5 Reasons You'll Love Quartz Kitchen Countertops
Quartz kitchen countertops have earned a place in many people’s kitchens due their durability, low maintenance upkeep and high-end, stone look. You can also purchase quartz countertops in a surprising amount of colors and marbling patterns to give your kitchen the exact aesthetic you want, whether that’s crisp and modern or vintage and cozy. But wait, there are more reasons to love quartz for your kitchen countertops. As third-generation Stone Care Experts, we’ve had the chance to hear many people share their thoughts on quartz and these are five of the most common things they say.
1. Quartz Kitchen Countertops Are Great for Families
If a sleek, white kitchen is a dream of yours, but coffee spills, pasta sauce and other food messes are also a reality, quartz may be a great option for you. Because it’s a non-porous stone, it doesn’t need to be sealed like other natural-stone options. Nor will it easily absorb colors and substances on its surface.
Even a bright-white quartz kitchen countertop can easily be wiped off with no evidence of the mess that was just there. That being said, it’s not stain-proof. Certain colors can cause stains and acidic foods can cause damage to your quartz kitchen countertops over time, so we always recommend wiping them down after food prep and any spills. But, when it comes to day-to-day use, your kitchen will be fairly spill-proof and kid friendly, all while maintaining a luxurious focal point in your kitchen.
2. Most Quartz is Virtually Scratch-Proof
Quartz is an extremely strong, manmade stone. So, you can say hello to a durable solution that won’t reveal nicks and scratches for years to come. In the natural-stone world, we use the MOHS hardness scale to rate the durability and strength of different minerals. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest (diamonds are rated a 10), quartz is rated a 7. This is slightly ahead of granite, which is rated a 6, and leagues ahead of other countertop options.
Purchasing quartz kitchen countertops is quite literally making a lifetime investment. And knowing that you may not ever need to replace your countertops helps make the higher price tag much more reasonable. Despite its appearance, though, it’s important to note that quartz is not natural stone. Quartz is fabricated (sometimes it is called engineered or manmade) from more than 90 percent crushed natural quartz and resin, whereas granite and other natural-stone countertops are quarried directly from Mother Earth. That’s why it’s important to always understand the stone you’ve selected for your kitchen — and the special care instructions that come with it.
3. There are Endless Quartz Countertop Colors
There is no question that quartz kitchen countertops are a timeless, luxe look. Homeowners love the countless colors, marble patterns and quartz countertop thicknesses available. They offer a wide variety of quartz countertop ideas. Want a classic? The most popular countertop choices are white quartz or marble quartz because they add a very modern and elegant look to any kitchen.
4. Quartz Countertops Offer a Uniform Appearance
Natural-stone countertops are quarried straight from the Earth. And, while the installers will have some options when it comes to finding the ideal placement for your countertops, it’s normal to expect some imperfections or irregularities in the marbling and coloring. It’s what makes natural stone so unique compared to engineered or man-made stone.
With quartz, however, the marbling, colors and other aesthetic factors are engineered for the exact look you want. Some manufacturers can even pigment their quartz kitchen countertops to mimic the appearance of other types of natural stone.
5. They’ll Give Your Kitchen a Luxe Look for Years to Come
Quartz is a nearly indestructible, non-porous and versatile kitchen countertop option that gives your home the high-end look of natural stone. And, when taken care of correctly, they are likely to last a very long time. Even in a heavy-use area such as your kitchen, quartz countertops can last 15 or more years. But, while quartz requires slightly less maintenance than other natural-stone options, it is still fabricated from more than 90% crushed natural stone.
Although it may hold up well against a spilled lunch, it is still susceptible to the harsh chemicals in common household cleaners. We recommend only using pH balanced cleaners and polishes. If you want to know how to clean quartz countertops, Granite Gold Quartz Brite® was the first-of-its-kind specifically formulated to clean and polish quartz kitchen countertops simultaneously. It is pH neutral, safe on food-prep surfaces and free of any abrasive chemicals such as bleach and ammonia, which will damage your quartz countertops.
As you can see, there are many reasons to love and want quartz kitchen countertops in your home. When it comes to such a high-traffic room, having a countertop that is durable, difficult to stain or damage and easy to clean is a logical choice. And, when you include the fact that many fabricators also include the Granite Gold® Protection Plan, which protects against accidental damages such as stains, etches, chips and more, that makes it an even more worthwhile investment.
To read more on quartz countertops or other natural stone, check out our other articles. If you have any more specific questions pertaining to caring for your stone and need some advice, you can give our Stone Care Experts a call at 1-800-475-7866. Also, be sure to check out the full line of stone care and other related products from Granite Gold®.