Quartz materials suppliers are many, unlike the one of a kind, unique dekton. With so many quartz manufacturers and suppliers, the market is very competitive allowing for quartz materials to be the lowest cost engineered stone by comparison.