Home Renovation & Building Forum
https://forum.homeone.com.au/

Hard Decision
https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=52607
Page 1 of 2

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ Nov 21, 2011 3:27 am ]
Post subject:  Hard Decision

I tried to research a lot on these 3 benchtops and still fairy confused. Our island bench is going to be 3170mm with 900mm width, therefore we came up against some issues.

Some Facts:
Essa Stone - 95% quartz
CaesarStone - 93% quartz
FreeStyle - Acrylic, no quartz?

Pluses and minuses for each product (please correct me if I'm wrong):

Essa Stone :
- Only comes in 3000mm, therefore visible joins.
- Only comes in 20mm thickness.
+ However, cheaper than CaesarStone.
+ Scratch & Heat resistant

CaesarStone :
- Only comes in 3000mm, therefore visible joins.
- More expensive than EssaStone
+ Comes in 30mm thickness.
+ Has more colour variety.
+ Scratch & Heat resistant

Freestyle Laminex :
- More prone to damage & stains.
- No heat resistance
- High maintenance.
+ Comes in longer pieces, due to the fact that it can be seamlessly join
+ Seamless joins
+ Comes in 30-40mm thickness


I would like some feedback from people who have any of these 3, especially FreeStyle.
Would you choose Essa Stone/CaesarStone over Freestyle Laminex if you had a choice?

Author:  4walls [ Nov 21, 2011 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

caesarstone standard is 20mm, some colours available in 13mm or 30mm

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ Nov 21, 2011 9:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

4walls 4walls
caesarstone standard is 20mm, some colours available in 13mm or 30mm

I was just highlighting advantages of CaesarStone over EssaStone.
However, would the gap/visible join on either EssaStone or CaesarStone bench be a huge deal breaker over seamless Freestyle Laminex?
Basically this is one of my concerns, as well as quality of product...

Author:  Mclaren [ Nov 21, 2011 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

We have Essastone on our 4m+ bench with a join near the sink which you can hardly see - we have 20mm but I believe it also comes in 40mm.

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ Nov 21, 2011 12:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Mclaren Mclaren
We have Essastone on our 4m+ bench with a join near the sink which you can hardly see - we have 20mm but I believe it also comes in 40mm.

Thanks for your reply, can you post a picture of a join? Such a simple decision became a mission of epic proportion ::dizzy::

Author:  Sasha28 [ Nov 22, 2011 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

I know how you feel! we thought we had decided on Freestyle Laminex due to it being seamless as we've got a long island bench but now after reading some bad reviews I am unsure of my decision, also I think its pretty close to Essa stone in price, just dont know if I want to risk a noticeable join...

Author:  HappyCamper_au [ Nov 22, 2011 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

If you don't want a join can you shorten the island bench by 170mm? Imho, if the stonemason does his/her job properly the join will be almost invisible as the adhesive they use is colour matched to the stone, then they have large suction-clamps which pull the sheets together while the adhesive is drying so anyone who has a wide (or prominent) join needs to go back to their stonie and get the job done correctly. The stonie I chose didn't mind that I sat and watched so I could see how it was done in fact he encouraged it. It's not really rocket science....he said this himself. My benches are 30mm CS and both L shaped so therefore each one has a join and while I noticed them for the first day or so I don't even see them now.

Author:  Leni_82 [ Nov 22, 2011 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

I'd definitely use Caesar stone or even look into Quantum Quartz. I'd also minimise my bench to 3 metres. Well it's actually 3060 give or take a few mm.

Standard range Essa Stone rrp is over $1000 (unless you've gotten a good deal) how is this less expensive than Caesar Stone rrp STD Range $871.00

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ Nov 23, 2011 3:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Leni_82 Leni_82
I'd definitely use Caesar stone or even look into Quantum Quartz. I'd also minimise my bench to 3 metres. Well it's actually 3060 give or take a few mm.

Standard range Essa Stone rrp is over $1000 (unless you've gotten a good deal) how is this less expensive than Caesar Stone rrp STD Range $871.00


Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately I can't shorten the island bench because microwave and dishwasher recess is already inbuilt.

What is the retail price for Freestyle Laminax? What will I be looking at (price wise) if I were to upgrade from included Freestyle Laminex to Essa Stone? And what's the RRP of Quantum Quartz?

Does all Reconstituted Stone (Quantum Quartz, Essa Stone, CaesarStone) come in 3000mm length pieces?

Thanks again for your help.

Author:  saemiseon [ Nov 23, 2011 1:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

I was really worried about the joins, and now I can't even notice them seriously
I have essa stone dusk which is whitest one out there (out of essa)
I wouldn't worry too much about the joins honestly
Haven't got the up close picture of the joints, but can show you the whole bench fairly close
and you wont' be able to tell where the joints are....

Author:  Leni_82 [ Nov 24, 2011 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

AubinGroveFan AubinGroveFan
Leni_82 Leni_82
I'd definitely use Caesar stone or even look into Quantum Quartz. I'd also minimise my bench to 3 metres. Well it's actually 3060 give or take a few mm.

Standard range Essa Stone rrp is over $1000 (unless you've gotten a good deal) how is this less expensive than Caesar Stone rrp STD Range $871.00


Thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately I can't shorten the island bench because microwave and dishwasher recess is already inbuilt.

What is the retail price for Freestyle Laminax? What will I be looking at (price wise) if I were to upgrade from included Freestyle Laminex to Essa Stone? And what's the RRP of Quantum Quartz?

Does all Reconstituted Stone (Quantum Quartz, Essa Stone, CaesarStone) come in 3000mm length pieces?

Thanks again for your help.


All reconstituted stones are about 3m long. There is now radianz by samsung which is 3.1m X 1.5m
Quantum Quartz is about $560 per slab STD Range.

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ Nov 24, 2011 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Leni_82 Leni_82
AubinGroveFan AubinGroveFan
Leni_82 Leni_82
I'd definitely use Caesar stone or even look into Quantum Quartz. I'd also minimise my bench to 3 metres. Well it's actually 3060 give or take a few mm.

Standard range Essa Stone rrp is over $1000 (unless you've gotten a good deal) how is this less expensive than Caesar Stone rrp STD Range $871.00


All reconstituted stones are about 3m long. There is now radianz by samsung which is 3.1m X 1.5m
Quantum Quartz is about $560 per slab STD Range.


Ok, so I see no one picked Freestyle Laminex in my poll.
Looks like Quantum Quartz is the cheapest compare to Essa Stone and CaesarStone but what about the quality; which one would be the best out of these three?
More people picked CaesarStone - is there a particular reason for it? Is it better quality than EssaStone or was it picked because of variety of colors it offers?

Author:  Leni_82 [ Nov 24, 2011 10:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Quantum Quartz and Caesar Stone are the same quality to be completely honest. They also both have a 10 year limited warranty. Like I tell my client who ask me that very question, they are just too competing brands. Caesar stone has the solid name through their advertising and etc so they can afford to be the price they are at. They have no desire to try to compete with QQ as the product sells regardless.
QQ is affordable, and in my opinion just as good as Caesar stone.

Author:  Leni_82 [ Nov 24, 2011 10:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

I chose CS over Essa because in my opinion Essa is over rated and over priced.

Author:  HappyCamper_au [ Nov 25, 2011 8:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

AGF I asked the stonemason the same question...'what would you have in your own house?'....he said the decision to have either CS or QQ would be made solely on colour. He also added that CS stamp the bottom side of their slabs with a serial number and manufacture date so you 'know' you are getting actual CS as some chinese stones are now being substituted by unscrupulous traders. QQ slabs aren't stamped, apparently.

I took photos of the undersurface of the CS to register the warranty, and have my own record of serial numbers, and once this is done they send a freebie cleaning pack. A nice little touch!!

If you are wanting to save a few $$$'s (and who doesn't) have you looked on eBay or GraysOnLine? Freight might be a killer for you if you can't find anything in the west.

Good luck with your choice, it's one I agonised over too but in the end I chose 30mm CS in Nougat, although the stone is more grey in the actual slabs than the samples, which were beige/taupe. I would chose the same stone again, just a different colour.

Author:  Leni_82 [ Nov 25, 2011 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

QUantum QUartz are now stamped.

I am (well my husband is) a stone mason and we have our own business and we are putting QQ White Swirl in. We were originally going to be putting in Calcutta marble but with three young children, not a good idea!!

Author:  HappyCamper_au [ Nov 25, 2011 9:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Thanks for the update Leni, it's good to know QQ is also stamped. Puts your mind at ease that you are getting what you pay for, doesn't it?

Author:  AubinGroveFan [ May 23, 2012 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

Our kitchen island bench is 3110mm long with 30mm overhang on each side (so 3170mm overall).
Width is 900mm, however at one end we have 250mm overhang (breakfast bar?).
I've heard that 20mm benchtop is not suitable for breakfast bar/overhang as it need extra support, is that correct? Therefore, we need to go with 30mm thickness stone bench?

BUT...
Unfortunate thing is that EssaStone doesn't come in 30mm (only 20mm) - so that one is out.
Quantum Quartz new jumbo slab range is perfect for our bench length wise (no joints), but only comes in 20mm.
CaesarStone comes in 30mm but have joint as the size is smaller than our bench. :(

Looks like the only thing that is left is Freestyle :(

What to do, have no idea...

Author:  grom40 [ May 23, 2012 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

I've got 20mm caesarstone with an overhang for a breakfast bar and no support; no worries there ::lol::

I had CS installed in my kitchen as that was what my builder offered; personally, I much prefer stone benchtops to laminate just because they are so tough. It's also nice to have the cool stone to put pastry etc directly onto. As others have said I think the choice largely comes down to what you like the look of and how you plan to use your benches.

With regards to the joins I wouldn't be worried at all. My bench has one join (as it's in an L shape) and you can barely even see it. Of course it may be more noticeable on an island bench (I have an island but it's not more than 3m long) but if you have a stonemason who knows what he's doing it shouldn't be a problem.

Hope that helps :)

Author:  Bagheera [ May 23, 2012 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Hard Decision

AubinGroveFan - you need to ask yourself if you are willing to compromise the quality and wearability of your benchtop for the fear of a joint.

I would go for CS with the joint - it comes in 30mm thickness, definitely better quality and depending on what colour you are after, the joint will be almost invisible. If unsure ask the supplier to show you some benchtops with joints to put your mind at ease.

Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC + 10 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/