The countertops in this Bonsall, CA house were manufactured by Ceasarstone®. This modular house was … [+]
Photo courtesy of photographer Daniel Hennessey for Prefabulous Small Houses by Taunton Press
In the not so distant past, homeowners in luxury homes all wanted granite countertops. But in the last several years many of these homeowners are looking for quartz as an alternative countertop material. Unlike natural stones, such as granite, quartz is an engineered stone, which means the stone is not being used in its natural state.
Quartz is made up of about 90 to 95 percent ground up quartz, mixed with about 5 to 10 percent polyester resin and polymers as a binder with pigments for color. It is one of the hardest and most abundant minerals on earth.
One of the advantages of using Quartz is the abundance of color options and the consistency in the slabs, unlike natural stones. Since pigments are added in the manufacturing, there are unlimited colors available, which is not so with natural stones.
The countertops in this accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in Vancouver, BC are quartz. The … [+]
Photo courtesy of photographer Colin Perry for Prefabulous Small Houses by taunton Press
Another major advantage is that quartz is nonporous, which means it’s resistant to mold and bacteria. The stone will not harbor harmful bacteria from raw food. In a kitchen this can be a major advantage, particularly for those who are physically challenged. Quartz does not require regular polishing and sealing so it almost maintenance free, other than washing it with warm water and a mild soap.
Quartz is very durable and resists stains, scratches, and impact. It can however be damaged by heat, if a hot pot or pan is put directly on the countertop. A trivet is therefor required in these type situations.
One of the few negative sides to quartz is that dark colors can fade with an abundance of light coming into the house. In those light filled locations, either a light color quartz should be used or an alternative stone.
Most of the manufacturers of quartz are also very environmentally conscious. Caesarstone, one of the manufacturers of quartz is certified by Greenguard (The Greenguard certification program, administered by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) assures homeowners, builders, and specifiers that certified products designed for use in indoor spaces meet strict chemical emissions limits, contributing to the creation of healthier interiors) for indoor air quality and the company also offers a lifetime warranty on its products. Cambia, another manufacturer, claims that “100% of the water we use to polish our surfaces is recycled, saving an estimated 1.6 billion gallons of water per year.”
Quartz is a commonly discarded product of other mining industries, so it is putting the stone to good use and helps eliminate waste. In short, quartz is a very eco-friendly material, which explains its popularity with environment-conscious homeowners and builders.
Some additional manufacturers of quartz include, Silestone, Santamargherita and Zodiaq.