Silestone Counter Tops:
Buyer's Guide

Silestone counter tops are an engineered stone counter top also known as a "quartz countertop".

Quartz countertops are a man-made product combining natural quartz (an element found in granite) mixed with a binding resin and coloring agents.

This process forms a very hard and durable surface similar to granite in look, feel and performance making Silestone counter tops an excellent choice for your kitchen countertops, bath vanity, wet bar and more...

Other brands such as Zodiac and Cambria make essentially the same product as Silestone counter tops. They are all engineered stone counter tops made pretty much the same way, however.....

Silestone is by far the leader of the quartz countertop market with more distributors, a more efficient production process and more colors to choose from, but the look, feel and function of Silestone isn't significantly different or "better" than the others.

Deciding which product/company to buy will likely come down to color choices and availability from a local fabricator or distributor, which can be an issue. Some of the smaller companies may not have a certified fabricator/installer in your area.

Even though Silestone offers more colors, Zodiac, Cambria and others have different colors so you may want to check around, although....

I do recommend Silestone countertops for the reasons mentioned just above. As the major player in the market, Silestone is able to offer the best service, selection and price. So, unless you spot the exact color you want from a different manufacturer, I'd go with Silestone when choosing a quartz counter top.

Silestone Countertop Colors

Pattern. Like a Zodiac counter top or a Cambria counter top, Silestone counter tops have a very uniform pattern. When compared to granite, engineered stone counter tops can seem kind of boring considering granite has an almost unlimited variety of patterns and colors (and "movement") to choose from.

However, many people prefer this consistent pattern over the entire countertop surface. And one advantage is that Silestone and all other types of quartz counter top slabs can be easily matched up at the seams without a shift in the pattern or color that sometimes happens with granite.

Also, Silestone has a few solid, bright colors like red, green & blue that are not found with granite.

Backslpashes are also available from Silestone in tiles or pre-fabricated mosaics. Click here to see Silestone backsplashes.

Care & Maintenance

They are not heat or scratch proof and can be damaged by intense heat or certain chemicals and food products such as... wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice, coffee, soda, some fruits and vegetables if these substances are left to dry.

Really, it's not much to worry about. The truth is that you would have to try pretty hard and be very neglectful to do any real damage. Silestone quartz can take the constant use and abuse of a kitchen, but damage is possible, so . . .

Always use cutting boards for food prep, trivets under hot pots and pans and wipe up spills before they dry.

Daily cleaning is a snap. Hot water and a sponge are sufficient for keeping things tidy. For more thorough cleaning use a sponge and a non-bleach glass and surface cleaner. I like Simple Green the best. It’s near neutral pH makes it safe on any surface except marble.

Silestone does come with "Microban" which is an anti-microbial treatment. Nothing wrong with this, but it's benefit is hyped a bit. Studies show that granite and quartz countertops already are among the very cleanest of surfaces and do not harbor bacteria. Of course, microban does not replace normal cleaning and won't prevent food-borne illness.

Do not use abrasive powders such as Comet or abrasive scratch pads.
For more Do’s & Don’ts and general countertop maintenance, go to
Care & Cleaning.

Silestone vs. Granite

Both types are excellent, but for a more thorough discussion try the countertop comparison page.

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