Upgraded to quartz counters with an undermount sink 4 years ago and haven’t had any issues with chipping, etc.

I think the issue of chipping is not as prevalent as it would seem just like the issue of etching and staining is not the scary issue in real life for most people.

Also keep in mind that there are three different ways to undermount a sink - positive reveal, negative reveal and zero reveal. Also the edge you choose impacts how vulnerable a counter would be to chipping.

I would NEVER go back to an over mounted sink because of the gunk that would get trapped inevitably. I installed a large single bowl undermounted copper farm house sink and am completely happy with my choices.

As an aside, I don't think I will EVER do a gut remodel of a kitchen again and my kitchen is done in a traditional style inspired by Prairie architecture but in my next life I will come back have have book matched walnut slab doors - and maybe even add in some orange trim somewhere as a callback to the aesthete of the era and complete my set of Russell Wright dishes with the satellite motif :-).

@Helen, grain matching is out of our budget but my goodness it would look nice. Even without, this is a major upgrade from our foil-wrapped cabinets - one of which was literally melting from being above the toaster. Yeesh. And we are SO looking forward to having proper lighting in the kitchen, too.

Well I was describing my fantasy kitchen and it is the antithesis of what I opted for in my recent remodel.

At this point I plan to be buried like King Tut in my remodeled condo because doing a gut remodel was a once in a lifetime experience for me.

I have lots of chips around my undermount sink. There are two adults using it,

Should have clarified…i have the wrong reveal and think that has made the issue worse.

It's only been about 7 months but no chips. Undermount stainless from Create Good Sinks and quartz countertop. We use heavy LeCreuset and Demeyere pans.

@Barrheadlass, what reveal did you choose, and what would you choose differently?

Alice, I think it is a negative reveal, not sure though. I know it is the opposite of what I should have. I may be wrong, but I think a positive reveal shows a lot more of the undermount sink edge…which would put the edge of the counter further from the sink, so less chips.

Six years, no chips. Relatively hard use, lots of big pans, heavy mortar, etc. Would be tragic to do anything but undermount!

@acm that's so reassuring! Do you do anything special to protect them?

Do an undermount. Please confirm you are getting quartz not quartzite. Quartz is not quarried stone, it's engineered (meaning ground stone mixed with resins). Quartzite is quarried. The two behave quite differently.

I wouldn't think the sink reveal would really matter all that much for chipping unless your counter overhangs A LOT and you're banging it from the bottom, but in general a slight positive reveal is better. You will probably need to request that specifically, as from what I understand it's more challenging to do, and most installers will just do a negative reveal because it's easier.

Also I disagree with Helen that etching and staining aren't concerns with quartz counters. I would be more concerned with that than I would chipping. I etched the quartz in my apartment in the first week (temporary living situation while we built our home) because I used the cleaning products I would use on my granite - which are not OK for quartz (specifically vinegar...so be aware of that when you're canning). Having gone through 8 months of dealing with that counter and now dealing with (whitish) quartz in my new home, I have found that baking soda mixed with water is the best cleaner. I had a small spot of turmeric I missed wiping up immediately and it needed quite a bit of elbow grease to get out. One of my oxo bowls left a ring that took a few rounds of baking soda to remove (I mean, what??? A mixing bowl???). As long as you are aware of that - read up on cleaning products and wipe things up as soon as possible - your counters will be fine.

@anj_p Thanks for the baking soda paste tip - we use it on walls and it's magical.

A positive reveal leaves a bit of the sink showing so theoretically the counter is resting on a more stable surface than a negative reveal or at keast that is what I was told. As I posted certain edges are also weaker and thus more likely to chip.

@anj_p I offered no opinion on etching or staining of quartz as my comment referenced marble. I was pointing out that many issues become overstated as problems because people without problems or issues don’t generally start threads but post in resonse to a question. As these thread illustrates most people have no chippng issues.

What Joseph said about the reveal! Also, I have had quartz ( Zodiac) for over 15 years and have never ever had a stain or etching. I do a lot of cooking, and use lots of spices including turmeric. Chipping around the sink, yes.

(We wash our white quartz with regular soap & water, or Method multisurface. Have never had to resort to baking soda or anything else, despite a constant stream of Indian, Chinese, and other chili-oil and tumeric--heavy cuisines.)

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We have 5 children. Make 99% of our food from scratch, grow and preserve most of our fruits and veggies, in other words, our kitchen is VERY well used. We have an undermount stainless sink (positive reaveal) with quartz counters and no chips, etches, or stains. Go undermount!