Quartz Countertops

Quartz is a crystalline form of a silicon diode and happens to be the second most common mineral found on earth. This mineral is very durable and plentiful, making it a more affordable alternative to granite, which often has a high cost associated with it for the purpose of countertops. Quartz is used in a variety of construction applications, as well as electronics.

Quartz can be found all over the world due to how common of a mineral it is, but two of the largest natural quartz mines in the world are found in Brazil and Arkansas. The largest piece of natural quartz ever found was in Brazil, and weighed a whopping 44 tons. But, you can find quartz on beaches, in rivers and deserts, and on mountain tops all across the globe.

There are a couple of reasons as to why quartz is a popular alternative to granite for countertops, but paramount among these reasons are price and availability. Unlike other stones used for countertops, quartz is typically produced in a factory. That means there’s a virtually endless supply of quartz. Additionally, this added availability makes it considerably cheaper than granite. Some other reasons that quartz is used as an alternative to granite include:

• Color options: quartz can come in a wide variety of colors, including more bombastic colors like cherry red or bright green, but more popularly, quartz is colored to match the kitchen in more neutral colors like brown, cream, or black.
• Nonporous: unlike granite, quartz is a nonporous material. It will not harbor bacteria within the cracks and divots of the stone like other countertop materials will.
• Stain resistant: quartz is entirely stain resistant, so things like juice, oil, wine, tomato sauce, and coffee will have no effect on the color whatsoever.

Quartz is more heat resistant than things like Formica or wood, but when compared to granite, quartz is not as heat resistant. This means you need to take extra care when dealing with hot pans and pots on your quartz countertops. Due to the resin component of quartz countertops, their more vulnerable to direct heat. Make sure to use pot holders, hot pads, and trivets for hot cooking apparatuses and tools on your quartz countertop.

Quartz countertops are an excellent choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops, shower edges, coffee tables, window sills, and fireplaces. Quartz is commonly used for food service counters, conference tables, and reception tops commercially. We don’t recommend using quartz for outdoor applications as too much exposure to UV rays can discolor the stone.