Choosing the material for your kitchen island and bathroom vanity tops can either be a make or break deal. With that, there are tons of materials available in the remodeling industry for you to choose from, and engineered quartz stone is one of them.
Quartz is one of the best contenders in the remodeling arena, competing with other popular materials like granite, marble, and solid surface. Before you finally indulge with this cultured stone, let us first discover the interesting facts and features of quartz.
Without any delays, let’s start!
#1 Quartz Isn’t All Made of Stone
Your elegant quartz kitchen countertops are not all 100% made of natural stones, for 5% to 10% of it is polymer resin binders. This compound is mixed together with the pulverized quartz and other minerals in producing your quartz slab.
Further, these cement-based resin binders are responsible for the compact bond of quartz natural stones, giving its impervious strength and anti-stain properties. Due to this fact, it is appropriate to say that quartz is an engineered or cultured stone.
#2 Amazingly! Quartz Is Harder than Granite and MarblE
Based on the Mohs Scale of Hardness, quartz is more durable than granite and marble stone. From the scale of zero (most brittle) to ten (hardest), granite has a rating of 6 while quartz is 7. Meanwhile, marble is known to have a soft and porous surface, so extra care is needed for this material.
The superb strength of quartz is attributed to its composition, that it is made up of 90% quartz minerals, whereas granite only has 60% content.
#3 There Is One Single Technology for Producing Quartz
It was Breton who first manufactured quartz, and their process was called Bretonstone. Around 50 companies are availing a license to Bretonstone technology in producing their compound stones like quartz.
Some of the famous brands using this technology are Cambria, Caesarstone, and Silestone. With this, you are confident of enjoying standardized quality for the different types of quartz countertops.
#4 Quartz Discolors When Exposed Under Extreme UV Rays and Heat
Unlike granite, marble, and soapstone, your cheap and high-end quartz countertops will discolor when exposed for long hours under the sun’s rays and intense heat. You need to take note of this when you plan to install quartz kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Consequently, we recommend this stone countertop to be used indoors so that it won’t be exposed to UV rays. In comparison with marble, quartz still has a lower maintenance and cleaning requirement making it a better choice.
#5 The Roots of Cambria Quartz Countertops
Cambria is one of the dominant quartz countertops brands in the U.S market, and its mother company is a cheese manufacturer. It is the Davis family who owned Cambria where their first business was dairy production.
They started venturing in the producing quartz stone in 2000 while preserving their dairy business on the other line.
#6 Quartz Is Catching Up With Granite
Granite is considered the Rolls Royce for stone countertops until quartz came into the market. This engineered stone took a huge chunk of granite’s market in the remodeling industry, which pushed granite in improving its marketing strategy and production.
Consequently, most modern homes and commercial establishments go for white quartz countertops to spruce their elegance and pristine looks. Likewise, it is an excellent choice for those with smaller kitchens and baths.
#7 Bretonstone Is Not French Origin
The word Breton Bretonstone is a mixed word consisting of “bre” for “patents” and “ton” for the family name of Marcello Toncelli (founder of Bretonstone technology).
#8 Quartz is Naturally Non-Porous
Cleaning your kitchen island or vanity tops can be cumbersome and time-consuming, so you want to choose a material that can resist stain and moisture. Fortunately, your engineered quartz stone is naturally non-porous because of the mixed polymer resin binders in its composition.
#9 Quartz Are Green Countertop Materials
Most natural stones are mined from mountains which means the environment is disturbed as the raw materials are extracted out beneath the soil. In contrast, 90% of the crushed quartz and minerals used for producing engineered quartz stones are waste-products and recycled ones from different mining companies.
Further, the polymer resins mixed in the process are more natural than man-made, so you can assure it does not pollute the environment.
#10 The Presence of Quartz Lowered Granite’s Prices
Before quartz was introduced in the market, granite’s price was skyrocketing due to its huge demand in the remodeling industry. However, when quartz quickly gained popularity, granite’s prices slowly went down which is a good thing for customers.
Contact Us
We always want what is best for you, especially for choosing the best quartz countertops for your kitchen and bathroom remodeling. KNC Granite is one of the authorities when it comes to the premier class of stone countertops at a reasonable price.
Whether you want white or black quartz countertops, our team will guide you every step of the way. With us, we make sure there is value for money on your stunning engineered stone countertops and backsplashes.
For an in-house inspection or free estimates, contact our office today.
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