A Quartz Counter Top is Cool!

A quartz counter top, also known as . . . "engineered stone," is made by combining 93% quartz (an element in granite) with resin and pigments in a process that binds the medium permanently.

Silestone, Cambria, Zodiac, Caesarstone (pictured above) and a few other manufacturers make engineered quartz countertops with Silestone being the dominant player in the market.

No matter which company you choose to buy from, engineered quartz surfacing will look fantastic on your kitchen countertops, kitchen island, bathroom vanity, wet bar or wine cellar.

Color. You certainly will have many colors to choose from and new color and pattern designs are hitting the market all the time. Granite offers many more colors, but quartz has a complete range.

Pattern. Although Silestone, Cambria and Zodiac are all made to look like granite, purists note that quartz counter tops lack the depth of color, variety of color and unique patterns of movement that characterize granite.

On the plus side, Silestone countertop colors have a consistency that few granites can offer, so there's never a problem matching slabs.

Also, many people prefer a uniform pattern that is exactly the same over the entire surface.

Personal Preference. It really boils down to what you like. It's hard to beat granite's classic appeal, but you won't notice a difference in the performance or feel of quartz counter tops when compared to granite.

The question is... do you like the "look" of man-made quartz countertops. Cost is not really an issue when comparing to granite since you'll pay about the same for engineered stone.

Cleaning and Maintenance.

Quartz counter tops from all the brands are a snap to clean. Hot water and a sponge are sufficient for most spills and keeping your space clean while cooking. Like granite, soap is not recommended for regular cleaning since residue will build up and leave a dull film.

Engineered stone countertops are non-porous and chemical resistant so you can use many common mild cleaners, but many cleaners are too harsh and products like bleach can permanently stain.

The best and safest recommendation is to use a good stone cleaning product (since quartz countertops are made mostly of natural stone) like STONE PLUS Countertop Spray Cleaner, which has optical brighteners to keep you quartz super shiny!

Always use cutting boards for food prep and trivets for hot pans. Yes, quartz--like granite--is very tough. It's heat and scratch resistant, but it can be damaged with extreme heat or consistent abuse.

For a thorough discussion of everything you should and shouldn't do to keep all your countertops in great shape take a look at the Care & Cleaning page.

Quartz vs. Granite.

To get the true story on the difference between granite and quartz and put to rest all the myths and conflicting information floating around out there go to Countertop Comparison.

Additional Uses. Engineered stone can also be used on flooring, wall cladding, tub decks and shower surrounds providing more options for your other home projects as well.

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