Everything You Need to Know About Quartz Countertops

Quartz kitchen countertops have certain qualities that make them special, even among other stone countertops like granite. You can find quartz kitchen countertops in many colors—from bright whites to cool grays, warm creams, and rich browns and blacks. Some quartz has veining that makes it look like marble. And some options contain mirror chips that reflect light and appear to make the countertops sparkle.

Quartz is a great choice for its durability, ease of cleaning, and color selection. Here are some facts to know about this material and what makes it a top pick.

What Is a Quartz Countertop?

Quartz countertops are a form of engineered stone made from ground-up particles of quartz bound together with resins. The industry is increasingly using the term engineered stone to refer to this type of countertop in order to differentiate it from natural stone.

What are Quartz Countertops Made Of?

Quartz countertops are not made of solid quartz, but a mix of 90% crushed granite, marble, natural stone, or recycled industrial waste, such as ceramic, silica, glass, and mirrors. The other 10% is a polymeric or cement-based binder that binds all the material. The mix of these materials gives quartz countertops the look and feel of stone.

Quartz countertops can include some amount of actual quartz, but they contain no solid quartz extracted from quarries. The 90% of stone-like materials that form the base of quartz countertops are all waste byproducts of other quarrying or manufacturing processes, which makes quartz an eco-friendly countertop option.

All Quartz Countertops Are Made Using Bretonstone Technology

Bretonstone Technology is a patented process created by the Breton company in northeast Italy. The process consists of blending pulverized natural stone aggregate with a mix of polymers, removing the air, and then heating and shaping the material into slabs that have the hardness and appearance of natural stone. 

Bretonstone Technology has been licensed to more than 50 companies around the world, including such famous quartz brands as Silestone, Cambria, and Caesarstone. While these manufacturers add their own flair and nuances to their engineered stone countertops, they're still working off the original patent, from Breton.

Quartz Has Excellent Durability

Quartz kitchen countertops are nonporous, so they don't need sealing like granite or marble do. This also means quartz does not get water stains easily.

In addition, quartz does not scratch easily; in fact, granite tends to scratch easier than quartz. However, extreme pressure can cause a scratch, chip, or crack.

The good news is it’s possible to buff out light scratches with polish and get your countertops looking like new again. It’s also possible to fix deep scratches using an epoxy filler. However, the key is scratch prevention by doing things like always using cutting boards.

Is Quartz Better Than Granite

Quartz is more durable and less porous than slab granite, which is a natural stone. For years, quartz tried to play the natural stone game, and it was all about deciding between quartz kitchen countertops vs. granite. These days, the popularity of quartz has driven down the price of granite.

Here are a few of the key differences between quartz and granite countertops:

While granite-look quartz materials still ply the market in huge numbers, quartz that looks like nothing else is an increasingly popular segment. One example is Caesarstone. As if "modern" weren't a current-enough style category for consumers, Caesarstone now has an "ultra-modern" category with offerings such as Apple Martini, Blizzard, and Crocodile.

How Much Does Quartz Cost

Quartz countertops cost $50 to $150 per square foot on average and are generally cheaper than granite and marble, yet more expensive than options like laminate or butcher block. Grade-specific quartz prices vary as follows:

• Low-quality quartz: $50 to $65 per square foot
• Mid-quality quartz: $65 to $75 per square foot
• High-quality quartz: $75 to $150 per square foot

The main difference between low-quality and high-quality quartz is the makeup of the mixture. For example, low-quality quartz has about 12% resin and high-quality quart has about 7% resin. Other factors that may drive up the cost of quartz include features and customizations like the following:

• Edge treatments
• Corner treatments
• Sink installation
• Plumbing add-ons
  

Are Quartz Countertops Easy to Clean?

You can easily keep quartz countertops spotless with the occasional wipe with a soft cloth and warm water. Tougher messes will benefit from a small amount of dish soap or a cleaning spray that is safe for quartz countertops. Fortunately, quartz countertops are resistant to staining and don't require sealing like granite, so you don't have to worry about everyday messes.