How Thick Should Quartz Countertops Be?

Shopping for quartz countertops requires more than just choosing colors, patterns, textures, and surface finish options. Since the slabs that will be installed in your kitchen or bathrooms are three-dimensional objects, their measurements will be expressed in terms of length, width, and depth. Even though engineered stone can be manufactured with just about any dimensions, the thickness of slabs intended for countertop installations are standard: 1 centimeter to 3 centimeters, 3/4 of an inch, and one inch plus 1/4. Many manufacturers who cater to the prefabrication market will make their thinnest slabs with 1/2 inch measurements for the purpose of making the edging process easier. Here are a few things you need to know about the thickness of quartz and what might be best for your particular countertops. Thin Slab Applications For the most part, 1 cm quartz slabs are sold to manufacturers of prefab counters. The kitchen center islands and bathroom vanities you can buy at home improvement stores—the kind that require minimal installation work—often feature quartz slabs that are about 1 cm to 1/4 thick. In some cases, the edge has been glued to the slab, thus making it appear thicker. In other cases, the countertop will look like a laminate piece with almost no edge. Vertical panels for bathroom walls and surrounds can also be thin since the edges aren’t so visible. Standard 3/4-Inch Countertops You’ll generally want the 2 cm or 3/4-inch quartz countertops, which can sometimes be found as prefabricated options but are most commonly sold as slabs that require cutting, edging, and custom installation. Although these slabs are twice as heavy as their 1 cm versions, they won’t require a lot of plywood support underneath unless the area is larger than 24 square inches. The edge will conceal the plywood pieces installed for support. Thick Quartz Countertops Large counter areas need to be topped with larger and thicker slabs, particularly when you’re looking for custom edging that resembles crown molding. When quartz slabs are installed in commercial kitchen operations, thicker is always better even if no edging is requested because the countertops will be solid enough to sit on top of the structure without supporting material underneath. The counter, cabinets, or vanity will have to be sturdy enough to support thicker countertops. Thinner slabs require more joining to make them sturdier. On the other hand, thicker slabs can be manufactured and cut to the exact dimensions of your counters. Even if you opt for a thinner look in terms of interior design, thicker is better for larger areas because contractors can design edges to make the slabs appear thin. Maintenance of Thick and Thin Quartz Countertops The thickness of quartz slabs doesn’t play a part in their maintenance. The manufacturer will permanently seal the surface, which means you only need to worry about cleaning and polishing with a specially formulated combination quartz cleaner and polish. Granite Gold Quartz Brite®, in addition to being the first-of-its-kind solution for quartz, is the most convenient solution for both cleaning your quartz countertops and keeping them looking glossy. For more information on quartz and natural-stone care, reach out to Granite Gold® today. Our products are safe to use on quartz as well as granite, marble, travertine, and other types of natural stone. Call us at 1-800-475-STONE (7866). To find a store near you that carries Granite Gold® brand products, use our handy Store Locator.