The Top Three Benefits of Installing Quartz Countertops In Your Home

Academy Marble | June 5, 2019

Durability, availability, and versatility are the top three benefits of quartz countertops.

Quartz stone has a loyal following from homeowners and professionals alike. Not only is this engineered stone coveted for its beauty, but also loved for its low-maintenance and hard-as-nails durability.

It’s an excellent choice for homeowners with busy kitchens who are concerned about countertop scuffs, etches and discoloration, but also want the look of natural stone. Quartz mimics the appearance of natural stone but also comes with some added benefits. Here’s why engineered quartz is a great option for your next countertop upgrade or addition.

New York designer Adriana Solmson chose Caesarstone for this contemporary kitchen

Benefit #1: Durability

Natural stone surfaces are porous. To prevent food and oils from soaking into and staining or etching their surfaces, natural stone countertops must be regularly sealed. Sealing involves covering the natural stone surface with a sealant and letting it soak into the stone before wiping the excess away. It’s not a difficult process, but some of our very busy clients prefer a surface they don’t have to regularly maintain. For these clients, engineered quartz may be a great selection.

Manufactured quartz has a high natural stone content and typically contains between 90 to 94 percent of natural ground quartz. Some brands even include reclaimed materials to make their countertops environmentally friendly. The natural stone is mixed with bonding chemicals that form quartz’s smooth surface. The resulting material is often as hard as natural stone, but without a porous surface.

On the Mohs Scale of Hardness, quartz ranks a 7. Mohs is a rating system for mineral hardness and ranges from 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. The harder the stone, the tougher it will be to etch or scuff. In comparison, marble typically ranks between a 3-5 on this scale, making it a much more fragile material for everyday use. However, no matter what surface you choose, we still recommend protecting all surfaces from heat damage by using trivets and using cutting boards and chopping blocks for food preparation.

Michael J. Nadeau Carpentry LLC of Berlin, CT chose Cambria Oakmoor™ quartz to top this custom island

Benefit #2: Availability

Natural stone is made by Mother Nature and at her whim. For this reason, the availability of a particular pattern or color can be unpredictable. If you have a small kitchen island to cover or dramatic backsplash, a small slab of marble might be perfect for your project. However, if you want the island to match your existing kitchen countertops and the solarium wet bar, you may need a larger, more consistent source of materials.

Cambria Oakmoor™ quartz

Benefit #3: Versatility

Don’t tell Mother Nature, but manufactured quartz comes in virtually every pattern found in natural marble and granite.

This means that you can have the look of beautiful natural stone without the worry of damage from day-to-day use. Take for example, the white-on-white bathroom trend. This look is not complete without a gorgeous marble vanity as the centerpiece. However, marble is not recommended for bathrooms because it can easily be damaged by water over time. So, if you love the look of Calacatta marble in your bathroom, you can get close to the same aesthetic by substituting it with engineered quartz. If you would love Black Galaxy granite for your tasting room, but fear the acidic properties of spilled wine may damage your countertops, instead you can find the same look in engineered quartz.

Manufactured quartz also comes in solid colors like lime green and orange. It’s available in a variety of textures from high-polish to the looks of cement and weathered stone. Quartz slabs can also be finished with any standard-edge design from straight angles to curves, making it highly versatile.