Zodiac Counter Top Guide

Are Engineered Stone Counter Tops For You?

The Zodiac counter top is an engineered stone counter top also known as a "quartz" counter top made by the big chemical company DuPont. This is the same company that makes Corian.

Quartz counter tops are a man-made product combining natural quartz (an element found in granite) mixed with a binding resin. This process forms a very hard and durable surface that is similar to granite.

Zodiac quartz counter tops are an excellent choice for your kitchen countertops, kitchen backsplash, kitchen island, bathroom vanity, wet bar or wine cellar.

Zodiac, Cambria and Silestone counter tops are all essentially the same product. They are all engineered stone counter tops made pretty much the same way. Zodiac, Silestone and Cambria are simply brand names marketed by different companies with Silestone by far the dominant player in the market with the most distributors, a more efficient production process and more colors to choose from.

Deciding which product/company to buy will likely come down to color choices and availability from you local fabricator or distributor.

Zodiac Counter Top Colors

30 countertop colors are currently available from Zodiac including whites, tans, ocean blues, rusty reds, sea greens and blacks.

Pattern. Like Silestone and Cambria, Zodiac 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 to choose from.

Preference. Many people prefer this consistent pattern over the entire countertop surface. And one advantage is that Zodiac counter top slabs can be easily matched up without a shift in the pattern or color that sometimes happens with granite.

Care & Maintenance

Resistent Not Invincible. Zodiac counter tops are extremely resistant to chemicals, heat and scratching (just like granite); but 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.

This may sound like all you’re able to do is “look” at your beautiful countertops but, don’t worry. The truth is that you would have to try pretty hard and be very neglectful to do any real damage, but it 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.

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.

Zodiac vs. Granite

It's All Marketing. Despite marketing efforts by makers of engineered stone to try and convince you otherwise, there isn’t any significant

difference regarding performance, function, cleaning or price between granite and Zodiac or other brands of quartz counter tops.

Once this is understood, the decision between granite and Zodiac quartz comes down to color, pattern and perceived value for most buyers.

Value & Options. As mentioned Zodiac quartz counter tops have a limited color palette compared to granite, but a broad range is available to suit many design themes. Granite enjoys a greater “prestige,” if you will, due to it’s natural uniqueness and therefore, a greater perceived value.

However, engineered stone counter tops are excellent countertops with qualities as good as granite. So if you find that perfect color and pattern from Zodiac, then you can bet you’ll be very satisfied.

For a more on this topic see countertop comparison.

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