Quartz is a man-made material. Quartz slab manufacturing starts by taking the strongest part of granite, natural quartz. The natural quartz is then blended with other raw materials and polymer resins. Quartz is often referred to as “engineered stone” or “re-engineered stone”, this is because the manufacturing process mixes approximately 95% ground natural quartz with about 5% polymer resins. The combination of strong natural quartz gives quartz countertops great durability while the resins help to make the product non-porous (unlike natural stones). There are a number of manufactures, colors, and brands of quartz slabs. Each slab is created using the same general process, however brands will differentiate themselves with their selectiveness in raw materials, quality control, country of origin, and stylized colors. The brand, along with the popularity of a color, and the complexity of its design will influence the raw slab price from the manufacturer.
Why Choose Digital Slab Layout for Quartz?
Just like natural stone, quartz can vary in pattern, color, and consistency. Grain matching, color variation, and specifying areas within a slab are only available with our Digital Slab Layout process. Check out our “Is Digital Slab Layout Right for Me” video for more information.
How to Clean and Take Care of Quartz?
Our suggested quartz cleaner, MORE Surface Care , makes quartz care easy because it is a mild, non-abrasive pH balanced cleaner. Simply apply with a soft cotton cloth or paper towel. A mild soap and water can also be used if desired. Do NOT expose, to abrasive cleaners. Quartz is resistant to but NOT heat proof, chemical proof, or chip proof. Various chemicals are corrosive and/or erosive in their ability to attack any structure, including quartz. To keep your countertops looking beautiful be very aware of these potential damages to its surface.Â
Most Popular Quartz Colors and Trends
Quartz’s most popular colors and styles are the marble look-a-likes. This is followed closely by grays and then less speckled patterns. Natural stone often lacks durable options in these areas so quartz manufactures have skillfully seen the market’s need in these areas. Quartz is doing a great job of looking like marble, going so far as to mimic natural marble’s imperfections and veining characteristics. It seems every few months, there is a new quartz that outdoes what we previous thought was the best imitation!
What is the Best Quartz Countertop Brand/Color? What is the Cheapest Quartz Countertop? Our Breakdown:
While each customer has different priorities to consider for their individual project. Speaking objectively about the various quartz brands; ALL brands Stone Masters offers must meet our in-house quality standards. So from brand to brand there is VERY little difference in the actual material. Much more important is the expertise and professionalism of your fabricator. Specifically regarding the differences between lines like Cambria and Ceasarstone or Emerstone and Q. Cambria and Ceasarstone market their product as a “premium” and are made in the USA. While Emerstone and Q aim to be a low cost leader in the quartz market and source their stone globally from countries like Israel, Turkey, China, Canada, and even the USA. With any quartz brand consider if your slabs would benefit from digitally laying-out your counters on parts on the slabs. Many slabs, the newer ones especially, may include areas which have very color variation, inclusions, or veining just like natural stone.