Made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, quartz countertops are arguably the most durable option for kitchens. They&#;re also some of the most eye-catching. They come in a wide variety of colors, including fire-engine red and apple green, as well as earthy browns, blacks, and creams, with sparkles and veining for the look of granite or marble. But unlike natural-stone slabs, which are mined, these slabs are engineered in a factory.
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Their primary ingredient is ground quartz (about 94 percent), combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also help make these counters stain and scratch resistant&#;and nonporous, so they never need to be sealed. Compare that with granite, the reigning king of high-end countertops, which typically requires a new protective top coat at least once a year.
In the past, the biggest knock against quartz was that it lacked the patterns and color variations you get with natural stone. But that&#;s a moot point now, with all the manufacturers offering multihued slabs with enough flecks, swirls, and random patterning to make them almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
They were once available only with a polished finish; now you can get one with a honed, sandblasted, or embossed treatment. So if it&#;s the look of matte limestone, textured slate, or glossy granite that you want, there&#;s a quartz countertop for you. Read on for help picking one to match your budget, your cooking and cleaning needs, and your style. We&#;ll go over the pros and cons of quartz countertops so you can make the best choice.
Expect to pay about the same as you would for natural stone, around $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation.
Natural-quartz crystals are mined, then ground into a dust or an aggregate that&#;s fused with resin binders under intense heat and pressure to form a solid slab. Pigments added during the process impart color to the countertop.
DIY or hire a pro?
Like natural stone, quartz slabs are very heavy. And though the added resins make them more flexible, they, too, can crack if not properly handled. Work only with certified installers.
Where can you buy it?
Order through kitchen-design showrooms or from home centers and big-box stores, such as The Home Depot, IKEA, and Lowe&#;s.
How long do they last?
For as long as you have your kitchen. Quartz countertop manufacturers provide warranties ranging from 10 or 15 years to lifetime, depending on the company.
Here are the pros and cons to consider when deciding to go with quartz.
It&#;s low-maintenance.
Unlike natural stone or wood, it never needs to be sealed. Just wipe with soapy water for daily upkeep. Surface stains can be removed with a gentle cleansing scrub. Avoid scouring pads, which can dull the surface, and harsh chemicals that could break down the bonds between the quartz and resins.
It&#;s antimicrobial.
Resin binders make quartz counters nonporous, so stain- and odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew can&#;t penetrate the surface.
It&#;s design-friendly.
Some makers offer jumbo slabs for uninterrupted runs of countertop. But even with standard slabs, typically 60 by 120 inches, the seams can be almost imperceptible; added resins allow cleaner cuts without chipping as stone does. The resins also make quartz more flexible than natural stone, allowing fabricators to bend and shape it into sinks or the sides of a curved island. And it&#;s versatile enough to be used on floors and walls&#;fabricators can even cut the slabs into standard tile sizes.
It&#;s pricey.
Compared with DIY options, such as wood, laminate, and concrete, which can cost less than $10 per square foot, quartz, like granite, is expensive&#;about $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation. Acrylic solid surfacing, another competing option, costs about $40 to $80 per square foot installed.
It can&#;t take extreme heat.
Quartz counters are heat and scorch resistant, but only up to a point. Most manufacturers say their products can handle up to 400 degrees F, but a sudden change in temperature or sustained heat from a pan left on the counter may cause the surface to crack. To be safe, always use a trivet or a hot pad.
It can&#;t weather outdoor use.
Install it outdoors in an uncovered area, and you&#;ll void the warranty. Direct sun beating down on it day after day can cause colors to fade or the countertop to warp or split over time. Currently, none of the major manufacturers offers an outdoor-approved quartz counter.
iStockShop around to compare colors and prices. Some quartz makers sell exclusively through big-box stores; other slabs are available only through independent kitchen and bath showrooms.
Pick your brand and color, and set up a time for a fabricator to visit your home to take measurements and make a template of the tops of your base cabinets.
Unless you are keeping existing fixtures, you supply the dimensions for the sink and faucet cutouts as well as any drop-in appliances, such as a cooktop.
Get a price quote and place your order. Once the fabricator knows the complexity of the installation, including the edge profile, number of slabs, and cutout details, they can quote the actual cost of the entire job.
Wait, but not too long. Assuming your base cabinets are in and your kitchen is otherwise complete, the fabricator can get the slab from the distributor or direct from the manufacturer and shape it to your specs in about a week.
If you&#;re using multiple slabs, consider asking the fabricator to get them from the same manufacturing batch to ensure the best possible match.
Schedule the installation. The fabricator lays the slab directly on top of cabinets; in general, no plywood underlayment is required. It&#;s held in place with silicone-based construction adhesive, and any seams between slabs are filled with color-matched epoxy resin.
Undermount sinks are installed with clips (and sometimes wood braces) that attach to the underside of the countertop. Expect installation for a typical kitchen to take from a few hours to a day.
Brown veining against a sand background. Giallo Michelangelo, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.*
*All prices include installation.
Recycled-glass flecks glisten in a blue-gray base. Calm Springs, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.
Earthy recycled-glass particles add sparkle. Forest Snow, Eco by Cosentino, about $62-$78 per sq. ft.; ecobycosentino.com
Tan watermarks speckle a brown base. Vintage Limestone, Viatera by LG, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
Vibrant blue highlighted with translucent particles. Celestial Blue, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $60-$100 per sq. ft.
Small iridescent blue and charcoal flecks. Waterford, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
Gray striations for the look of Carrara. Tranquility RU613, HanStone, $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Solid turquoise with a contemporary feel. Slice of Ice CW102, HanStone, about $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Reddish-brown lines mimic veining. Ivory Wave MV620, HanStone, about $55-$95 persq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Black and gray-blue streaks against taupe and cream. Praa Sands, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A lively solid. Green Fun, Silestone by Cosentino, about $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Subtle cream veins look nature-inspired. Piatra Grey, Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Granite-like veins and light-reflecting crystals. Canterbury, Cambria, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
Metallic flecks impart shine. Chrome, Silestone by Cosentino, about $70-$89 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Gray-toned particles and swirls on white. Atlantic Salt, Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Thin white lines overlay a jet-black base. Black Knight , Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
A matte-finish warm gray. Altair, Silestone by Cosentino, about $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com
Want more information on Natural Quartz Countertops? Feel free to contact us.
Copper-colored flecks add depth. Mariposa Buff MV410, Samsung, about $50-$60 per sq. ft.; staron.com
This sandy hue has faint color gradations. Sugar Storm, Viatera, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
A granular texture imitates fossil and shell fragments. Natural Limestone, Viatera, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
Like a slice of blue mineral chunks. Ocean Palace , Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
It doesn&#;t get much more luxurious than a semiprecious-stone countertop formed from real slices of colorful quarried crystals, such as agate and amethyst. Added resins work like a glue to bind the gems together into a continuous countertop while also making it stain and scratch resistant. These opulent tops would add a dramatic look to a small kitchen island, a built-in bar, or a powder-room vanity.
Shown: Concetto Collection in Brown Agate, Rose Quartz, and Tiger Eye, about $400 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Just about any edge profile that you can get with stone can be replicated with quartz. The standard eased edge, slightly rounded over so that there aren&#;t any sharp angles, and the more fanciful ogee, which resembles an S curve on its side, are two of the most popular treatments.
Your fabricator will help you select an edge that suits your kitchen&#;s style and the countertop&#;s thickness&#;typically ½, ¾, or 1¼ inches&#;and will shape the profile using a template provided by the manufacturer. Fabricators can also do custom designs, such as a chiseled, raw edge (shown) or a gently cascading three-level waterfall-style profile. Keep in mind that the more complex the edge, the higher the cost.
Shown: Desert Limestone with chiseled edge, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
This slate-gray countertop has a muted, lived-in look to match the zinc stools and the weather-beaten-steel pendant light. Open shelves and painted cabinets with bin-pull drawer hardware add to the kitchen&#;s homey appeal.
Shown: Fieldstone, about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A white countertop with subtle gray veining, a glossy finish, and a simple eased edge makes a crisp contrast with the green-painted cabinets and sleek stainless-steel fixtures and appliances.
Shown: Misty Carrera, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Two warm countertop colors complement the stained wood cabinets. A washstand-style curved backsplash behind the range adds a vintage note. On the island, a 5-inch mitered edge profile gives the work surface a chunky, furniture-like look.
Shown: Nottingham (perimeter), and Sussex (island), about $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
A black-and-white color combination is always a classic. Here, the dark countertop pairs with the lighter perimeter cabinets. The contrasting scheme is reversed on the island, where an ogee edge profile adds an extra dose of sophistication.
Similar to shown: Zodiaq Galaxy Black and Cloud White, $60-$100 per sq. ft.
You won&#;t find ready-made slabs for kitchen counters, but home centers now offer smaller bathroom vanity tops with faucet drillings and undermount-sink cutouts. Expect to pay $350 to $900 for a vanity top, depending on the size and color.
Home-furnishings manufacturers are also catching on to the pluses of quartz. Room & Board offers dining, cocktail, accent, and counter-height tables with five different quartz-top options and a choice of bases.
Get a custom-look vanity for less by wedding a prefab counter (sink included) with a stock cabinet.
Shown: Solieque Bisque Baroque, from $640; homedepot.com
You aren&#;t just limited to using quartz in the kitchen, check out these smart and unique use-cases.
Mix and match quartz tops and wood bases for an updated farmhouse table.
Shown: Linden walnut table with white quartz top, from $1,700; roomandboard.com
Unlike marble, quartz won&#;t be marred by an errant splash of bath oil.
Shown: Blizzard, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
Quartz is antimicrobial, so it won&#;t harbor bacteria from soiled clothes. Just be sure to clean up bleach spills quickly to prevent damage.
Shown: Brentwood, $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
In a fully tiled shower, a corner seat crafted from a quartz remnant means fewer grout lines to keep clean.
Similar to shown: Ultra White, $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com
You can stop worrying about red-wine rings; because quartz is nonporous, vino can&#;t penetrate it.
Similar to shown: Tranquility, about $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com
Quartz can withstand very high temperatures as long as the heat is indirect. So go ahead and surround your firebox with it.
Shown: Concrete, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com
By topping your nightstand with quartz, you won&#;t need a coaster to keep morning coffee or tea spills from staining.
Shown: Ashford, $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com
If you&#;ve ever undergone a kitchen remodel, or even just considered one, you know choosing countertop material can be one of the toughest decisions of the entire process. Every kitchen and homeowner are different, so there&#;s no one material that&#;s the best 100 percent of the time.
Quartz kitchen counters have continued to shine as a top choice for ease of maintenance and sheer versatility. You may have found yourself impressed by a quartz countertop in a magazine or at a friend&#;s house, but how much do you know about quartz? Read on to learn more about this interesting material.
Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on the planet, and the compound stone used for countertops maintains much of that toughness, making it comparable to granite and even concrete. When you choose quartz kitchen counters, you benefit from it being resistant to heat, as well as not having to worry much about wear and tear, such as scratches. On top of that, because it&#;s non-porous, it also resists germs, bacteria and mildew, helping to alleviate worries about sanitation.
And although it&#;s a hard material, it&#;s also flexible, so it can be bent and shaped into the counter design you want &#; so if you don&#;t use an uninterrupted slab, that&#;s OK, because it cuts very cleanly, which means seams are barely perceptible. It can even be cut into tiles!
Unlike some other countertop materials, quartz can&#;t call itself natural stone. By weight, it&#;s roughly 90-95 percent quartz, and the rest of it is resins, polymers, pigments and flecks for patterning (if you go by volume, not weight, it&#;s more of a 65-35 split). The stone comes from natural quartz crystals that are mined, then ground into dust and aggregate so they can be fused, under intense heat and pressure, with the above-mentioned binders.
While there are a variety of quartz vendors out there, all of the base material comes from the same place: the Italy-based Breton company, which has held a patent on the design process since the s. And if you&#;re environmentally conscious, good news! The manufacture process is low on carbon emissions.
Did you know? Quartz is popular for kitchen countertops, but it&#;s also growing in popularity for bathroom surfaces. It doesn&#;t require sealing, it&#;s naturally water-resistant, it doesn&#;t get moldy easily and cleaning is a simple matter of wiping down surfaces.
One of the downfalls used to be the limitations on patterns and variations of quartz countertop colors. Natural stone was considered to be a superior alternative in these respects. Over time, though, that disadvantage has melted away. Now, there&#;s a vast spectrum of options for your new countertop.
Colors? A ton of variations offered through pigments added in the design process. Patterns? Absolutely, through the strategic addition of glass and metal flecks throughout. Finishes? You bet &#; polished, honed, sandblasted, embossed, and so on. In fact, advances in design have resulted in a material that can be made to look like a variety of natural stone materials, including:
That shiny look you see on a new countertop? With some materials, that means the application of sealants, top coats or polish. Not with quartz, though; it&#;s naturally non-porous, as noted above, and requires no sealing. Additionally, quartz countertops offer another distinct advantage: exceptional stain resistance. They easily repel kitchen spills like oil, tomato, coffee, or wine! Plus, they provide some of the most hassle-free cleaning you&#;ll ever experience.
Just some mild soap and water &#; or an oil-free, non-abrasive solution, if you&#;re feeling fancy &#; and it&#;s good as new in no time. That&#;s a whole lot more appealing than scrubbing! Do note, though, that heavier cleaning methods aren&#;t just unnecessary; they&#;re not recommended, as they can damage the surface.
Having said that&#;
Even Superman has his kryptonite. Quartz kitchen counters can sustain damage if not properly cared for. For one thing, while quartz is highly scratch-resistant, it can be chipped &#; if you drop something heavy on it, try to scrape off a sticky substance or (definitely don&#;t do this!) cut something on it without a cutting board. There are limits to its heat resistance as well; you&#;ll want to use a trivet to separate it from pans, deep fryers, crock pots, etc.
Finally, it is susceptible to fading or discoloration under ultraviolet light. If it&#;s just on the other side of a window, it&#;ll probably be fine, unless it&#;s a huge window letting in a ton of light &#; but if you&#;re thinking about an outdoor kitchen, think about a different type of countertop.
Does quartz sound like the right material for your kitchen counter? Contact us at Simple Kitchen today to find out how we can make it part of your dream kitchen!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Quartz Vanity Tops. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.