Jason Chuck Pure white in an quartz will show everything, there are better quartz brands and products out their, they just have a very good Marketing Machine. Any stain can be removed, and removed quickly. Caesarstone do not have a clue nor do they wish you to know what the issues are with stain removal as they wish you to think this this wonderful product. You only have to look at their video here..... which if you notice mentions and does show how to wipe off an IMAGINARY stain left overnight. Where our videos and products actually show how to do it Why also we put out a Care & Cleaning Essentials for Stone & Quartz as it is an very easy material to look after and does not have the staining issues of granite with oils etc. PS Luke Buckle Caesarstone is one brand of Quartz .... not a surface type itself. It would be like calling all granites - blue pearl

Thank you everyone for your comments. I have decided to go with a white stone, most likely Caesarstone Intense White, but will be visiting the various stone showrooms over the next week or so to look at other whites (in light of the comments about the starkness of the white options I posted). Looking at a crisp white with a little movement that doesn't clash with the floor and texture of oak panels. Thanks again! :)

The Marble Man - would like to share information for your consideration - Manmade, engineered stone is also known as agglomerate, manufactured stones or reconstituted stones. They are made from a combination of approximately 7% resins, cement, and coloured pigments and upwards of 93% natural stone chips such as quartz or marble. These materials are bound together to make a slab. Engineered stones are designed to emulate natural stones such as marble and granite and are an extremely popular alternative to natural stone in building today. Some of the engineered stone brands include Caesarstone, Essastone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Technistone, Smarstone and HanStone. These stones are similar in composition, varying only by a few percent in total quartz used. Their differences lie in the colours, patterns and applications offered. Some engineered stones are just made for benchtops whereas, others can be used for tiles. For you the home renovator, builder or owner the preference to choose engineered stone over natural stone is purely a personal one. Natural stone is attractive because of it’s unique inconsistencies in colour, texture and patterns. The Marble Man enjoys the qualities of all natural and manmade stone. When you view engineered stone for consideration for your home, you will see a more consistent colour and patterning in the stone. Take the time to view the full sheet of stone and consider the overall look and effect of the colour you choose for your interior. There are many reasons why engineered stones are being chosen over natural stone: Engineered stones are durable, scratch, stain and heat resistant * They come in a variety of colours and patterns Natural marble is susceptible to etching and staining, however a marble look can be created with the etch and stain resistant properties of granite, making it a good choice for high stress areas such as kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities The quartz used in the engineered stones is a similar hardness to granite and rates a 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness It is easy to clean and will require less long-term maintenance like granite if cared for according to manufacturers instructions. Please be sure to speak with the sales team about your uses of the benchtop, stone, surface and address how you plan to use the surface before finalising your choice. Manmade, reconstituted stone is only ‘resistant’ to scratching, staining and heat and therefore hot pots must not be left on for extended periods, cutting boards should still be used under hot pots, pans or dishes. Spills must be cleaned up immediately as in the case of any natural stone to prevent stains. It comes with a manufacturers seal therefore additional sealing is not usually necessary. * In our experience engineered stone kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities do chip and scorch, however we have developed processes to repair even large chips making them virtually undetectable, and to restore the factory finish to surfaces damaged by heat. Enjoy your home, enjoy the stone you choose for the benchtops in your home. The Marble Man is happy to assist with stone information, repairs, polishing and sealing all stone surfaces. We service Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Northern NSW, Sydney and Canberra for all stone repairs, polishing and sealing Stone surfaces - simply call 1300 627 626. Learn more on The Marble Man website - www.themarbleman.com.au

Gloss finished laminate benchtops do wear and scratch faster than matt benchtops. Most manufacturers do not recommend that you use gloss laminate for horizontal surfaces for this reason. Laminex Industries have a range called "Diamond Gloss" which has a limited range of colours and patterns that they claim are suitable for horizontal surfaces. http://www.laminex.com.au/uploads/brochures/Laminex%20Diamond%20Gloss%20Brochure.pdf They look good in the photos, but they still feel like a laminate to the touch, and they don't fool anybody due to the dark edging. If your budget limits you to a laminate benchtop it is better to go with a solid colour in a matt, otherwise the imitation stone just looks fake and cheap. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls