Quartz countertops are gaining in popularity as a choice for kitchen and bathroom design, and with good reason. At KBF, we believe that the cornerstone of great design is the marriage of function and style, and quartz countertops offer both.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN QUARTZ AND NATURAL STONE
Quartz is not a stone – it is a mineral. Stones (such as granite, marble and soapstone) are made up of many minerals: for example, granite is primarily made up of the minerals quartz and feldspar. Natural stones such as granite and marble are quarried out of the earth in slabs that become countertops. Quartz countertop slabs are not quarried from the earth. They are manufactured by mixing quartz crystals, resin, and color. Being a manufactured/engineered product offers many benefits that consumers find hard to resist.
FUNCTION
Natural stone countertops are porous and need to be sealed to reduce their ability to absorb liquid. Since quartz countertops are manufactured with a resin that binds and fills the spaces between the crystals, they are not porous. Being non-porous makes them very stain resistant because they can’t absorb spills. And this is without any type of sealing – quartz counters do not need to be sealed – ever! Being non-porous also means that there is nowhere for bacteria to accumulate, so they are easy to clean and generally stay cleaner than porous counters. Also, they are heat-resistant (but protection from hot pots and styling tools is still recommended). Quartz is one of the hardest mineral surfaces – only sapphire, topaz and diamond have harder ratings than quartz. This makes quartz countertops incredibly durable and scratch resistant (although we never recommend cutting directly on any countertop).
STYLE
In addition to the functionality of quartz countertops, they also score high on the aesthetic side of design in many instances. Given that they are manufactured, the color and pattern between slabs is much more consistent than that of natural stone surfaces, so in designs where consistency is desired, quartz can’t be beat. Quartz is also available in a wide color palette, including colors that are not found in natural stone. Also, the profile (edging) of quartz countertops can be fabricated into any of the profiles that are offered for natural stone, so there is no sacrifice in the look of the edge of the countertop if you choose quartz.
COST
Quartz countertops can be more costly than a Level A granite but less than an Exotic granite, so price alone should not be the deciding factor when choosing between the two. Granite countertops offer a natural stone look that quartz cannot replicate, and there are designs where granite is the perfect choice. Marble countertops are gorgeous but easily scratched and stained. With so many quartz countertops manufactured today to look like marble, so we generally recommend quartz over marble to our clients.
KBF Design Gallery’s showroom located at 696 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs contains displays of many quartz manufacturers’ current lines, including Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone, Zodiaq and Pompeii. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. (407)830-7703
