Quartz Countertops: An overview

Countertops serve to be as a source of pride and luxury to many. They are a fashion item that will adore their new home. Owning an expensive countertop for their kitchen is a dream for many women. There are laminate countertops that serve to be a cheaper alternative with a finish that almost equalizes that of an expensive countertop. Quartz for instance is one of the most expensive materials that are used as a countertop in many luxury kitchens. It is one the most abundant stone on Earth. The stone is the 3rd hardest that has ever existed on our planet. There are engineered ones which contain resins up to 7% and pigments to obtain a variety of color shades. The purpose of engineering the stone is to achieve different textures, colors and more sparkling effect.

An Italian company named Breton during the 1960’s started making engineered quartz. They are the pioneers who invented the process. Quartz as a natural stone for countertops have been used in the kitchens of the United stated since over a decade or two. But engineered countertops are a new fashion that has recently caught up in the American market. These new types of countertops have become a craze for American consumers.

Quartz is mainly engineered to resemble granite. But there are other motives to engineering quartz. Many companies try to work on the stone to establish the effect of marble and limestone. The stone is heavier than granite. Quartz poses a consistent look. This quality of the heavy stone makes it a great choice to be fixed as a countertop for kitchens. The stone can be fixed as an unbroken piece with considerable thickness.

Quartz after going through the engineering process becomes more durable, hard and non- porous. The quality of non-porous ness sets quartz on a higher plane compared to granite. Processed quartz is heat resistant and stain or dirt resistant too. It requires very less resealing to maintain its freshness and good qualities. Quartz naturally is very resistant chips. Chips are a common foe to granite and laminate countertops. Since quartz keeps itself stain and dirt free, it is a countertop that is free from harmful bacteria which is a common guest on a kitchen surface.

Quartz comes in a wide rage of colors, textures and patterns. You can see colors ranging from pitch black to pink and angel white. You will be lost in the color and hue that it comes in. It surely makes it confusing for the buyer to choose too. But engineered quartz is devoid of delicate variations in grain, texture and color which makes granite boasts about its natural qualities of offering the same. Granite is the most expensive. Next to it is quartz that is almost of equal quality of granite with better durability and lower maintenance. Therefore make an informed choice.