A countertop option that is currently becoming more popular is quartz. It would be easy to assume that this is another word for granite or natural stone, but there is a difference. Unlike natural stone countertops, which are mined from the earth directly, quartz countertops are engineered. Ground quartz is mixed with pigments and polyester resins, which give the resulting stone color and bind it together. The different methods of manufacture give quartz countertops a different set of considerations than natural stone.
One difference between quartz and granite is that the resins in quartz countertops mean that they never need to be sealed. It’s recommended that granite counters be re-sealed once a year, but with quartz that’s not a concern, as the component resins create a permanent seal that remains impervious to moisture throughout its lifespan.
Quartz countertops also allow you more flexibility in the design of your kitchen or bathroom. While in the past, the selection of quartz counter options was more limited than for natural stone, today quartz counters are available in colors and patterns that are a near duplicate of the real thing, and can also be found in a number of different finishes to get exactly the look you want for your home. In addition, quartz counters are more flexible in possible layouts–the resins in it allow cleaner cuts and seams than natural stone, so you can join two pieces more easily. Finally, quartz is just more flexible in the literal sense–unlike natural stone, manufacturers can shape it into sinks or other curves.
Give us a call at The Granite Guy if you want to discuss quartz countertops as an option for your renovation project.