Quartz panels - a complete guide: applications, installation and price

1. What quartz panels are and what they are made of

Quartz panels are a thin, flexible decorative cladding. They are made of quartz aggregate bound with acrylic resin, and on the back they are usually reinforced with a glass veil that gives them dimensional stability. The visual effect is natural stone - granite, sandstone, slate - in a thin, light form.

The most important features that make a difference when buying: a thickness of about 3 mm, low weight (about 3-4 kg/m²) and flexibility. Thanks to this, a panel is glued straight onto the wall or onto the reinforced layer of insulation, without anchors and heavy frames, and it is cut with an ordinary knife. That is the basic difference from heavy stone claddings.

2. Quartz panel vs sintered stone - don't confuse them

3. Where to use quartz panels

Quartz panels are versatile - they work indoors and outdoors:

• On facades: whole elevations, plinths, entrance zones, surfaces between windows.
• Indoors: feature walls, TV walls, corridors, fireplaces, around water features.
• On insulation (ETICS): thanks to their low weight they glue onto the reinforced layer without extra fixing - the Guardi cladding also exists as a component of a certified insulation system.

For real projects and ideas on colour combinations, see the quartz panel inspirations for facades, and you will find user and designer opinions in the article what are the opinions about quartz panels.

4. Durability: frost, water, UV, fire - what the KOT says

Here it is worth looking at the documents rather than at slogans from leaflets. The values below come from the national technical assessment of the Guardi cladding (ICiMB-KOT-2022/0162):

In short: non-combustibility confirmed by class A2, low water absorption and frost resistance are the reasons quartz panels work calmly on a facade in a harsh climate. UV resistance protects the colour; additionally, on heavily sunlit facades you can apply a UV varnish (more in the section on the system).

5. System and installation - what the kit contains

The panel is not everything - you are buying a system. For Guardi the kit is: panels + a tinted primer matched to the panel colour (it also colours the grout) + a clear gel adhesive + an optional UV facade varnish.

The simplest option is to buy the whole system in one package - we offer a ready-made kit for 24 m²: 60 panels, 12 kg of tinted primer and 20 kg of gel adhesive in matched proportions, with an optional UV varnish and a choice of 10 colours.

Installation is simple and feasible on your own. On a prepared, even substrate you apply the tinted primer - once the panels are laid out, it acts as the visible grout and improves adhesion. Then you apply a thin layer of adhesive and press the panel firmly with a pressure roller, wiping off excess adhesive with a damp sponge as you go. Panels are cut with a knife. The tools you need include a notched trowel, a pressure roller, spacer crosses, a sponge and a spatula.

6. How much they cost - price per m² and system cost

Approximately (as of 2024-2026): the panel alone is about EUR 42/m² (Guardi) to about EUR 48-56/m² (Greinplast). A complete system - the panel plus a tinted primer, adhesive and an optional UV varnish - comes to approximately from EUR 50/m². Auxiliary materials are about 10-15% of the panel value.

The most optimal option is the ready 24 m² kit - about EUR 45.50/m² (EUR 46.75/m² with UV varnish), with free transport; at this quantity the material is used without costly leftovers.

Prices change and are often lower during promotions - you can check the current Guardi price in the carousel above. Full quotes for specific areas (plinth, wall, whole facade) are in the article Quartz panel price: 7 practical valuations.

7. Guardi or another manufacturer - how to choose

On the market two systems are actually weighed against each other: Guardi and Greinplast. On the panel itself the differences are small; the system and the documents decide. Guardi offers a UV varnish and its own cladding KOT with a non-combustibility class of A2-s1, d0; Greinplast does not offer a varnish, and its panel is certified as a component of an insulation system. The price of both is similar, with Guardi usually a little cheaper per m².

A full, tabular comparison of both brands - with prices, documents and fire class - is in the article Comparison of quartz panels from different manufacturers. There I also explain how to tell a real manufacturer (own KOT and production) from a seller who only poses as one.

8. Colours, charts and samples

Colour and texture look completely different in a photo than on the wall, and different in daylight than in the evening. So, before you order the whole area, take a sample with real panel pieces and assess it at home. With us you order the sample like a normal product, and after viewing it you can send it back within 30 days - we refund the cost, you only pay for shipping. How it works step by step is described in the article where to get samples and swatches of quartz panels.

9. Pros and cons from a distributor's view

Since we sell them, it is easy to write only praise - so, to be honest, both sides:

Advantages: light and thin (installation without frames, also on insulation), non-combustible (class A2 with Guardi), resistant to frost, water and UV, simple installation feasible on your own, a real natural-stone effect at a fraction of its weight and price.

Disadvantages and limits: it is a higher-end product (a "budget" plinth you would do differently); it needs an even substrate and careful layout; you have to watch the colour batches; at too high a pressure a washer can damage the panel. These are not disqualifying flaws - just things worth knowing before buying.

10. Where to start

The shortest route to a good decision: (1) choose the spot and measure the area, (2) order a sample and assess the colour at home, (3) decide on the system (with us - Guardi) and add the primer, adhesive and possibly a UV varnish. If you like, we will calculate the second and third step for you - just send us the area of your walls or describe what you are doing, and you will get the cost of the complete Guardi system for your project, with no obligation.