Quartz is one of the most abundantly found minerals on our planet. Though quartz is not a stone, it is definitely one of the most important constituents that make up a stone. For instance, granite is a stone that is made of many materials including feldspar and quartz.
So when it comes to making counter tops out of quartz, it does not necessarily involve solid and hundred percent quartz. Their constituents include about ninety three percent of quartz, while resin blender and colors account for the remaining 7 percent. In fact, we can say that it is a man-made product. Quartz counter tops are not taken out of quarries and cut into slab like other stones including granite. They represent a form of engineered stone counter top, which in this case will be a misnomer, because quartz is not really a stone.
Better ingredients, better countertops
When it comes to hardness of the material, quartz is just second after diamond. The resin used to bind the quartz pieces together is then put under appropriate pressure and heat along with the pieces. The whole process of making a quartz countertop is made non-porous by the resin binder. It succeeds in doing it by entering into the cracks present between the quartz crystals. The result of which is a very durable and hard non-porous countertop.
Quartz countertops may be man-made, but at the same time, they are clean, durable and attractive. Simply put, it is everything you need for a great countertop.
Here are a few advantages that quartz countertops have to offer:
- Non-porous: Because quartz countertops are non-porous in nature, you don’t need to worry about germs or bacteria settling up on your countertop. In fact, a quartz countertop is much less likely to get stained when compared to other natural stones. Many quartz countertops brands now offer countertops that are NSF-certified, which means that they’re completely safe and won’t harbor harmful germs and bacteria.
- Low maintenance: Quartz countertops need not be sealed like other countertops because of their non-porous nature. It means that you won’t have to clear out your counter every two or three years just to seal them.
- Uniform and consistent color patterns: Quartz countertops seem to offer a much more uniform color patterns than some other natural stones. Whatever the color of your quartz countertop is, it is assured that the color will be spread consistently over the countertop surface.
