Qualities of Quartz Surfacing

Quartz Countertops: Benefits and Features

Quartz counter-tops, once unknown. Have developed a name over the last fifty years as a high-end surface material. But the process of gaining reputation has been slowed. Even today, quartz counters vie with solid surface (i.e., Corian). And natural stone for kitchens and baths.

Bottom Line

• A hard, man-made counter-top material used in kitchens and bathrooms.
• An agglomerate of stone-like materials mixed with resins and pressed into sheets.
• Excels over natural stone because it needs no sealing. Its resins are the sealants.
• Few imperfections, due to control manufacture.
• Marquee brand names include Caesarstone, Cambria, and Silestone. 
• The Closest rival is a material called solid surface. As both use stone-like materials.
• Do not confuse with laminate, a material mainly composed of wood.

Is it really made of quartz?

Even if you’re not aware of quartz as a name for this material. Then also, you may be familiar with its more prosaic name: engineered stone counters.

In easy terms, quartz counters is 93 percent made up of stone-like materials. And seven percent of binders that are either plastic-like (polymeric) or cement-based. Of those stone-like materials, quartz is just one of several substances.

According to counter-top maker Breton. Other materials include -granite, marble and natural stone generally. Which is coming from either crushed waste stone left over in quarries. Or recycled industrial wastes, such as fragments of ceramic, silica, glass, mirrors, etc.

These stone-like materials offer quartz counters with the hardness. And lack of porosity needed for the heavy demands of cooking. Some manufacturers also combine antibacterial substances.

Italian Lineage

The Italian company Breton. Has patented the process of forming solid surfaces from quartz and resins. All quartz counter brands originated from this single company. This single company, started by one man, Marcello Toncelli. His company’s name, Brevetti Toncelli (roughly which means Toncelli Patents), eventually condensed to Breton (Bre = Brevetti, Ton=Toncelli).

Many companies such as Cosentino (Silestone), DuPont, Cambria. And others used Breton’s patent for his or her own variety of quartz counter-tops. For example, DuPont’s version of the quartz counter-top, called Zodiaq.Silestone’s quartz is just Silestone (since this is often their flagship product).

Benefits and Features

Great Looks. For many consumers, the chief benefit of the quartz counter-top is its natural luster. Unlike laminate, quartz incorporates a deep, nearly 3D look, very similar to natural stone.

Hardness. Quartz is very hard and makes for a decent work surface. And is mainly composed of minerals (contrasted with solid surface counters. Which are about 33 percent inorganic binding resins and rest 66 percent organic minerals). Laminate in no way rivals quartz in this space. Because of laminate’s wood base layer which provide it a hollow feeling.

Few, If Any, Imperfections. Slab granite is a natural product, cleaved straight from the earth and sliced into sheets. Hence, expected that the slab will have imperfections. Installers have a better time handling quartz, than they do with granite. Because it is a predictable material and produces less waste product.

Cost: Rivals Slab Granite

Quartz counters are rarely a bargain. Even compared to other high-cost alternatives such as natural slab granite.

Expect prices to begin at INR 460 and INR 1000 per square foot for good quality brands. Such as Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, or Dupont Zodiaq. For a similar look but lower prices, try a different material–solid surface.

Appearance Is Usually Engineered In

Since quartz counter-tops, generally engineered. So, almost any type of color can be brought out on the surface. By means of pigmentation. Not only that, but other types of materials. Such as stone and glass, often incorporated into this quartz-resin suspension.

For anyone who wants a granite counter-top. It is priceless investigating quartz counters as an alternative. Quartz has much of the chaotic appearance. As does natural stone, without stone’s unpredictability.