One of the biggest mistakes you can make on your end as a homeowner is not considering getting a countertop for your kitchen or bathroom. If you’ve finally decided that it’s time to get one of these, then you’ll be surprised at the number of options available to you. Believe it or not, people take weeks – even months, just thinking about the countertop they’ll get.
There are many types of countertops available but one of the most popular currently is quartz. It’s in one of the top three most popular countertops in the world but it’s slowly making its way to the top. There are a lot of things we know about quartz countertops already but there are other facts that remain a secret even to those who have already owned a countertop like this.
Thanks to its many benefits and right pricing, it’s easy to see why more and more people are picking this type of countertop over anything else. Knowing these secrets we’re about to share about quartz countertops will give you a deeper appreciation of it. You might even use these reasons as justification on why you’ll pick this over any other countertop material.
What you might only know about quartz countertops is that they are a good option because of their good price and quality make. However, the secrets behind quartz kitchen countertops are plenty and very surprising. Some of them are even beneficial for your kitchen or bathroom. Here are the things you don’t know about quartz countertops.
It’s Non-Porous
As with any quartz supplier, they’ll tell you that the biggest benefit of quartz countertops is that they are non-porous. Natural stone countertops like granite, soapstone, and marble are porous. What this means is that there are tiny pores on the surface throughout liquids and other foreign materials can seep into. This is bad for a countertop of course.
Once liquid seeps into the countertop, bacteria and mold could begin to develop. You don’t need to be an expert to know that these are bad for your health. Since quartz is engineered, they are non-porous. You no longer have to worry about it. This makes quartz countertops very easy to maintain as well.
If you have a porous countertop, then you’ll need to take care of it well. Aside from wiping it down regularly, you also have to invest in annual sealing services which turn your countertop into something porous.
Quartz Is Perfect For Many Rooms
We’re talking about quartz as a kitchen countertop material. In reality, though, quartz is perfect for many rooms in the house. Most people use it in their bathrooms too because quartz is non-porous. It doesn’t matter if it gets wet or not. Moreover, the design of quartz fits most rooms as well, making it such a great addition.
If you can, try to get quartz not just for your bathroom, but also for your kitchen as well. This will make your house feel more coordinated – thus looking more exciting too. It’s a great way to up the value of your house as well. Those who want to even use quartz as a dining room table which is a great idea to spruce things up as well.
Quartz Is Everywhere
Believe it or not, quartz is one of the materials that you can find almost everywhere. As it is cheap and easy to source as compared to other natural stones, manufacturers use it to make all sorts of materials. If you’ve been walking around outside on a regular basis, then there’s a good chance you’ve come across quartz without you knowing it.
They are usually used to make floor tiles and even walls. It just goes to show the quality and durability of quartz as a countertop material. The fact that it’s confidently used to be walked on only means that people trust the quality of quartz as a countertop material. Obviously, there are many more uses for the product that we might not even know of.
The Tech Behind Engineered Countertops
The technology that resulted in the creation of quartz countertops originated in the 1960s from a company named Breton Company in Italy. Thanks to them, we now enjoy very durable countertops that are worth every buck we spend on it. Even to this day, the company stands strong as one of the premier makers of countertops.
The process begins when the quartz is pulverized in a long and arduous process. This process is the most important part of creating engineered quartz countertops. The quartz needs to be processed in the right way. It needs to be refined as possible because if it’s too large, then it will be hard to mix it with resin countertops.
To this day, it’s the tried and tested method to create such quartz countertops. Of course, the process has been improved over the last couple of years with the addition of new technology and techniques. It’s just great to see that the traditional method is still embraced to this day.
It’s Not Made Of Pure Stone
Quartz isn’t exactly purely made out of natural stone. It’s a different case as compared to marble, granite, and soapstone. What many people don’t know is that quartz countertops are actually called engineered quartz countertops. This is because some of the material used in making it isn’t actually quartz.
The process of making quartz countertops include mixing crushed quartz crystal with polymer resins. This creates a highly durable countertop material that looks very close to a natural stone countertop. Because of how it’s made, quartz countertops are generally cheaper than other natural stone countertops.
In reality, the quartz countertops are made up of 90% crushed stone. The rest is the resin binders. It’s a good mix as not only does it make the countertop a more viable material. It also makes it cost significantly less. There are not many countertops made like this too which makes quartz more unique.
Thanks To Quartz Granite Prices Are Going Down
Quartz is only becoming more and more popular in the past couple of years. That being said, manufacturers are seeing just how well received this countertop material is. Because the competition has become so one-sided, manufacturers have started to be more reasonable with the price of other countertops to make more sales.
The countertop material that’s mostly affected by quartz’s popularity is granite. Thanks to quartz, the price of granite countertops has gone significantly down in the last few years. People are expecting prices to drop even further as the years go by and as quartz becomes even more popular as the premier countertop choice.
If you’re getting your granite countertop for a big discount, you have none other than quartz to thank. However, thanks to the ever-increasing quality of quartz, why bother picking other materials?
Quartz Doesn’t Compete With Granite
Two of the frontrunners for the most popular countertop materials are actually granite and quartz. Marble used to be at the top but because of its premiere pricing, fewer people are choosing marble as a countertop material. Only those with extra to spend actually get marble as a countertop material. Since they are close to one another, granite used to compete with quartz.
However, that was years ago. Due to the rise in the number of quartz manufacturers and quartz countertop owners, granite no longer competes with it. Moreover, since quartz is engineered instead of being purely made of natural stone, it’s already in a league of its own. It’s easy to see why people see quartz as such a beloved material.
In terms of competition, it seems like quartz is actually more in contention with other manufactured countertops such as steel and solid surfaces. Despite this, quartz stands strong and is able to weather the tough competition that’s given by these cheap and durable engineered countertop materials as well.
It’s Not Hard To Find
One of the toughest parts about other countertop materials is that they are hard to find. Countertops like granite and marble are very popular but despite this, you have to go out of your way to find them. As for quartz countertops, they come from many sources so you can easily get one for your kitchen or bathroom.
Obviously, there’s more to quartz countertops than meets the eye. Learning these important facts will make owning one much better. Of course, you’ll learn to appreciate your quartz countertop more. There’s more to know about quartz countertops other than these things to make sure to brush up on the material more.
These being said, it might be time that you get a countertop for yourself. There are many countertop options to choose from. Marble, soapstone, granite, steel, but we really suggest considering quartz as the countertop material of your choice. It’s going to be a major investment for your home and you’ll reap many benefits from it.
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