QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS
Quartz raises the aesthetic appeal and opulence of any kitchen or bathroom countertop. Quartz is one of the strongest countertop materials on the market and will provide years of dependable service while retaining its beauty.
The fact that quartz countertops are offered in a wide range of hues, from vivid to black with a spectrum in between of creams, browns, and grays, is one of their most alluring qualities. This is due to the fact that they can give your countertop the look and feel of natural stone while enhancing it with any color range to produce almost any hue you can imagine.
Granite and marble countertops are both solid stones, whereas quartz is an engineered product. This is a key way in which quartz is different from the other two materials. Quartz, a naturally occurring substance that is abundant in the earth’s crust, makes up roughly 93 percent of quartz countertops. The remaining 7 percent is made up of binder and color.
The quartz is broken down into tiny pieces, combined with a polyester resin binder to keep it all together, and colored with pigment to give it a deeper hue. Some designs are embellished with tiny glass flecks or metallic flakes that reflect light to give them a distinctive appearance. The outcome is a marble-like slab that is both beautiful and incredibly strong.
Here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of quartz countertops.
Quartz Countertop Advantages:
- Excellent options for color, pattern, texture and finish
- Extremely durable
- Quartz doesn’t need to be sealed while natural stone does
- It is non-porous, so resistant to staining and bacteria
- Easy to clean with a damp cloth (and mild cleaner, if necessary)
- Very hard surface is resistant to scratches
- More depth to the finish than is possible with solid-surface countertops
- The resin creates flexibility, so countertops will not chip as easily as granite, marble, tile or concrete
- The combination of quartz dust or aggregate with a binder makes it easy to manufacture slabs of many shapes and sizes to fit your kitchen or bath design
- Seams between slabs are less visible than between slabs of concrete or natural stone
Quartz Countertop Disadvantages:
- Not as resistant to heat as concrete, tile, crushed glass or granite
- Does not have the natural look as stone, since it is engineered (Note: this is not a “con” in the eyes of those who prefer a more contemporary look anyway)
- Quartz countertops are among the most expensive, especially for the best quality and finish
In conclusion, quartz costs a little more than tile, wood, laminate, or some solid surface designs. Additionally, you’ll need to keep a hot pad or trivet handy for pots and pans that have just come out of the oven or a burner.
In exchange, quartz countertops offer exceptional strength, low maintenance requirements, and superior beauty that is consistent with upscale bathroom and kitchen design. The benefits of quartz countertops outweigh the drawbacks for customers looking for a high-end item for their home.
GRANITE COUNTERTOPS
Beautiful granite surfaces are available. The granite countertops you choose may be the last ones your house needs because of their outstanding durability and classic elegance that radiates distinction in the kitchen and bathroom.
Natural stone quarried from vast igneous stone deposits found all over the world is called granite. It starts out as molten magma that slowly solidifies after flowing into other rock formations. The stone is naturally quite rough and textured, but during the countertop manufacturing process, it is ground and polished, giving it a smooth surface with a rich luster.
The variety of minerals that make up granite give each countertop slab a distinct and lovely appearance. For instance, feldspar-rich granite will have vivid red or pink highlights. While quartz adds pink, white, or black hues to the stone, mica creates brown or black veining.
Let’s take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of granite countertops.
Granite Countertop Advantages:
- Among the most beautiful countertop materials
- Accentuate the good looks of quality kitchen cabinets
- Natural stone for those who want an ecofriendly countertop
- Excellent strength and durability with proper care
- Resistant to scratches and damage from heat such as pans or hot hair tools
- Good stain resistance and easy to clean when sealed correctly
Granite Countertop Disadvantages:
- Improper sealing or failure to reseal granite when needed can lead to staining of this porous stone
- Poorly sealed granite may also harbor bacteria
- There are about 20 different colors varieties of granite while other materials are available in 100+ colors and patterns
- Corners may chip or break if a heavy object falls on them
The primary benefits that granite countertops offer are distinctive beauty and exceptional durability when properly maintained, to sum up its advantages and disadvantages. The primary disadvantage is staining, which happens when a homeowner either purchases inexpensive granite countertops that haven’t been properly sealed or neglects to reseal them when necessary.
MARBLE COUNTERTOPS
The amazing natural stone known as marble will give your home the added elegance you desire. They transform a standard kitchen or bathroom into something extraordinary, and the transformation is astounding when new cabinetry and other modern décor are added. Marble countertops are a timeless option when high quality is desired, despite their popularity fluctuating from time to time.
Calcite or dolomite are present in high concentrations in marble, a metamorphic rock. Based on the minerals that give marble its color and veining, there are numerous variations.
Like all materials, there are strengths and weaknesses of marble countertops. Let’s consider them.
Marble Countertop Advantages:
- Every marble countertop is one of a kind
- Unsurpassed beauty
- A rich spectrum of colors and veining
- Several premium finishes that give you just the look and feel you want
- Fits well with most design styles from classic to modern
- Offers outstanding durability when properly cared for
- Excellent resistance to heat
- Develops a light patina with time that gives it an aged, antique look
Marble Countertop Disadvantages:
- Marble is porous and will stain unless properly sealed and conscientiously cleaned
- Must be resealed as often as once per year
- Scratches more easily than granite, especially in high-gloss finishes
- Can be chipped or cracked by heavy items
- Will etch if exposed to acidic materials such as tomato juice
If you purchase marble countertops, be ready to maintain them. Although most homeowners won’t find it to be overly burdensome, it does require you to diligently and quickly clean up spills of oil, liquid soap, and acidic foods and liquids like citrus fruit, juice, wine, and tomato products. Your job will be a little harder if you have kids who are still learning to clean up after themselves.
The advantage is that marble countertops produce an unparalleled and eye-catching allure wherever they are installed.
QUARTZITE COUNTERTOPS
Sandstone underwent metamorphism to become the extremely hard rock known as quartzite. Sandstone is converted into Quartzite, an incredibly strong and long-lasting natural stone, through a process of high heating and pressurization.
Individual quartz crystals recrystallize when heated, giving the material a lovely and decorative sparkling pattern. Due to its durability and strength, quartzite is perfect for any countertop surface. Think about quartzite countertops because of their overall durability, beauty, and strength.
Each slab of quartzite is unique, with veining in various tones of dark and light grey, like all natural stones. Quartzite is a striking feature in any kitchen due to its stunning crystallized appearance.
Advantages of Natural Quartzite Countertops：
– Extremely hard and durable, harder than granite.
– More resistant to scratches and stains than granite
– Heat resistant
– Easy maintenance. No need to purchase expensive cleaners; a simple mixture of soap and warm water will keep the surface looking fantastic.
– Highly resistant to UV rays. Right choice for outdoor applications
– Natural unique stone. Available in a range of neutral colors. Gray and white are now the most popular color choices for kitchens countertops.
Disadvantages of Natural Quartzite Countertops：
– It has a good resistance to stains but wipe out spills as soon as possible.