Choosing a countertop material for your kitchen is no mean feat. There's just so many factors to consider before you place your order. However, among the many options, stone countertops are gaining fast popularity among home owners everywhere.
Stone countertops pose a flurry of benefits, and there are two main materials that are considered stone; granite and quartz. Quartz tabletops in modern kitchens are usually a mixture of about 98% quartz stones bound together by a polymer resin.
A Variety of Colours
Quartz is a striking piece of material that comes in a surprising variety of colours, including rose pink, warm reds, off whites, beige, light green and several more. This means that quartz can be easily incorporated into any design in order to create the mood you're aiming for in your kitchen.
In the modern process for manufacturing quartz slabs, flecks of pigments and various materials can be added to create patterns and swirls that are beautiful and one of a kind.
Sturdy and Long Lasting
Quartz countertops are made from one of the hardest stones around. Unlike granite, quartz isn't made from a single slab of stone, but many pieces that are held together with resins. This mixture renders the surface impermeable to water and resistant to scratches of any kind. The fact that there isn't a layer of sealant means that the material doesn't need a new coat of protective embellishments every year, unlike granite.
Most quartz counter manufacturers give customers about 10 -15 years of warranty, but quartz countertops can actually last for decades, even without any special care or attention.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
Quartz countertops do not need any special regular maintenance, and all you have to do is wipe it down with soap and water when it gets dirty and greasy after cooking. Use soft towels or sponges rather than scouring pads as no hard scrubbing is needed. Apart from that, quartz doesn't allow the growth of bacteria or germs of any kind, so you don't have to worry about preparing your raw ingredients directly on the countertop surface.
Pliable and Easy to Work With
Quartz is one material that's very easy to install and soft enough to cut easily. Even when two slabs need to be attached together, they form a seamless continuation where the borders are almost invisible. Slabs can also be easily shaped into curves and other unique rounded shapes for different parts of the kitchen.
Quartz Drawbacks
Quartz can sometimes be more costly than many other materials, but the price is worth the quality of slabs you'll be getting. Additionally, quartz can only take heat up to about 400 degrees Celsius before cracking, so if you have a heating element like an oven, it will help to place a heat resistant pad underneath it just for extra protection. It may also not be suitable for the outdoors since direct sunlight can cause it to heat up and crack or fade.
Deciding on a material for your kitchen countertop is a decision that should be done after a series of careful considerations. However, once you've made up your mind, you'll need professional installers to help you spruce up your kitchen for posterity! Let our professionals at Kaodim.com help you with that. Submit a request, receive quotes and review portfolios - all for free!