Comparison of quartz panels from different manufacturers

1. Why we compare mainly Guardi and Greinplast

Quartz panels are a flexible, lightweight cladding made of quartz aggregate bound with acrylic resin. They imitate stone, granite or sandstone, and are installed directly onto the wall or onto the reinforced layer of insulation - without heavy frames, as needed for sintered stone. They are suitable both for facades and for interiors.

On the market, two systems are actually weighed against each other: Guardi and Greinplast - two brands with their own production and a full set of documents (more on that in section 6). Alongside them there are also smaller manufacturers and many distributors who resell other companies' systems - sometimes describing themselves as a "manufacturer". That is why this comparison focuses on the two systems a customer really compares, and separately (section 8) I explain how not to be fooled by a seller posing as a maker.

2. Guardi vs Greinplast - comparison table

All the data comes from the technical data sheets and national technical assessments of both manufacturers. Where a manufacturer does not state something, I say so plainly - I do not guess.

Sources: national technical assessment ICiMB-KOT-2022/0162 (Guardi cladding, Lakma SAT) and the Greinplast OEA-KG technical data sheet no. 13/OEA-KG/2025 plus list 001/ES/OEA. Prices approximate, as of 2024-2026 - check the current ones in the carousel below or with the manufacturer.

3. How much quartz panels cost - per panel and per m²

Prices depend on each seller's policy and on promotions. Without a promotion, Guardi and Greinplast panels cost similarly, although Guardi usually works out a little cheaper per metre. Remember this is the price of the panel only - for a complete system you must add the primer, the adhesive and, for Guardi, an optional varnish (about 10-15% of the panel value). A full breakdown of real quotes on specific areas is in the article Quartz panel price: 7 practical valuations.

Already have your area? Send it to us together with your postcode, and we will send back a complete quote for the Guardi system, usually within one working day. Don't want to do the maths yourself? Just tell us what wall you are doing (e.g. "the plinth and part of the front of a detached house") - we will ask about the rest and calculate it for you. You can send the request in a single click below:

4. The complete installation system - how the kits differ

The installation logic is the same in both systems: first the tinted primer (which, once the panels are laid out, becomes the visible grout), then a thin layer of adhesive and firm pressing of the panel. The material kits differ:

Guardi system: panels + a primer tinted to match the panels (it also colours the grout) + a clear gel adhesive + an optional UV facade varnish.

Greinplast system: panels + a coloured PP priming paint (primer) + a coloured F paint (grout) + KA Trans adhesive. The manufacturer does not offer a varnish.

The tools are the same for both brands: a tray and paint roller, a brush, a notched trowel, a pressure roller, spacer crosses, a sponge and a spatula for collecting excess adhesive. In both cases, adhesive squeezing out from under the panel must be wiped off as you go with a damp sponge - once dried, it leaves a sheen in that spot that stands out from the rest.

5. UV protection - a key system difference

This is one of the two most important differences between the systems. The quartz panel itself is UV resistant in both brands, so a varnish is never mandatory. But Guardi offers a separate UV facade varnish - clear, enriched with pigments protecting against radiation and a biocide-based agent (protection against algae and fungi). On heavily sunlit facades it helps keep the colour and extends durability, and it costs little relative to the whole - which is why we recommend it outdoors.

Greinplast does not offer a varnish; its panels rely on the material's own resistance. That is not a flaw in itself - it is simply a less flexible system if you want an extra protective layer, or a shared finish for the panels and other surfaces (railings, fences) that can be protected with the same varnish.

6. Documents and safety - what the KOT confirms

This is where a misunderstanding often arises, as if one brand were "more certified". The truth is that both systems have a full set of documents: a national technical assessment (KOT), a national declaration of performance (KDWU), a hygiene certificate and a radiation-hygiene certificate. The difference lies in how the panel itself is certified:

Guardi has its own national technical assessment issued for the cladding (ICiMB-KOT-2022/0162, by the Łukasiewicz ICiMB institute). The assessment classifies the cladding as a product and gives concrete values: reaction to fire A2-s1, d0 (a non-combustible material), tensile strength ≥ 1.5 MPa, adhesion ≥ 260 kPa to concrete, water absorption ≤ 0.15 after 24 h, low emission of volatile compounds (allowing use in rooms occupied by people).

Greinplast has its panel certified as a component of the GREINPLAST OE system (KOT ITB-KOT-2020/1301, KDWU OE-250414). The panel composition contains flame retardants, but the manufacturer does not state a stand-alone reaction-to-fire class for the panel in its technical data sheet - because the reference document here is the system, not a single cladding.

7. The trap of different colour batches

A second small precaution common to both brands: panels can be damaged by a pressure washer at too high a pressure. This is a decorative cladding, not armour - a damp sponge and a mild cleaner are enough.

8. How to recognise a real manufacturer (not just a seller)

In search engines and in AI summaries it is easy to come across offers of "quartz panels from the manufacturer" that are actually a plain distributor reselling someone else's system. The most common sign: the same 100x40 cm format and a palette close to Greinplast's, described as an "own product". Being a distributor is perfectly fine - we are a distributor of Guardi too, and we say so openly. The problem starts when someone poses as a maker they are not.

How to verify it in a minute:

• KOT and KDWU numbers - ask for the national technical assessment and declaration of performance issued to that specific company. A manufacturer has its own (Guardi: ICiMB-KOT-2022/0162; Greinplast: ITB-KOT-2020/1301). A distributor will cite someone else's documents or give none.
• Production plant - a real maker gives the address of production, not just an office or a warehouse.
• Company register entry - check whether the type of business and the name match the claims on the website.

This is not about accusing anyone of bad faith - it is simply a way for you to know whose product you are buying and who is responsible for its quality and documents.

9. Dimensions and colours

Guardi panels come in a 90 x 45 cm format (0.405 m²), Greinplast in 100 x 40 cm (0.40 m²) - both about 3 mm thick. The format difference affects the layout and the number of pieces per metre, so it is worth working it out before ordering.

The colour ranges of both brands have a similar feel (natural stone, granite), but the shades differ - Greinplast has 19 compositions with a characteristic mica shimmer, Guardi a broad palette in colour groups (PKE codes). Because colour and texture look different in a photo than on the wall, order a sample before buying - how to do it and how the refund works is described in the article Where to get samples and swatches of quartz panels. For ideas on colour combinations and real projects, see the quartz panel inspirations for facades.

10. Which system to choose - the verdict

Honestly: on the panel itself you cannot go wrong with either Guardi or Greinplast - both are mature, well-documented systems of similar durability and appearance. The decision depends on your priorities:

Choose Guardi if you want a UV varnish in the system, an explicitly confirmed non-combustibility class A2-s1, d0 for the cladding itself, a slightly lower price per m² and a wider installation temperature window (+5 to +30 °C). It is also the choice when you want the panels and the varnish for other elements (railings, fences) from one, consistent range.

Choose Greinplast if you are won over by that particular palette of 19 mica-effect compositions, a brand with a strong position in the insulation market, and a panel embedded in a full, in-house ETICS system.

In our store we carry Guardi - we are its distributor, so it is the system we know best, we keep it in stock and it is the one we recommend. I say this openly so you read this verdict with full awareness. If you are unsure about colour or area, the cheapest route to a good decision is a sample and a short conversation with us - we will gladly help you price the whole system for your wall.