Say Buh-Bye Granite And Hello To Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are making their début in kitchens and bathrooms everywhere and they are doing so with class and style.
Since natural quartz is one of the hardest minerals on Earth, it makes sense it would make the perfect material for countertops.
Yes To Quartz Countertops
Quartz is known for its superior durability and performance while granite is only about 40% to 60% quartz, along with other softer minerals and impurities.
Maintenance is easy with quarts – all you need to do is wash it with warm water and use a mild soap. That’s exactly how I take care of my granite countertops as well. Experts say that granite is a porous stone and needs to be sealed regularly with a chemical treatment. They warn us it can absorb liquids and food risking potential staining and bacterial growth within the countertop.
While I do use a granite treatment product at least twice a year to keep them in great shape, I haven’t had any issues with my granite countertops so far.
I was talking to a dear friend the other day and he was telling me how he just installed a quartz countertop in his newly designed home and how thrilled he was with it. While I do prefer the look of quartz, it’s a huge investment to replace countertops and not something I will be doing in the near future.
Granite countertops are quarried naturally from the earth as enormous chunks of stone. Soon after they leave the quarry, they are cut and polished into the familiar countertop shape.
Quartz countertops contain crushed quartz mixed with resin in a ratio of 93% quartz to 7% resin. They are manufactured in a variety of different patterns and colors.
Quartz countertops are just as strong as granite but have the added benefit of being more flexible. This makes it easier to work with during the installation process.
They look simply divine in any bathroom or kitchen.
I appreciate that quartz is non-porous and does not need any sealing – ever. These stones offer a virtually no-maintenance material solution for countertops.
There is one drawback that you should definitely take note if you are considering installing a quartz countertop – these countertops can discolor over time when exposed to direct sunlight. If you have a part of your counter that receives some of the UV rays from the sun while another part doesn’t, over time you may see a color difference.
Also, you can expect to see seams with a quartz counter but they will be less visible if you choose a slab that’s darker in color.
While trends are always changing, I love the look and durability of quartz countertops and will be sure to do some heavy research before installing it into my kitchen or bathroom.
Even though the appearance of quartz is not uniform, they can still be very appealing to most. It’s important to remember these stones are coming right out of the earth and are not perfectly designed by nature. For some of us, this design look and style is a benefit, while for others, it will be considered it to be a drawback.
My countertops are about 12 years old, and I think they are holding up very nicely and still look great.
PIN IT For Later!
And as always, thanks so much for stopping by! If you like this post, Say Buh-Bye Granite And Hello To Quartz Countertops, subscribe via email below and never miss a post again!
It is great to know about Quartz countertops instead of Granite and I hope to someday be lucky enough to get new countertops and will remember your tips.
Wowzers what a gorgeous selection of countertops!! So much inspiration!
Thanks so much, Sue. I love quartz. It’s such a beautiful mineral. Imagine an end table top covered with it? Ohlala!
Hi Sam, oh gosh, I love quartz. There’s so much you can do with it. It’s one of my favorite minerals for sure!
Carolann
I feel quartz is far better than the granite countertops. But, it’s pricey and I can’t afford to it right now. So I’m going with granite countertop this time. However, quartz is always a better option when you have money and you can’t afford time to maintain it. Because quartz requires very less time to keep it clean and don’t pose any other risks. I was very confused when I started to build my dream kitchen such as which material and equipment to choose. But, now I feel the kitchen basics are getting cleared over time and I hope I would come up with the dream kitchen in a budget within some weeks. Anyways, thanks a lot for sharing your thought.
Hi Carol, I agree. I have granite as well and I do love them. The quartz does look stunning! I love it in bathrooms too. Thanks much for stopping by and good luck with the remodel!
Carolann