CRL Quartz Review: Materials, Design, Prices and Comparison

CRL QUARTZ REVIEW

CRL Quartz review: One of the most trusted brands in the industry

It is the abbreviation for CR Lawrence, the leading company supplying stone tools and equipment for the construction industry across five continents. Its foundations date back over a century. You can see their products in well-known institutions’ spaces, including cultural centres, shopping malls, hotels, and other significant establishments on five continents.

As the popularity of stone in interior and exterior design grows, professionals in the industry are demanding innovative and practical products for their projects. With this in mind, CRL created CRL Stone, a company dedicated to supplying and distributing quartz and ceramic surfaces.

IN THIS REVIEW

• 1-How CRL Quartz is Made
• 2-Material Attributes and Performance
• 3-Manufacturer’s Warranty
• 4-CRL Designs: Collections and Colours
• 5-CRL Quartz Prices
• 6-Comparisons between CRL Quartz, Silestone and Caesarstone
• 7-Daily Care and Maintenance Guideline
• Conclusion

CRL Stone and its offerings

Besides offering quartz worktop materials and ceramic work surfaces, CRL Stone boasts an extensive catalogue of tools for stonemasons. In addition, most stone worktop companies across the UK widely use some of its tools and accessories, such as Akemi adhesives, CNC tooling and fillers.

Consequently, in 2008, CRL purchased Ebor in the UK, which enabled it to become the country’s exclusive distributor of Caesarstone quartz. After thirty years of success and growth, the company created stone products to satisfy the growing demand in the stone worktop space.

One of the best qualities of the CRL brand is that the company behind it continually works towards understanding its customers to provide bespoke solutions.

With over two decades of experience in the industry, CRL Quartz is an innovative range of quartz worktop products that aim to meet the needs of professionals for residential and commercial surface applications.

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How is CRL Quartz manufactured?

CRL Quartz contains 93% quartz crystals bonded with resins, providing hardness and different finishes. In addition, the products offer practicality and versatility for everyday use. The manufacturing process of these stones mimics the Earth’s formation process in which high heat and pressure create resilient natural stones like granite.

CRL Quartz review. Consequently, in the case of quartz stone, the process involves placing the mix of crushed quartz crystals and additives into a tray and ‘baking’ it through a tunnel-like industrial oven. Once the mixture comes out the other side in a solid state, it’s ‘Vibro-compressed’, resulting in a non-porous stone.

Vibro-compression is a technology used by Bretonstone (the leading technology for producing non-porous quartz slabs). This technology takes away any air within the stone slab whilst applying pressure and vibrating the mix of raw materials.

Once the slabs are excellent, the company applies the finish in varied ways, achieving different looks and finishes, such as polished, honed, soft-touch, bush-hammered and more. Thereupon, this satisfies the diverse demands of architects and interior designers across the globe.

CRL Quartz is environmentally friendly.

Because all CRL quartz products have a high content of natural quartz, mainly sourced from waste stone from factories and quarries, the environmental impact is minimal. Similarly, the additives on the slabs are chemically inactive, resulting in materials that cannot cause allergic reactions.

Combining these processes results in a composite stone with unmatched characteristics in nature. Moreover, it is a superior performance product compared to natural granite or marble.

Worktop Material with Virtually zero maintenance.

One of the reasons why CRL Quartz has quickly become the third most popular stone brand in the United Kingdom is the benefits it can bring to any home. Once you know them, you’ll be surprised too.

Here are some attributes that give you convenience when it comes to your kitchen and food preparation:

• Hygiene: you can place foods on their surfaces without worrying about mould or bacteria due to their lack of porosity. In addition, non-porosity means germ-free, as no microorganisms can enter the surface.
• Impact-resistant: quartz is the third most robust mineral in nature. To demonstrate, according to Moh’s scale, only diamond and Ruby surpass the strength of quartz. As a result, accidental impacts and knocks won’t damage your CRL Quartz worktops. Even if your worktops get the off impact and chips, you can repair them by adding coloured-matched resin to the damaged area.

• Heat-resistant: Firstly, high-quality engineered quartz can withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees Celsius. This is more than enough heat resistance for everyday tasks in any kitchen, such as cooking, baking, etc. Second, any CRL quartz colour provides peace of mind for accidents as the surfaces don’t give off smoke nor have any toxic substances on them. Third, engineered quartz worktops are fire-resistant and don’t burn even when accidents occur.
• Maintenance-free: you don’t need any particular cleaning products to maintain your CRL quartz worktop surface. The surface is highly stain-resistant. And can remove marks and stains by using warm, soapy water. Additionally, you can use CIF Cream on polished surfaces and Astonish Barkeepers’ Friend on Honed finished worktops for persistent stains.

The CRL Quartz Warranty

CRL Quartz review: The brand offers a 25-year warranty on all its products. Therefore, you can enjoy your new kitchen worktops without worrying about faults and defects.

Similarly, if you encounter any issues with your worktop surface, CRL makes solving them simple. Next, complete the CRL Quartz warranty form within thirty days of your worktop installation. The simple form format from the company will ask you to complete details.

These may include the batch number of your slabs (you can ask your worktop supplier for it), the name of your supplier, the installation date and the address details of your property in case an inspection is required.

CRL Quartz Colours

As of 2024, CRL Quartz boasts fifty designs from five Collections, available in 20mm and 30mm thicknesses and different colours and finishes. These are more than enough options for any design you want for your kitchen.

The colours that compose the five CRL Quartz Surfaces Collection are as follows:

Renaissance Collection: This is composed of classic marble designs that have renewed interest over time.

In contrast with natural stone, the CRL Renaissance Collection colours don’t require sealants to protect their surface.

The Marble Collection: The Collection is inspired by some classic Italian Stones.

CRL Quartz review: Despite having a marble look, these products differ from natural marble because they don’t require any sealants or additional coatings to protect their surface. It is the ultimate product offering a versatile design solution.

The White Collection: The CRL White Collection of quartz stones offers seven designs, covering every shade of white in the spectrum.

You won’t be short of options when you try to match your worktops to other objects and furniture in the room.

The Natural Collection: Four designs make up this collection. They inspire warm hues and textures from limestones that we see in nature.

CRL Quartz review: the colours with a polished finish bring natural comfort to any space. And you can combine them with minimalistic elements that may need warmth and cosiness. In addition, they provide you with sturdy surfaces for demanding activities that take place in your kitchen.

The Rock Collection: Nine designs make up the CRL Rock Collection.

They are inspired by various natural stones such as granite, terrazzo, concrete, and marble.

It results in various versatile stone products to help you raise your kitchen and bathroom aesthetics, regardless of their styles.

CRL Quartz Prices

CRL Stone structures its beautiful engineered quartz surfaces for its quartz prices in nine CRL Quartz Price Groups on a price-per-square-metre basis. In this case, we will outline the costs of the 20 mm thick options.

There are two designs within the price group: CRL Quartz Reflection and CRL Grey Reflection.

A surface covering up to 5.12 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, costs £355 per square metre in 20 mm thickness. Conversely, the same quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £369 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 2 Colours

There are three designs within the price group: CRL Polar White, CRL Windsor Grey, and CRL Urban Grey.

For example, a surface covering up to 5.12 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, costs £355 per square metre. Conversely, the same quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £369.

CRL Quartz Price Group 3 Colours

There are seven designs within the price group: CRL Verona, Carrara, Clear White, Kalahari, Mystic Grey, Ice, and CRL Quartz Chalk.

A surface covering up to 5.12 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £379 per square metre in 2 cm thickness. Conversely, the same quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £389 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 4 Colours

This price group is a bit of a mix, comprising slabs in different sizes at slightly varied prices.

There are nine designs within the price group: CRL Messina Quartz, Staccato, Pacific Grrey, Grey Mist, Calacatta, Calacatta Dorado, Pearl Grey Firenze, and Milano.

Worktops that use single slabs and include the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop start at £399 per m2 in 2cm thickness and £471 in 3cm per metre square.

CRL Quartz Price Group 5 Colours

CRL Quartz review: five designs within the price group five in these mid-range price materials from the brand.

The colours are CRL Palermo Quartz, Sahara, White Carrara, Monte Banco, and Montana Gris.

For example, a surface covering up to 5.44 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £439 per square metre in 2 cm thickness. Conversely, the same Price Group 5 quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £479 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 6 Colours

The following designs are within the price group six: CRL Lugano, Savannah, Venetian Grande, Atlantic Gris, and Lava Black.

So, for example, a surface covering up to 5.44 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £459 per square metre in 2 cm thickness, including VAT. Conversely, the same Price Group 6 quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £519 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 7 Colours

There are six designs within the price group seven: CRL River White, CRL Colorado, CRL White Water, CRL Venetian Arte, CRL Siena Honed, and CRL Lugano.

For example, a surface covering up to 5.44 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £475 per square metre in 20 mm thickness. Conversely, the same Price Group 7 quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £539 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 8 Colours

There are two designs within price group eight: CRL River White, Statuario Verde, Siena Honed and CRL Vicenza Quartz.

A worktop area covering up to 5.44 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £499 per square metre in 2 cm thickness. Conversely, the same Price Group 8 quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £689 per m2.

CRL Quartz Price Group 9 Colours

There are seven designs within price group nine: CRL Statuario Bianco, CRL Antonella, White Water, Mercurio, Luna Bianco, Stellar Gris and Colorado.

A kitchen worktop surface covering up to 5.44 square meters, including the template, supply, and installation of your kitchen worktop, retails at £610 per square metre in 20 mm thickness, including VAT. Conversely, the same Price Group 9 quartz colours in 30 mm thickness cost £579 per m2.

New CRL Quartz Colours and Prices 2024

CRL Stone launched Super-Mega-Jumbo Quartz slabs measuring 347 x 201 cm at the end of last year and offers quartzite-inspired patterns for expansive surfaces such as bar countertops, islands and seamless breakfast bars.

The new colours replicate natural Cristallo quartzite: Cristallo Verde, Azure, Cristallo Gris, and CRL Quartz Cristallo Platino.

The latest Cristallo quartz designs are available for £596 per m2 in 20mm thickness and £716 per m2 in 30mm. While the initial cost may seem relatively high, you’ll soon discover that opting for these quartz colours can be a cost-effective choice. In many cases, acquiring a single larger slab can replace the need for two smaller slabs, making it a practical budget-saving solution for your project.

CRL Quartz: A Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Not only will you find that CRL offers a wide range of colours and thicknesses for your kitchen, but they also have a unique selling proposition compared to other brands. Do you know what it is? Read on to learn more.

We already mentioned that CRL Quartz has quickly become one of the preferred brands in the United Kingdom marketplace. Therefore, we will compare it with two other leading brands of quartz. Namely Silestone and Caesarstone. But what differentiates CRL from the leading quartz companies mentioned? Its versatility. And by versatility, we mean a wide array of slabs sizes.

Choosing from different slab sizes enables you to minimize waste on your project, translating into cost savings. For example, if you have a small kitchen, buying an extra-large slab of quartz increases the project’s overall cost.

It happens because quartz is a little bit like paint in that it comes in different batches. Therefore, you cannot combine slabs from two different batches as there may be a noticeable difference in tone or pattern. As a result, fabricators cannot keep offcuts as they cannot use them to complete other people’s worktops.

CRL Surfaces vs Silestone and Caesarstone

Coming back to the two leading quartz companies, Silestone and Caesarstone. Both brands provide two slab sizes: a standard and a jumbo slab. Silestone’s standard size is 3040x1380mm, while the jumbo size is 3250x1590mm. Similarly, Caesarstone’s standard slab is 3040x1440mm, and the jumbo slab measures 3240x1640mm.

But when you browse the CRL Quartz colours, you will find three different slab sizes from which you can choose. A standard slab size of 3050x1400mm is perfect for small spaces.

Moreover, a jumbo slab measuring 3200x1600mm provides sufficient material for a standard worktop and a kitchen island. Additionally, there’s the option to select a CRL extra-large format slab with dimensions of 3300x1650mm.

Locating a surface that necessitates a joint of such dimensions will pose a challenge. Yet, with a singular Giant CRL Quartz slab, you could acquire ample material to furnish both your kitchen worktops and the bathroom vanity top, leading to significant cost savings. CRL is preferred by numerous interior designers and architects engaged in varying-scale projects.

CRL Quartz Maintenance

If you wonder how to maintain your quartz worktops, the answer is simple: you don’t.

Daily maintenance requires wiping it with soapy water and a kitchen cloth. While earlier, we noted no need for sealants with this engineered stone, honed finish CRL designs may display finger marks or grease more noticeably than polished ones. Consequently, cleaning honed quartz worktops might require more thorough attention.

Regarding high heat, the stone can endure up to 150°C, but it’s advisable to avoid prolonged exposure to hot items. Sizzling skillets or trivets are recommended to safeguard the surfaces from potential damage.

Stains pose little concern for your CRL Quartz worktops due to their non-porous nature. However, if stubborn or sticky stains from food occur, a thin blade can effectively scrape them away without causing scratches. It’s crucial to remember that your quartz worktops result from a robust stone known to man, ensuring their scratch-resistant quality.
Regarding UV rays, while engineered quartz delivers optimal performance in any interior application, it is not designed for external use. Opting for materials like porcelain or ceramic worktops is advisable for garden or patio projects.

Conclusion

In just six years, CRL Quartz has emerged as a leading material for kitchens in London and the South of England. The brand’s success is attributed to its luxurious aesthetics, high-quality quartz products, and top-notch after-sales service. Remarkably, CRL Quartz stands out as the only quartz brand that provides three distinct slab sizes, catering to diverse needs and budgets for every home.

Author:

Alan Nussbaum

Meet Alan Nussbaum, our Sales and Marketing Manager. With almost two decades of experience, Alan’s impressive track record includes creating one of the first online stone companies in 2012 and pioneering the acceptance of cryptocurrencies in construction in 2018 before co-founding The Worktop Library with Maria.
Alan’s work is featured in numerous Stone and Home Decor magazines. In addition, he collaborates with the industry’s leading stone brands, cementing his reputation as an innovator.
Before starting a thriving career in the stone industry, Alan honed his skills by overseeing luxury fashion brands such as Burberry, Matches Fashion, and Patrick Cox. With his unique blend of experience and expertise, Alan is a true trailblazer in the stone worktop industry. His passion for delivering exceptional service is evident in every aspect of his work.