With so many options available, deciding on a worktop can be a difficult decision during a kitchen renovation. Two options you’ve likely heard come up are Dekton and Silestone.

Like many, you may be asking yourself, ‘what’s the difference between the two and is one better than the other?’

Dekton and Silestone are the brand names of two different types of kitchen worktop material. They are also made by the same parent company Cosentino.

In this post, I’ll explain what each type of worktop is, its pros and cons and compare them to each other. Giving you all the knowledge you need to know if they are the right choice for you and your kitchen.

Let’s go!

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What Is Silestone?

Silestone is a surfacing material manufactured and sold by the Cosentino Group. It’s primarily used for kitchen worktops but it’s also suitable for floors, sinks, shower trays and cladding and is available in a variety of colours and styles.

Occasionally people refer to Silestone and quartz interchangeably, but in fact, Silestone is a manufactured product of 94% quartz bonded with resins and adhesives.

The combination makes for a durable, non-porous, low-maintenance surface. It resists scratching and doesn’t require sealing. For cleaning and maintenance, all you need to do is wipe it with a non-abrasive cloth.

While extremely sturdy and long-lasting, Silestone is not immune to damage.

It will withstand many shocks, but you still should take care not to drop heavy objects on it. It is not completely heat-proof and the surface can be harmed if hot pots and pans are set on it. There have been some reports of cloudy blotches over time, which may be caused by heat or abrasive cleansers.

Benefits Of Silestone

• Because Silestone is non-porous, it doesn’t absorb liquid and is resistant to stains.
• Can withstand impacts better than most other solid surfaces, even sturdy materials such as granite.
• It enhances the natural strength of quartz to prevent scratches.
• It resists acid due to the natural hardness and non-porosity of the modified quartz.
• Silestone is offered in a variety of colours and styles and will maintain its sturdy beauty for decades.

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What Is Dekton?

Dekton, also a Cosentino Group product, is a porcelain-based material used in kitchen worktops. It can also be used for flooring and cladding.

It’s manufactured from a blend of quartz, porcelain and glass. These materials are fused under extremely high pressure to create a surface that is durable and long-lasting and also unusually dense and compact.

Because of its compactness, Dekton can be delivered in a much thinner size than other kitchen worktops. It resists heat and UV rays and can be used outdoors as well as indoors. It is a low-maintenance material that requires no sealing. You just need to wipe it in day-to-day use.

Similarly to Silestone, it comes in an array of colours and patterns. However, the pattern is printed onto the surface rather than embedded throughout. If Dekton chips, which sometimes happens, it can be difficult to make an undetectable repair.

Benefits Of Dekton

• The low-porosity surface prevents stains.
• Dekton is highly scratch-resistant.
• It is UV resistant, and the colour will not fade even when the product is used outdoors.
• Dekton is heat and fire-resistant. You can set hot utensils on the surface and you can even torch a brûlée without fear of damage.
• It is difficult to scratch with a sliding pan or even with a knife.
• It is thinner than other materials, which provides greater design and installation flexibility.

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Dekton vs Silestone

Price

As you might expect for a product of such long-lasting beauty and durability, the price for both Silestone and Dekton is on the high side.

Prices vary for different thicknesses and different lines within each product. There is overlap between the two from the low cost to high, but Dekton tends to be a little more expensive on average.

Prices for both start at or just under £100 plus VAT per square meter. Professional installation is required and can be more costly than for other products.

Durability

Both products are renowned for their durability. They outperform competing materials in resistance to scratches and heavy impact. They are designed to last for decades. Both will maintain their colour and pattern as well as their functional capabilities.

Dekton has an edge in scratch resistance as they claim you can even cut directly on the Dekton surface, although I would still recommend using a cutting board. Dekton has the additional durability advantage of being heat-resistant, fireproof and UV resistant.

However, some reports contend Dekton is more subject to chipping than quartz worktops such as Silestone.

Finishes Available

Both Dekton and Silestone are offered in about 50 colours and patterns, with more choices being introduced all the time.

They are mostly variations of white, black and grey with plain colours, marble-look veining, pebbled and granulated patterns.

Slab Sizes Available

Both products are available in large slab sizes that minimize joins and support a clean, attractive installation.

Silestone has a standard size of 306 x 140 cm and a jumbo format of 325 x 159 cm.

Dekton comes in slabs as large as 320 x 144 cm.

Silestone slab thicknesses are 1.2, 2 and 3 cm.

Dekton is available in slightly thinner sections, starting as narrow as 0.8 cm but also going up to a thicker size of 3 cm.

Warranty

Both products offer a 25-year warranty from Cosentino.

This covers the manufactured product only and is invalidated if the product is improperly installed. Some installers will offer an installation warranty.

You must register the product within six months to put this warranty in force.

The warranties do not cover damage caused by abuse.

For Silestone, that would include dropping heavy objects, cutting the surface with a knife or placing hot cookware on the worktop.

The Dekton warranty does not cover chipping caused by bumping and scraping the edges.

Final Thoughts…

When it comes to Dekton vs Silestone, there isn’t a clear winner. Ultimately the choice will depend on your needs and taste.

If the price is the driving factor, then Silestone will likely be a better option for you. Although as I mentioned, there is some price overlap between the two.

If you need a kitchen worktop to be as tough as possible and withstand the times you forget to use a cutting board or trivet, then Dekton could be the answer.

However, if you’re still unsure about which worktop is best for your needs, I’d definitely recommend visiting a local kitchen showroom to look at and feel the difference. Since prices and colour options can vary slightly, you may be able to make a choice based on what you see.

While you can’t go wrong with either option, you may find that one fits your needs or style better.

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