What Makes Quartz Countertops So Special

The design and type of countertop you choose for your kitchen determines the overall look of the kitchen. Today, the choice of countertop designs are so diverse that you may find yourself torn between more than three types of countertops. When deciding the countertop that best fits your kitchen (and your style), aesthetics and durability are of paramount importance. Solid surfaces and natural stones come in handy when you need to create a stylish and class kitchen – at the center of these is a quartz countertop.

Below, we have highlighted some of the benefits of a quartz countertop. Click here to read more on types of quartz countertops, see quartz countertop samples, and get answers to the question – what are quartz countertops made of?

Quartz Countertop Maintenance Requirements Are Very Low

Quartz is nonporous – a quality that comes with a load of advantages. For starters, stains will not soak into the material. Instead, all stains will sit on the surface of your countertop, ready for wiping. Again, since the material is nonporous, you will not need to seal it to protect it. Materials such as limestone, granite, and marble require sealing – but quartz comes ready right off the quarry. 

The non-porous nature not only makes quartz countertop maintenance easy but also makes the countertop hygienic. Bacteria, mold, mildew will not propagate. Better yet, Silestone features Microban, an antimicrobial compound that prevents the buildup of microorganisms that might cause diseases.

There Are Countless Types of Quartz Countertops

There are limited choices if you choose to go with marble or granite countertops. However, this is not the case with quartz. The manufacturing process of quartz ensures that different colors and patterns are produced, enhancing the overall look of your kitchen. During manufacturing, crushed quartz is mixed with resins and other materials. The colors and patterns of the quartz countertop are dependent on the resins used during the manufacturing process. This way, you will have different types of quartz countertops. If you'd love a high-end finish on your kitchen, but you are running on a budget, a quartz countertop might be your solution.

Even better, you can get quartz in any color you want – be it yellow, purple, or black. Quartz manufacturers can mold the stones into any shape they want to give your kitchen the kind of layout they need. 

Quartz Countertops Are Beautiful

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Before buying quartz for your kitchen, check out quartz countertop samples online to pick the color and pattern that meets your needs. The natural beauty and clarity of quartz material makes them stand out among other countertops. On the surface, the size of the quartz crystals in the quartz material determines the overall appearance of the material. Fine granules will result in a smooth and consistent appearance while large granules give a flecked look that looks like that of granite.

There is an extensive collection of colors to choose from for your quartz countertop. These colors range from earthy browns, leaf green, and fire red to blacks, and creams. Quartz also features speckles and veins similar to what you'd expect from granite or marble. With so many colors, you can match the colors of your kitchen countertop with other colors in your home.

Unlike other natural stones, such as granite or soapstone, quartz has uniform color patterns from one end of the surface to the next. This is advantageous in case your countertop gets broken, and you need replacement. With granite or soapstone, getting matching patterns to replace broken countertop will be challenging – you will end up with inconsistent patterns and colors.

Quartz gives you more flexibility in edging and finishing options. You can choose, among others, a polished surface or a honed finish. Irrespective of the finish you want, a quartz countertop remains elegant and unique, making you wonder – what are quartz countertops made of?

Quartz Countertops Add To Your Home's Resale Value

No one would want to spend top dollar on a countertop that will break a few years after installation. Even worse, no one will love the look of mismatched pieces of material as a countertop. Quartz will save you from all that. For starters, quartz is significantly durable, outlasting granite and marble countertops, its competitors. If you happen to sell your home, your quartz countertop will still be intact, thereby upping the value of your home.

Made of minerals, quartz is very hard. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, Quartz ranks seventh – which explains the durability of quartz countertops. The mineral is more resistant to scratching, chipping, and cracking than many other natural stones. Better still, short exposure to heat will not affect the quality of quartz, seeing as the material is scorch resistant. However, excess heat might cause cracking due to extreme temperature changes. The material resists corrosion to last longer than other countertop materials.

Conclusion 

We all want a safer environment – whenever you want to do an upgrade in your home, you want to be sure you are not causing harm to your environment. Among all the countertop materials that you can use for your kitchen, quartz still stands as the most environmentally friendly. Unlike other countertops, quartz is created from wastes from other stones – materials that would have otherwise ended up in landfills are reused to make quartz countertops. Again, other countertops such as granite produce low levels of radon, a colorless, and odorless gas found naturally in the earth. With the easy quartz countertop maintenance, so many types of quartz countertops, and the eco-friendliness of quartz, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get your kitchen a quartz countertop. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are quartz countertops made of?

To make quartz countertops, quartz crystals are mined, ground into fine dust or speckles, and then mixed with resin binders under high heat and high pressure. Pigments may be added during the manufacturing process to add color.

Where can I get quartz countertop samples?

You can see quartz countertop samples online or from your favorite hardware store. Take your time looking at the samples seeing as there are so many types of quartz countertops.