How to Choose the Best Quartz Countertop for Your Home
| If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your kitchen or bathroom countertops with quartz, you’re hardly alone. When it comes to trendy construction materials, quartz is king in 2018. This engineered stone has quickly matched granite as a preferred choice for countertops, and this preference could very well last for decades to come. In case you’re not familiar with quartz, it’s the gorgeous, glossy material you often see on the floors and counters of high-end shopping malls and luxury hotels. Choosing the perfect quartz slab for your countertops is the fun part of your home improvement project. Here are some recommendations to consider when shopping for quartz. Color and Patterns Until a few years ago, homeowners predominantly chose creamy white quartz slabs because they look exactly like fine Carrara marble. These days, quartz distributors carry a more diverse range of colors and patterns. Most homeowners search online for images of various natural stones such as granite, travertine, and quartzite, which is a good strategy since most quartz variations are sold based on the stones they mimic. If you settle on white, for example, the store is bound to offer five tones and patterns, but you can always bring a few samples home to help you narrow your choices. Make sure to check how the samples look under natural and artificial lighting. Surface Finish and Edges The general recommendation for surface finishing is as follows: modern interior décor calls for a glossy finish, while a brushed finish is more adequate when the style is rustic or traditional. If the surface feels too artificial to the touch, a brushed finish will make it feel more natural. Edges are a matter of personal preference. Beveled edging looks better when the cabinets have grooves or recessed features, while rounded edges go with just about everything. Finding Quartz within Your Budget For the most part, quartz is more affordable than exotic marble and comparable in price to granite. You will generally pay less for prefabricated quartz countertops as long as you like the color, texture, finish, and edges. If your budget allows it, you can browse the store catalog of color and texture options and order a slab to be manufactured to your specifications. Care and Maintenance of Quartz Countertops When it comes to maintenance, quartz is the right choice. All homeowners want the best look for their bathrooms and kitchens, but they also want an option they can use without having to worry about stains, etching, or breakage. Although quartz is not bulletproof, it’s more durable and rugged than natural stone. You can have the look of fine marble without rushing to reseal the surface just because you forgot to wipe away excess water. A specially formulated quartz cleaner and polish is the only solution you’ll need to apply on your new countertops to keep them looking like new. For tips on how to clean natural stone such as granite and marble or engineered stone like quartz, reach out to Granite Gold®. Call 1-800-475-STONE (7866) to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives. |
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Posted on August 22 2018