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Hello All, I hope you are all staying safe and doing well during this crazy time. Today I want to share with you the pros and cons of quartz countertop also known as Engineering stone. You will be learning everything you need to know about quartz so you will leave with a pretty good knowledge about what quartz is and weather it’s a good fit for your kitchen, vanity, etc..
Quartz countertop is in high demand now because it is more modern. Quarts countertop is more popular now because it has low maintenance and who does not love a low maintenance countertop especially for kitchen.
Today we will be looking in to:
- What is quartz?
- Pros and cons of Quartz
- Pros Explained
- Cons Explained
- Should you choose Quartz?
What Is Quartz?
It is very important you understand what quartz is and how it has been made. You might have heard that quartz is man made material. But this is not entirely true because quartz is not man-made quartz is a Mineral composed of silicon and oxygen. It is the most abundant mineral on earth. quartz is not man made but they are man Engineered.
The manufacturers make quartz by grinding natural quart into powder and combine it with other natural and synthetic material, like polymers, resins, and pigments. The Resins and polymers bind the quartz together and this makes the material hard and durable and the pigments are added to make color. In some manufacturers they even use recycled glass. Instead of the pigments.
Pros and cons of Quartz Countertops
Pros:
- Maintenances- free
- Scratch resistance
- Stain Resistance
- Heat resistance
- Hard to chips
- Very durable
- No pores
- Affordable
- Variety of colors
- warranty
Cons:
- Does not mimic granite
- Cannot use with direct heat
- Some styles may be more expensive
Quartz Pros Explained
As you many all have heard quartz needs no maintenance meaning you do not have to seal or polish quartz. One of the most important things anyone who is changing countertop is looking for maintenance free material because with quartz never have to worry about it.
Quartz has Many things that we can investigate and the three most important things to investigate is that quartz is scratch resistant, heat resistant, and stain resistant. These are very important because you can cut your vegies, place your hot bowl of soup, it will not damage your countertop. Also, if you spill you glass of wine on the countertop and forget to wipe it down do not worry quartz is stain resistant it will not stain.
One of the reasons people choose engineering stone(quartz) is because it is very durable. If you want something that wont crack or chip quartz is your way to go. The resins and the polymers in quartz makes the material hard and very durable.
Unlike, natural stones that has Microscopic pores the engineered countertops have no pores. The reason you do not want pores in your countertops is because the pores allow liquid to seep beneath the surface, and this can cause staining and discoloration and damage that no one wants in their countertops. And that is why quartz is stain resistant.
If we were to talk about prices and put all the benefits of quartz, I would say that quartz id very affordable depending on the style and colors you choose. Not to forget that in all material there is a low cost and a high cost. I would say that quartz fall in the middle price range.
Quartz Cons Explained
If you are the person who like the natural flow veins unfortunately quartz can not mimic natural stone. So, if you are the person that love the natural look for your countertops you will be better off with Granite.
Something that has been very common now is the Fireplace remodeling and outdoor barbeque unfortunately, quartz can not be left outside in the sunlight and cannot be kept near direct hear. So, this makes the quartz not durable for wood burning fireplace and outdoor barbeque area that has direct sunlight. This is because of the rapid temperature change quartz may not withstand the heat.
Quartz Warranty
As for quartz warranty this all depends on the manufacturer you go with some of the most popular manufacturers are
Cambria: which offers a limited lifetime warranty and it only applies to the original owner. Meaning if you buy a house that already has a Cambria installed you are not qualified for the warranty. Only the person who buys the material is the person is allowed for the warranty.
Cambria Web site: https://www.cambriausa.com/#!/
Silestone: offers a 25-year warranty guarantees your quartz will not have any manufacturing defects. Their warranty is transferable if the original owner completes the transfer warranty papers through Silestone.
Silestone website: https://www.silestoneusa.com/
MSI Surfaces offers a lifetime warranty for residential projects it is limited only to the original owner and warranty is not transferable. The manufacture defects are handled directly through the MSI surfaces.
MSI Surfaces Website: https://www.msisurfaces.com/
Fabrication and Installation
After you decide the company and what material you want you will need to hire a certified quartz fabricator and installer and If you are in San Diego and you are looking for a fabricator and need a referral I personally for all my project through State Stone Work Inc. the do a fantastic job and they work around the time I need the job done. This is not promoted by State Stone Work Inc. this is only based on my experience.
State Stone Work Inc, Website: https://www.statestonework.net/
Should you choose Quartz?
In my opinion I would recommend quartz because as you see above pros have beaten over cons. I would love to have something that has more pros then cons. And most importantly to all of us is that quartz is low maintenance and that is always the winner in my opinion. I hope you have gained some new information about quartz or refreshed your memories about quartz. STAY SAFE.
By: Lidia Jebraeil
