Quarzkomposit

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DIRESCO Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm

DIRESCO® Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm is a Belgian BIO-UV engineered quartz from Diresco Stone NV (Opglabbeek, Limburg) from the Belgian Collection, with a calm, elegant concrete and engineered-stone appearance in a medium to dark grey anthracite tone. The slab shows a calm medium grey material tone with subtle lighter mineral points and a fine, sandy, sugar-like quartz granulate structure – stylistically an allusion to pigmented fair-faced concrete or to a calm grey engineered stone. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Belgian Storm into kitchen worktops, islands, outdoor kitchens, wall claddings, bathroom fit-outs, window sills, pool surrounds and façade elements with a calm, elegant material effect that can be used continuously between inside and outside.

BIO-UV engineered quartz (engineered quartz with a partly bio-based, UV-stable resin) from the Belgian company Diresco Stone NV (Opglabbeek, Limburg) – product code BU012, Belgian Collection. Composition roughly 93 % natural quartz granulate + 7 % BIO-UV resin and pigment. The BIO-UV resin matrix distinguishes the BU selection from classic polyester engineered quartz by its UV stability (no yellowing under solar radiation) and is therefore also approved for external applications such as outdoor kitchens, pool surrounds and façades. Important: like all engineered quartz with a polyester component, it is only heat-resistant to a limited degree (approx. 160 °C) – hot pans cannot be set down directly, and trivets are required.

Quarzkomposit Belgium

Available as: Slabs

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About DIRESCO Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm

Background. Diresco Stone NV is a Belgian family business, founded in 1989 in Opglabbeek (province of Limburg, Belgium) and one of the European pioneers of engineered quartz production. Diresco has made a particular name for itself with the development of BIO-UV technology: engineered quartz with a partly bio-based resin matrix and UV-stable pigment systems which, unlike classic polyester engineered quartz, also remain colour-stable outdoors. The “Belgian Collection” within the Diresco programme quotes classic Belgian architectural tonalities – with the selections Belgian Earth (warm earth-coloured, BU015), Belgian Storm (medium anthracite grey, BU012) and further tonal variants in the BU family.

Material composition and manufacture. Belgian Storm consists of roughly 93 % natural quartz granulate (sieved by grain size) and roughly 7 % BIO-UV resin with incorporated pigments. The mixture is pressed into slabs in the Bretonstone® process (vacuum vibro-compaction under vacuum) and then cured. The BIO-UV resin matrix differs from classic polyester resin in two properties: a higher proportion of partly bio-based raw materials (reduced CO₂ footprint) and UV stabilisation (no yellowing or fading under solar radiation). Belgian Storm is therefore – in contrast to classic engineered quartz slabs – also approved for external applications such as outdoor kitchens, external floor coverings, pool surrounds and façades.

Appearance. The base tone is a calm medium to dark grey anthracite material grey with subtle cool undertones. Very fine-grained quartz granulate speckles with subtle lighter mineral points are evenly distributed across the surface – the grains show as minimally lighter sand speckles on an anthracite-grey ground. From a medium distance the surface appears calm and almost monochrome medium anthracite; close up you discover the fine, sandy, sugar-like granulate structure. The selection shows no veining, no fluid sweeps and no marble references – it lives from the clear, technically precise, evenly granular impression of a pigmented fair-faced concrete or engineered stone tone. Stylistically Belgian Storm alludes to the calm, concrete-architectural tonality of Belgian Modernismo architecture and to modern pigmented engineered surfaces.

Slab format and thicknesses. Diresco supplies Belgian Storm in the standard format 318 × 155 cm (jumbo) in thicknesses of 12, 20 and 30 mm. The 12 mm slab is particularly suitable for wall claddings, bathroom fit-outs and bonded applications, the 20 mm slab is standard for kitchen worktops, and the 30 mm slab for particularly heavily loaded applications or for an appearance with a greater slab thickness.

Technical properties. Belgian Storm is non-porous (sealed Bretonstone surface), scratch-resistant (thanks to the high quartz content), cut-resistant, with high compressive and flexural strength, and UV-stable thanks to the BIO-UV resin matrix. Heat resistance: dry surface up to approx. 160 °C – hot pans should nevertheless not be set down directly, because thermal stresses can cause stress cracks. Frost resistance is given by the non-porous structure. The surface is acid-resistant to weak household acids (vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato) – highly concentrated acids or alkaline industrial cleaners can locally dissolve the resin matrix.

Warranty. Diresco grants a 10-year factory warranty on Belgian Storm, for both commercial and private applications.

The ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we fabricate kitchen worktops, islands, bar counters, buffet and furniture tops, wall claddings, bathroom fit-outs (washbasin tops, wall and floor applications, showers with proper waterproofing), window sills, skirtings, internal and external floors, outdoor kitchens, pool surrounds and façade elements.

Comparison. Within the Diresco Belgian Collection, Belgian Storm positions itself as the calm medium anthracite tonal variant. Related Belgian selections are Belgian Earth (BU015, warm earth-coloured), Belgian Storm (BU012, medium anthracite) and further Beach lines (BU041 Nature Beige, AU300 Beach Iceberg). Compared with classic polyester engineered quartz such as Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces or Silestone, Belgian Storm is suitable for external use thanks to the BIO-UV resin matrix – that is the essential technical differentiator. Compared with porcelain (Laminam Fokos Piombo, CTX BasicKeramik, Caesarstone Lioli), Belgian Storm remains an engineered quartz with the polyester-typical heat restriction (160 °C) and is not quite as scratch- and acid-resistant as fully mineral, through-sintered slabs. Within the medium anthracite concrete-look tonal values, Laminam Fokos is a somewhat more dramatically cloudy porcelain representative.

An honest assessment. Belgian Storm is the ideal choice for any application calling for a calm, elegant medium anthracite material effect and a seamless transition between internal and external use. The selection works particularly strongly as a calm kitchen worktop and island in modern kitchen concepts, as an outdoor kitchen worktop (something classic polyester engineered quartz cannot do), as a wall cladding in bathroom fit-outs and as a pool surround. Anyone looking for a warm earth-coloured tone should choose Belgian Earth (BU015); anyone needing absolute heat resistance for hot pans set down directly should switch to a porcelain; anyone wanting dramatic veining should switch to marble-quoting selections such as Caesarstone Lioli or to genuine natural stone.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

25 quartz composite slabs in stock · plus 7 blocks

Thicknesses: 1.2 & 2 cm · Finishes: Polished, velvet · Available as: Slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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Finishes

DIRESCO Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

A glossy surface with the highest possible degree of colour intensity — the standard finish in the engineered stone and engineered quartz segment. Easy to care for in everyday use and resistant to common household acids. A prestigious choice for kitchen worktops, wall claddings and exposed surfaces with a classic high-gloss character.

Velvet

The surface is brushed, much like a satin finish — softer minerals are removed and a subtle depth with a matte effect is created. The velvety soft feel is characteristic and design-led. Easy to maintain and suited to everyday use; an elegant choice for demanding kitchen and wall surfaces where a softly tactile appearance is wanted.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. For everyday care, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a pH-neutral to mildly alkaline cleaner are sufficient. Mild all-purpose cleaners, mild washing-up liquid foam and all commercially available sanitary and kitchen cleaners without highly concentrated acids or aggressive solvents are suitable. Wipe up spilled liquids promptly – the material is not porous, but on the medium anthracite surface dried drops with light pigment (limescale, water marks with a mineral content) remain visible.

Do not use. Highly concentrated acids (industrial glass cleaners, HF-based wheel cleaners, high-concentration acid descalers), strong solvents (acetone, methylene chloride, brush cleaner), aggressive alkaline industrial cleaners as well as abrasive pastes or scouring pads. These can locally dissolve the BIO-UV resin matrix or scour the polished surface matt.

Impregnation. Not required – the surface is sealed in the Bretonstone process and is not porous.

Kitchen. Robust and easy to care for in kitchen use: weak household acids such as vinegar, wine, lemon and tomato leave no marks, and all commercially available washing-up liquids and all-purpose cleaners are approved. Important: do NOT set hot pans down directly – the thermal load can cause stress cracks in the engineered quartz slab. Maximum short-term heat approx. 160 °C (dry surface); for safe operation we recommend consistently using trivets for hot pans, pots and baking trays.

Bathroom. Fully usable as a wall and floor surface, washbasin top and shower – with proper waterproofing. Anti-limescale sprays and all commercially available sanitary cleaners are approved. On the darker slab, limescale films remain clearly visible after drying – we recommend wiping dry promptly with a soft microfibre cloth after showering.

Outdoors and frost. Fully suitable (BIO-UV line). The slab is UV-stable, frost- and weather-resistant and can be used as a back-ventilated façade panel, external wall cladding, outdoor kitchen surface, pool surround and external floor covering – that is the essential technical advantage over classic polyester engineered quartz.

Medium tonal values – care notes. On a medium anthracite slab, wipe marks remain less visible than on very dark or very light slabs – a practically relevant advantage of this tonal class for heavily used kitchen worktops and entrance floors.

Scratches and repair. At around Mohs 7, engineered quartz is very scratch-resistant. Deeper mechanical damage cannot simply be polished out – repair is carried out by replacing the affected workpiece.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is DIRESCO® Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm?

A BIO-UV engineered quartz from the Belgian company Diresco Stone NV (Opglabbeek, Limburg) – an engineered quartz material made of roughly 93 % natural quartz granulate and 7 % BIO-UV resin with a partly bio-based raw material matrix and UV-stable pigments. The slab is non-porous, scratch-resistant and, thanks to the BIO-UV technology, colour-stable outdoors as well. Product code: BU012, Belgian Collection.

What distinguishes the Belgian Collection from classic engineered quartz?

Classic polyester engineered quartz (e.g. Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces, Silestone) is not UV-stable and yellows or fades under direct solar radiation outdoors. Diresco's Belgian Collection (BU code) uses the patented BIO-UV resin matrix with partly bio-based raw materials and UV stabilisers – this makes the slab colour-stable outdoors as well and approved for outdoor kitchens, external floor coverings, pool surrounds and façades.

What exactly does Belgian Storm look like?

A calm medium to dark grey anthracite material grey as the base tone, interspersed with evenly distributed, very fine-grained quartz granulate speckles with subtle lighter mineral points. From a medium distance the surface appears almost monochrome medium anthracite; close up you discover the fine, sandy, sugar-like granulate structure. Stylistically an allusion to pigmented fair-faced concrete or modern engineered stone.

Which slab formats and thicknesses does Diresco offer?

The standard format is 318 × 155 cm (jumbo) in thicknesses of 12, 20 and 30 mm. The 12 mm slab is particularly suitable for wall claddings and bathroom fit-outs, the 20 mm slab is standard for kitchen worktops, and the 30 mm slab for particularly heavily loaded applications or for an appearance with a greater slab thickness.

What warranty does Diresco grant?

A 10-year factory warranty for both commercial and private applications – an industry standard for premium engineered quartz.

May hot pans be set down directly on Belgian Storm?

No. Like all engineered quartz, Belgian Storm has a heat resistance limited by the polyester component – maximum short-term heat approx. 160 °C (dry surface). Hot pots, pans or baking trays can cause thermal stress cracks and should consistently be used with trivets. Anyone needing a completely heat-resistant surface (being able to set hot pans down directly) should switch to a porcelain such as Caesarstone Lioli, Laminam or CTX BasicKeramik.

Is Belgian Storm suitable for outdoor kitchens, façades and pool surrounds?

Yes, fully (this is the domain of the BIO-UV line). The slab is UV-stable, frost- and weather-resistant and can be used as a back-ventilated façade panel, external wall cladding, outdoor kitchen surface, pool surround and external floor covering – that is the essential technical advantage over classic polyester engineered quartz.

Belgian Storm or Belgian Earth?

Both are BIO-UV engineered quartz from the Diresco Belgian Collection with an identical technical profile. Belgian Storm (BU012, medium anthracite grey) is the cool dark grey tonal variant; Belgian Earth (BU015, warm earth-coloured) is the warm earth-coloured variant. The choice is one of tonal value and style, between a cool urban character (Storm) and a warm Mediterranean character (Earth).

What does DIRESCO Quarz BU012 Belgian Storm cost?

The price depends on the format, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.