A quartz countertop may be the answer for people who love the look of granite but are concerned about some of these stones that have short falls. Granite is a porous natural stone that can absorb liquids, can absorb grease and cooking oil stains, and can be etched by acids found in common household items like hairspray. Engineered quartz countertops are not affected by any of these hazards.
Granite is also very unpredictable in its color or the patterns between the slabs, and this makes it a bit difficult to match parts of a countertop at times. Engineered quartz kitchen countertops are uniform in texture, color, and pattern. The great benefit of quartz kitchen countertops is that they provide almost all the positive qualities of a natural stone such as appearance and durability, but are free from most of the drawbacks.
Quartz countertops are man-made. The manufacturing process for making quartz on a slab or countertop uses raw quartz crystals, one of the hardest substances available. After selecting and crushing the quartz, the crystals are combined with resin, a binding agent, and color. All of this is heated and vibrocompacted to create an impenetrable surface. Quartz countertops must be composed of at least 93% quartz or they cannot claim the durability, impermeability, or hardness of a real quartz surface. The final product is non-porous, has great durability and is twice as resistant as granite.
Engineered quartz countertop surfaces are available in a wide variety of colors that cannot be found naturally because crushed stone is usually combined with stain. You should take advantage of this versatility available to your kitchen design when you are considering quartz kitchen countertops, so they can dazzle the eye while still having the appearance of stone. The edge profiles of quartz kitchen countertops can range from simple bevels to ogee and rounded just like with natural stone.
Engineered quartz countertop installation is not a DIY project. You must have an experienced professional to do the job.
Because quartz is non-porous, its polished surfaces do not have to be sealed, like granite or other natural stones, to prevent staining. The quartz surface is virtually indestructible and requires virtually no maintenance. Resists stains caused by fruit juices, wine, food coloring, nail polish and remover, tea and markers. The non-porous and non-absorbent nature of a quartz countertop is highly hygienic, it does not harbor bacteria, making it a safe choice for kitchen food handling. Cleaning quartz kitchen countertops is pretty easy. It involves using a little soapy water or a mild cleanser.
These aren’t the cheapest kitchen countertop option by any means, with a cost that rivals natural stone. The average cost of a quartz countertop will be in the range of about $ 50 and up per installed square foot. Some of the common brands you will be looking for include Silestone, Zodiaq, and Cambria. You can find engineered quartz countertops online if you have a problem locally.
If you are decorating your kitchen and you want the rich look of natural stone without the maintenance requirements. You should seriously consider the benefits available to you with quartz countertops.