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The New Entrant
May 20, 2024
There is a growing market for quartz sinks in India
Traditionally the domain of stainless steel, quartz is fast becoming an increasingly popular material for making kitchen sinks in the country. Apart from contributing to the aesthetics of the space, these also have great functional value. A spokesperson from Carysil remarked, “Though earlier stainless steel has been a favourite for sinks, a marked change has been seen in recent times. For one, India is growing very fast and is not short of lifestyle opportunities. People have higher disposable income and are spending more.”
Quartz is non-porous, making it resistant to stains. Easier to use and maintain, it can be cleaned with just soap and water. Photo Courtesy: Freepik
Neck to neck
Though granite is a close competitor, quartz has certain pluses in its favour, colour consistency being the main one. Quartz can be crafted in such a way that there is uniformity in appearance and hues. The manufacturer can ensure that it is the exact colour, texture and pattern the customer wants. Being a natural stone, granite does not offer the same option.
“While granite is a natural stone so colours cannot be created as per choice, quartz is artificially coloured, allowing a customised look. Though available in a wide range of colours, there is no consistency in granite.”
Quartz composite kitchen sinks are made by combining crushed stone with a resin filler. The proportion of the materials used is usually around 70-80% rock and 20 -30% resin. This produces a material the characteristics of which are close to those of the original stone. Today, sales of quartz sinks in the country stand at 2.5 to 3 lakh units per annum.
Quartz sinks are scratch-proof, and bacteria do not form easily. Photo Courtesy: Freepik
Some features
Being one of the toughest stones, quartz’s natural strength makes it very durable. Though both materials – quartz and granite- don’t chip easily, the former is considered stronger as it is more flexible. In addition to that, it is scratch-proof, and bacteria do not form easily. If not installed with care, granite is more liable to crack than quartz.
Quartz is non-porous, making it resistant to stains. Easier to use and maintain, it can be cleaned with just soap and water. Granite, on the other, has small ducts or channels within its grains, making it highly porous. Anything spilt can sink into these channels and permanently discolour the stone. This makes it a high-maintenance option, as it needs to be sealed from time to time. Though historically quartz has been more expensive than granite, technology has helped make it more cost-effective. Quartz sinks are available in various price bands, ranging from Rs 9000 to Rs 38,000.
Close-up of a quartz countertop, highlighting the color consistency of it. Photo Courtesy: Freepik
Flipside
One minus is that quartz can discolour over time when exposed to direct sunlight. So if the sink is in near large windows, using this stone may not be such a great idea. Manufacturing these sinks as per a customer’s order is rare and far between, as the cost of each cast is very high. “Customisation is a very expensive proposition, as the cast or mould used for the process is very expensive – between Rs 40 to Rs 50 lakh. However, it can be considered if the order is large.”
Promising future
Talking about the market for this product in the country, the spokesperson added, “As a market, India is a very safe bet, as there is no dearth of both money and aspiration here.” Cost, functionality and aesthetics – quartz seems to fit the bill for qualities needed for material to make a sink. To add to that, a burgeoning population with a changed mindset and higher disposable incomes – all these and more point to the fact that there is great potential for high-end or premium products like quartz sinks in India.
[The article was published in the October – December 2015 issue of Kitchen Ideas magazine.]
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