The best rival of granite in the remodeling industry is engineered quartz countertops. It provides an efficient and pristine lift on the beauty and resale value of your home. If you want to save more, we offer affordable and cheap quartz countertops without any compromise in its quality and design.
If you are planning to renovate your kitchen and bathroom, great thing that you came to our place to know more of the benefits and setbacks of quartz countertops. Keep reading to find out more and internalize the timeless beauty of quartz.
The Basic – Engineered Quartz Countertops
This man-made stone is composed of 90% to 93% pulverized quartz and other minerals while 10% to 7% cement-based resin binders. It has impeccable strength against scratches and cuts, better than granite stone. Likewise, quartz countertop designs mimic the pristine look of natural stones.
Benefits of Quartz Countertops
Impeccable Hardness
Quartz minerals are naturally hard and durable which constitutes to its exemplary resistance from scratches and cuts. This ability makes quartz kitchen countertops are a good choice for remodeling.
Likewise, choosing quartz bathroom countertops is great because it adds vibrancy and value to your bathroom space. For small bathroom areas, you can have white quartz countertops to lift its brightness and create a visual illusion of a larger space.
Nevertheless, when the chips are inevitable, you can still glue the piece back but seams will be visible.
Unbeatable Anti-Stain and Anti-bacterial Properties
For your kitchen and bathroom countertops, choosing quartz is an excellent choice because it can greatly resist stains and bacterial growth. The cement-based resin polymers mixed in all slabs contributes to its innate non-porous feature.
This means, all pores are sealed off so no worries about spills on your quartz kitchen countertops. Likewise, bacteria can no longer grow in between its mineral pores because it has been sealed with its resin binders.
Modern Design Consistency
Compared to natural stones, the color transition in each slab of custom quartz countertop is highly uniform. Likewise, veining and texture are finer compared to marble and granite countertops.
To achieve that modern theme, you need to choose neutral and light colors such as beige, white, and gray. For smaller bathrooms and kitchens, install stark white quartz countertops to get that airy modern look with an illusion of a wider space.
Consequently, the setback of this consistency is that seams are visible when you use engineered quartz countertops on smaller surface areas. Nonetheless, pristine appearance is still timeless for this stone.
Further, you have more selections on different colors and patterns for custom quartz countertops to match the design and layout of your kitchen and bathroom. The main reason – manufacturers can alter the design to strike versatility and flexibility with any remodeling theme.
No More Sealing Maintenance
Unlike granite, no sealing maintenance is required for engineered quartz countertops because of its resin binders. These polymers sealed off the pores of the crushed quartz as it is produced into slabs.
Quick Cleaning Needs
Because of its impervious hardness and non-porous feature, quartz stone countertops are easier to clean and maintain. Simply use neutral pH soap solution and soft microfiber to wipe off debris and spots on its surface.
Likewise, you can choose to have either a honed or polished finish for your quartz countertops. A honed finish makes tiny scratches non-visible, but a polished finish looks more elegant for modern theme. Several quartz slabs mimic the beauty of marble stones to have polished designs with less trouble with etching and price.
This man-made stone has low tolerance against heat, so you need to use hot pads when placing hot items on top of your quartz stone countertops. Likewise, it is not advisable to use quartz for outdoor countertops as it reacts with UV rays. It tends to discolor when exposed for longer hours under UV rays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Put Hot Pots on Quartz?
Although quartz is heat-resistant, its heat toleration is limited compared to natural stones. As an engineered stone, pigments and resin used in the production of quartz countertops cannot withstand heat over 150 degrees. This is why it is not recommended to put hot pots on quartz countertops because it can cause permanent damage, like discoloration over the surface.
To protect your quartz countertops from such damage, you may keep protective items near the stove so that you do not forget to use them before placing a hot item on your countertops. Besides, as you should do for any other countertop material, you should keep your quartz countertops clean with soft cloths and suitable cleaners.
What are the Negatives of Quartz Countertops?
Although quartz has many advantages that attract homeowners, there are still some considerations to be kept in mind. These cons of quartz countertops are listed below:
- Price: Quartz countertops are not among the most affordable countertop options. In this regard, buying quality quartz countertops may be costly; however, as they ensure longevity, buying them will be a wise investment in the long term.
- Vulnerability to Heat: As mentioned before, pigments and resin in quartz are not really resistant to heat, making quartz countertops vulnerable to heat damage. Although quartz countertops do not require high maintenance, keeping them away from hot items that can cause permanent damage over the surface is essential.
- Engineered Stone: As an engineered stone, quartz has many advantages that make it an excellent countertop material. For instance, the non-porous surface makes quartz countertops easy to maintain. Besides, quartz countertops can mimic any other countertop material and come in various patterns and colors, making them great for almost any design. However, if you are after a 100% natural material, quartz is not your ideal countertop material as it is mixed with resin and pigments and goes through a manufacturing process.
- Requires Professional Installation: DIY installation is not recommended for quartz countertops because you may end up with visible seams. In this regard, adequate tools and experience are required to install quartz countertops to get the best result.
Conclusion
Keystone Marble and Granite is the leading fabricator and installer of synthetic and natural stone countertops for remodeling. We supply both residential and commercial establishments for their needs of high-quality and affordable stone countertops.
We do full range service of designing, fabricating, and installing the best countertop to match your remodeling theme. If you have further inquiries about countertops and remodeling, feel free to contact us anytime.
You can call now to get a free quote or visit our Facebook page!