Quartz Carpet Surfacing vs Other Flooring Finishes: 2026 Comparison Guide
Durability, safety, appearance, and maintenance are all equally important when choosing a flooring finish for residential or commercial spaces.
Quartz Carpet is one of our speciality finishes, rising in popularity in Melbourne for pool surrounds, driveways, patios, commercial interior flooring, and even statement joinery — but how does it compare to more traditional finishes for those applications like epoxy, polished concrete, tiles, and exposed aggregate?
In this guide, we compare our quartz carpet stone overlay surface to other popular flooring options so you can determine which solution best suits your project.
What Is Quartz Carpet Surfacing?
Quartz Carpet is a finish for floors, walls, and joinery — it’s made from natural quartz stones that are bound together with a hardy epoxy resin. The mixture is trowel-applied by hand over a prepared substrate to create a durable, textured finish.
It’s commonly used for:
Pool surrounds
Patios and alfresco areas
Driveways and garages
Balconies
Internal floors in high-traffic areas e.g. offices
Now let’s compare it to other common finishes.
Quartz Carpet vs Pebblecrete: What’s the Difference?
The most similar finish to Quartz Carpet is Pebblecrete,but there are a few key differences.
What They’re Made Of
Quartz Carpet: Smaller quartz aggregates bound using a resin system
Pebblecrete: Traditionally cement-based with larger stone aggregates (can occasionally use quartz but often river pebbles and granite)
Areas of Suitability/Versatility
Quartz Carpet: Suitable for both interior and exterior applications.
Pebblecrete: Primarily used for exterior applications, rarely used in interior spaces.
Texture & Comfort
Quartz Carpet: Evenly textured and smoother, generally more comfortable underfoot.
Pebblecrete: Can feel rough or sharp due to the larger exposed stones.
Quartz Carpet vs Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring is one of the most common high-traffic flooring systems used in garages and industrial spaces. Both Quartz Carpet and epoxy are durable, resin-based finishes that create seamless surfaces. However, they differ in texture, UV performance, flexibility, and suitability for outdoor or wet areas.
Appearance
Quartz Carpet: Organic stone texture in mottled colour blends.
Epoxy: A smooth, flat, glossy finish.
Slip Resistance
Quartz Carpet: Naturally slip-resistant due to its textured aggregate surface.
Epoxy: Can be slippery when wet unless anti-slip additives are added.
We also offer a permeable Quartz Carpet finish, where the gaps between the stones are intentionally left open to allow water to drain through the surface rather than sit on top — helping to further reduce slip risks.
Another permeable paving option we provide is Terradec. While it offers fewer design options, it can be a more cost-effective solution, as it uses alternative aggregate blends.
Related Reading: The Best Surfaces For Outdoor Flooring
UV Stability
Quartz Carpet: Uses UV-stable resin suitable for outdoor applications.
Epoxy: Standard epoxy can yellow or degrade in direct sunlight.
Substrate Compatibility
Quartz Carpet: Can be applied over properly prepared concrete, screeds, tiles, MDF, and other stable substrates.
Epoxy: Best applied to structurally sound, dry concrete only.
Read our FAQ on using an overlay vs. demolition.
Flexibility & Crack Resistance
Quartz Carpet: Slightly flexible and therefore resists cracking better.
Epoxy: Rigid; cracks in the substrate at greater risk of transferring through.
Quartz Carpet vs Polished Concrete
Polished concrete is a popular flooring choice for a wide range of applications, known for its minimalist appearance and long-term durability. Like epoxy, the biggest differences lie in the look and feel of concrete vs. quartz stones.
Appearance
Quartz Carpet: Textured, natural stone aggregate aesthetic.
Polished Concrete: Industrial, smooth finish with either matte or glossy options.
Slip Resistance
Quartz Carpet: Excellent slip resistance.
Polished Concrete: Can be slippery when wet especially in high-gloss finishes, although slip-resistant treatments are available.
Comfort Underfoot
Quartz Carpet: Slightly softer feel due to aggregate structure.
Polished Concrete: Hard, dense surface.
Installation & Surface Prep
Quartz Carpet: Hand-trowelled over a properly prepared concrete or stable substrate, making it suitable for overlays and renovations as well as intricate applications to floors, walls, and joinery pieces.
Polished Concrete: Achieved by mechanically grinding, honing, and polishing an existing concrete slab.
Read more: Resurfacing Concrete Flooring
Quartz Carpet vs Tiles (Porcelain or Ceramic)
Tiles remain a traditional choice for indoor and outdoor flooring, but they’re very different to hand-rendered overlays like Quartz Carpet and Microcement.
Joints & Maintenance
Quartz Carpet: Seamless finish, no grout lines.
Tiles: Multiple grout joints that may stain, crack, or require re-grouting over time.
Slip Resistance
Quartz Carpet: Naturally textured surface, with high slip resistance and permeable options.
Tiles: Slip rating varies; glossy tiles can be hazardous when wet.
High-slip-rated tiles are available, but Quartz Carpet achieves this inherently.
Durability
Quartz Carpet: Resistant to cracking and chipping when properly installed.
Tiles: Individual tiles can crack; repairs may require tile replacement.
Overlay Capability
Quartz Carpet: Can be installed as a thin overlay over existing surfaces, making it ideal for renovations without full removal.
Tiles: Typically require removal of the existing surface or full substrate preparation before installation. While tile-on-tile installation is possible in some cases, it increases floor height and requires strict surface conditions (whereas Quartz Carpet is super thin)
Key Advantages of Quartz Carpet Surfacing
Compared to other finishes, Quartz Carpet stands out for:
Slip resistance in wet areas
UV stability for outdoor use
Seamless finish (no grout lines or joints)
Decorative natural stone appearance
Flexibility over minor cracks
Low maintenance requirements
Suitable for overlays and renovations
For homeowners and commercial designers or property owners looking for a durable, low-maintenance, and visually appealing finish — especially in outdoor or wet environments — Quartz Carpet is a strong contender.
If you're planning a project in Melbourne, we’d love to hear from you.