With all the countertops in the market today, choosing the right material for your kitchen is a little tricky. Finding the most suitable option for the best kitchen possible can be difficult. There is a wide array of countertop materials you can choose for your kitchen. From natural, engineered to customized, each selection is a tough decision to make.
You probably heard about natural stone countertops, especially quartz, or engineered stone. Nowadays, quartz is the number one choice for most homeowners. Some of them questioned that the so-called “quartz” countertop is somehow different from the other natural stone countertops.
Quartz is from one of the most dependable and hardest minerals on earth. It’s the most durable option for most homeowners for their kitchen. Some quartz countertops or probably most of them are eye-catching as they come in different varieties of colors, design, and components. There are a lot of things you need to know about quartz and here are some of them.
QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS ISN’T 100% QUARTZ
Quartz is a natural stone, but in most quartz countertops, not all of the components are pure 100% quartz. If you think that quartz countertops are all quartz, it’s like your saying that all the cars in an average parking area are Ferraris. The real thing about quartz countertops is that in 100%, 10% of the volume isn’t stone at all.
The 90% of a quartz countertop is made up of crushed marble, granite, and natural stone. It can also be from recycled industrial wastes such as silica, ceramic, and glass. On the other hand, 10% of it comes from a cement-based binder or polymeric.
With all these components mixed, the outcome would be the so-called quartz countertop. Accurately, homeowners should call quartz countertop as a compound stone or what you call an engineered stone. To sum it up, this type of countertop may include a lesser or greater amount of quartz. Having a 100% quartz countertop is very unlikely and is highly impractical.
QUARTZ AND QUARTZITE ARE DIFFERENT
Set your facts straight and don’t confuse quartz with quartzite. Quartz is a different and natural material made from the combination of marble and granite. On the other hand, quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock, originating from pure quartz sandstone. Through heating and pressure, the sandstone goes to a process to become a quartzite.
Due to its properties, Quartzite has unique patterns veining and color variations. It’s a porous material despite its durability. Which means it needs maintenance periodically to prevent stains. On the other hand, Quartz countertops are non-porous and require little maintenance without being sealed.
WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST LOOK
With such a wide array of selections, choosing the best and most suitable quartz countertop can be tough. If you need help in selecting your best countertop, you can visit showrooms near your place, such as home builders Melbourne and other home improvement stores that could help you with your decision.
Try to bring home a few quartz countertop samples from a kitchen showroom to compare and see if it’s suitable for your kitchen. You will probably know if you have chosen the appropriate or the most suitable countertop design if it compliments on the backdrop and design of your walls and cabinets.
It will really help you choose the most suitable quartz material if you have a better look at your finished kitchen decor. In this way, you can easily select a quartz countertop without having second thoughts of what design should you choose. Also, you can browse through any design books for reference, or get ideas from magazines and designs.
THE PROS OF QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS
Unlike other countertops such as wood and natural stone, quartz doesn’t need sealing. You only need warm water and soap to maintain its daily upkeep. Hence, quartz countertops are low on maintenance as you can just remove surface stains with just a gentle cleansing scrub. Also, you should avoid using scouring pads as it can make the surface appear dull.
Quartz can be an excellent countertop for your kitchen as it has resin binders which makes quartz counters nonporous. Therefore, any odor-causing bacteria, mold, stain, and mildew can’t penetrate through the surface.
One of the best things about quartz materials is that it’s design-friendly, which makes it flexible than natural stone. It allows fabricators to bend and shape, which mostly turned into curves for safety in the kitchen island. Also, the versatility of quartz is top notch as it can also be an excellent material for flooring and walls.
THE CONS OF QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS
Quartz compared to other materials such as wood, concrete, and laminate, which are alternative options for a DIY project is a bit expensive. In addition to its price range, quartz can’t take extreme heat. It may be scorch and heat resistant, but only up to a point. Most companies say their product can handle heat up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
This type of countertop may resist a certain amount of heat, but if there’s a sudden change to temperature, especially from extreme heat to sudden cold, it may cause the surface to crack. For this reason, quartz countertops can’t handle outdoor weather, and it’s not suitable for outdoor use.
QUARTZ IS THE FUTURE OF COUNTERTOPS
Quartz is becoming the best and most suitable countertop material for most homeowners. In the past years it was all granite, but today, quartz is the new countertop material contender. It has surpassed granite in sales. It’s safe to say that it’s now the most favorite among other countertop materials.
TAKEAWAY
Quartz Countertops is an excellent choice among other countertop materials. If you want a long-lasting countertop material, then quartz is the right and most suitable countertop for you. Aside from its flexibility, it has also great versatility.
With the look of natural stone, but has low maintenance, keep in mind these six facts about quartz to have a top quality countertop material for your kitchen.
Sam Street
Construction Manager
Sam is a qualified carpenter that has been working in the construction industry for the past thirteen years, both in Australia and abroad. With over a decade of experience, Sam has gained an extensive knowledge of the residential construction space.
