The Salient Attributes of Quartz Countertops

If you are in the process of revamping your kitchen, you must be looking at various countertop options. After all the countertop is a major element of the kitchen and can make or break its entire look. Quartz Countertops, more commonly known as engineered stone countertops, have seen a gradual rise in popularity over the last few years. Counters made of natural stone are, of course, their massive competitor in the home decor realm.

Technically speaking Quartz Countertops are mostly made up of hard, stone-like materials bound by polymeric or cement-based substances and then pressed into hard sheets. Usually, crushed stones such as granite and marble that are found in quarries are used for the manufacturing of these countertops. The mixture might also contain scraps of glass, ceramic and silica.

What are the Pros and Cons of Using Quartz Countertops?

Pros

Quartz Countertops sound like such a great idea and they indeed are. They serve many benefits to their users. Some of them may be:

• Durable
  Quartz Countertops are engineered in a way that they are extra hard, and very convenient to work on. The fact that they contain quartz stone in many cases, gives them a stone-like a feel. Its thickness of around 20mm prevents it from breaking.
• Not Prone to Staining
  Engineered stone goes through multiple complicated surface treatment processes which makes its surface extremely tight and non-porous. As a result, staining due to oils, sauces, tea, acids etcios at a bare minimum.
• Warranty
  Top Quartz Countertops brands pride quartz as the most durable and sturdy countertop material there is and provide their customers with massive warranties (even lifetime warranties in some cases!)
• GoodLooking
  Quartz can give a graceful appearance to your kitchen owing this to its uncanny resemblance to natural stone. And since it is produced as opposed to being found naturally, its appearance can be made into whatever you want. This is usually done by adding bits of glass, metal etc.

Cons

As is the case with anything and everything in the world, things are not hunky-dory all the time. There are bound to have some downside to them. Some of them are:

• Costly
  Quartz Countertops are not exactly known to be the most pocket-friendly alternative out of the lot. The price can easily range from $60-$100 per square foot and increasing as per quality and style of the stone.
• Not Exactly Temperature-Resistant
  Quartz as a material can tolerate high temperatures without burning. But the polymer and resin fillers might not be. Exposure to very high temperatures can possibly melt off the resins and cause permanent discolouration and cloudiness.
• Difficult to Install
  Installation of Quartz Countertops can take time and requires specialised experts that would get it done. One reason might be that it is very heavy, around 20 to 25 pounds per square foot. It surely is no walk in the park.

Is Quartz Better than Granite?
The answer to this question is not straightforward. Quartz is better than granite in some ways and not so much in other aspects. For example, with quartz, you could go for multiple designs and textures which is not a possibility with granite. Stain resistance is also a thing that gives quartz an edge.

If you are looking for a more authentic stone look, then granite is your solution. Also, granite is much more resistant to heat than quartz. The choice ultimately depends on your preferences and tastes.

Advertisement