So, you're planning your new kitchen. You've pinned countless ideas on Pinterest, chosen your cabinet style, and now you’ve hit the big one: the countertop.
It’s the workhorse of your kitchen. It’s where you’ll chop vegetables for your weeknight stir-fry, roll out dough for curry puffs, and spill a little kopi O during a busy morning. It needs to be tough, beautiful, and perfect for your home. But the choices—Quartz & Sintered Stone—can feel overwhelming.
Don't worry. As stone surface experts who have helped hundreds of Malaysian homeowners, we're here to make it simple. Let's put these materials head-to-head.
- Quartz: Think of this as "engineered nature." It's made from about 90-95% crushed natural quartz (one of nature's hardest minerals) mixed with polymer resins and pigments. This process gives it incredible durability and a consistent, uniform appearance.
- Sintered Stone: This is a high-tech powerhouse. It's crafted from 100% natural minerals (like those found in granite and porcelain) which are fused together under immense heat and pressure—a process that mimics how natural stone is made over thousands of years, but in a factory. Brands like Dekton are famous examples.
Let's break it down by the factors that truly count.
Feature | Quartz | Sintered Stone |
Heat Resistance | Very Good | Excellent |
Stain Resistance | Excellenet | Excellent |
Scratch Resistance | Very Good | Excellent |
UV Resistance (Outdoor) | No | Yes |
Design Options | Widest Range | Very Wide |
Typical Budge | Mid to High | Mid to High |
1. Heat Resistance: The Hot Wok Test
In Malaysia, our cooking is fast and hot. You need a surface that can handle the heat.
- Sintered Stone is the champions here. Their manufacturing process at extreme temperatures makes them almost impervious to heat. You can place a hot pan directly on them without worry (though we always recommend using a trivet for safety!).
- Quartz is very heat resistant, but the resins used in its construction can be damaged by sudden, extreme temperature changes. You should always use a trivet or mat for hot pans and woks.
2. Stain Resistance: The Curry & Turmeric Challenge
This is a three-way tie! All three materials are non-porous, which is their superpower. This means liquids, oils, and bacteria can't penetrate the surface. Spills like curry, turmeric (kunyit), coffee, or wine can be wiped away easily without leaving a permanent stain, making them perfect for our colourful cuisine.
3. Scratch & Chip Resistance: The Durability Factor
Your countertop is a workspace. It needs to stand up to daily life.
- Sintered Stone is the king of scratch resistance due to its incredible density. It's one of the hardest materials on the market.
- Quartz is also extremely hard and scratch-resistant, making it a fantastic choice for busy family kitchens.
4. UV Resistance: For Your Outdoor or Brightly-Lit Kitchen
Do you have a wet kitchen outdoors or a dry kitchen that gets a lot of direct sunlight? This is crucial.
- Sintered Stone is completely UV resistant. Their colours will not fade or yellow over time when exposed to sunlight, making them the only choice for outdoor applications.
- Quartz is for indoor use only. The resins can yellow and fade with prolonged exposure to direct UV rays.
5. Design & Aesthetics: Finding Your Style
- Quartz offers the widest and most consistent range of colours and patterns. From pure whites to concrete greys and marble-look veins, what you see in the showroom is exactly what you get.
- Sintered Stone excel at mimicking the dramatic, natural look of materials like marble, wood, or rusted metal. The patterns are often printed on the surface and can be incredibly realistic. Modern technology now allows for "through-body" veining, making the pattern visible even on the edges.
Summary: So, Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Quartz if: You want the widest selection of consistent colours, fantastic durability for an indoor family kitchen, and a great balance of performance and price.
- Choose Sintered Stone if: You want the absolute best-of-the-best in terms of heat and scratch resistance, you need a surface for an outdoor kitchen, or you love the ultra-realistic natural stone look.
The First Step to Your Dream Kitchen
Choosing a countertop is a big decision, but it doesn't have to be a hard one. The best way to truly know which material is right for you is to see them, touch them, and talk to an expert about your specific needs.
At Sinnostone, this is what we do all day, every day.
Ready to see these materials in person?
Visit our showroom or browse our online collections of Quartz or Sintered Stone