Four Reasons to Choose Quartz Countertops for your Kitchen

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Although I love the look of leathered granite, the elegance of marble, and the warmth of concrete countertops, are they really the wisest choices for a kitchen? I think with countertops we’re guilty of choosing form over function.

Henry and I have discussed this topic on numerous occasions, including in our current build. At one point we had our minds made up that we were going to put leathered granite in the new kitchen. But now we have decided that there are just too many things about quartz that we would miss.

So what is Quartz? If you’re not familiar with the countertop material, it is a man-made stone. Only about 10 percent of it is made of natural materials, and that is crushed up granite, marble, and sometimes actual quartz. It also can have recycled materials in it like grass and silica. It’s all held together with a cement-based binder.

So, I want to point out the four reasons why we love Quartz and why it might be the best choice for your kitchen counters.

Appearance and Choice

While granite and marble may look more natural and have a variety of choices, it is hard to find the exact piece you love. It may even take some searching miles away to find the one that fits the look you are going for. When we were shopping for granite, we put lots of miles on our car.

Quartz will be a predictable cut slab with few if any imperfections.

We felt like all of the granite we were seeing was way too busy looking. There was too much going on in the veining and patterns.

But then we started looking at Quartz and it was much more subtle. But if you want veining, they do offer choices that look like marble without noticing the difference at first glance.

Maintenance

From having Quartz countertops for over three years, I can tell you this is my favorite pro. They are so easy to keep clean! It’s as easy as soap and water and a nonabrasive cloth. Since it is not porous like natural stone, there is no need to seal Quartz. This also means that bacterial growth is a non-issue.

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They resist permanent staining when exposed to liquids as long as taken care of within reason. I cannot say the same thing about our marble. With having marble in our bathrooms, we have been very careful, but still managed to stain in places. It seems inevitable with Marble.

Durability

Quartz is far more durable than any other countertop. It can withstand heat up to 204 degrees Celsius. I have actually sat a hot pot directly on my current countertops. So this one is tested and approved! For extreme cooks, this would be the way to go for sure.

Because of the makeup of materials within Quartz, it is also very unlikely to scratch unless in the most severe cases.

Cost

Sure, Quartz is not cheap, but it’s comparable to granite. Quartz can range anywhere from $80 dollars to $140 per square foot and Granite from $80 to $175. Marble is normally a significant amount more. This all depends on the color and variation choice.

Considering that Quartz is a nearly indestructible material, I would say that is a good deal.

I will add that I have noticed lots more reasonably priced sale offers on Quartz. This is due to it becoming more popular and widely available over the years.