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8 Facts about quartz countertops

The kitchen is a place where food is prepared, using which a person gains energy and strength for a hard day’s work. An important condition is the creation of a suitable atmosphere in the kitchen. In the design process, special attention should be paid to the material from which the working surfaces of the tables are made. Quartz countertops have been incredibly popular for several decades due to the presence of many undeniable advantages over other materials. This material has become so widespread that it is now difficult to find a person who has not seen quartz products in the kitchens of his friends or in the interiors of various establishments. However, despite such a wide distribution, many still do not know what features of quartz countertops brought this material to the list of the best materials for making countertops. Therefore, in this article, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with some facts about countertops made of quartz agglomerate. 

  1. Quartz countertops are 90-96% natural

The first thing you need to know is that the basis of quartz agglomerate is natural quartz – a stone that has long been known in the construction industry, with high-performance properties. 

Specialists would not be specialists if they were not looking for the perfect material for the job. And it was found by mixing natural stone and artificial binders. Quartz is crushed to small fractions, and resins (4–10%) bind it into a single array. More than half a century ago in Italy, this strong and durable material was obtained, which is not inferior to natural stones in beauty but is devoid of their main problem – the presence of pores and cracks, which reduces the life of the material. In the quartz agglomerate, this problem was removed, and excellent building material was obtained, which is stronger than granite, one of the strongest building materials. 

  1. Stain resistance

Thanks to their non-porous structure, quartz countertops are extremely stain-resistant. Countertop stains usually occur when spilled liquid seeps into the pores of the stone. Granite and marble are more prone to staining due to their porosity. 

If you take a close look at old kitchens with stone countertops, you’ll likely notice whitish spots, discoloration, and fading. 

Since quartz is non-porous, liquids cannot seep inside and leave stains, even if you forget to wipe up spilled liquid immediately. For most homeowners, especially families with small children, this is a major benefit. 

While quartz is stain resistant, it is not dirt-repellent. Resins and pigments, which make up 10% of quartz countertops, can react with certain chemicals and cause damage to the countertop. 

Avoid contact with bleach, high pH cleaners, permanent markers, paint, paint remover, nail polish remover, glue, and oily soaps. Exposure to these materials can damage quartz countertops and stain them.  

  1. Huge selection of colors and textures

Manufacturers who are engaged in the manufacture of quartz agglomerate pay great attention to their range. They try to offer customers a variety of colors and textures.

To obtain a variety of colors and textures, different methods are used. The main ones are the use of special tinting pigments and additives. By choosing certain pigments, you can get different colors. The texture is determined using various additives, including granite, marble, colored glass, etc. Experimenting with different pigments and additives, manufacturers select the most original and beautiful solutions. 

Thanks to this, customers can choose the appropriate color and surface texture. This process does not stop, and more and more new quartz color options appear on the market. The most popular white quartz countertops are Sparkling white quartz, Arctic white quartz, Iced white quartz

  1. Low maintenance

One of the main reasons people buy quartz countertops is because they are virtually maintenance-free. All this talk about sealing countertops almost since the production of quartz agglomerate – forget about them. With quartz, you never have to worry about sealing and cleaning is a breeze. You simply wipe them down with soap and water.

Special cleaners and polish for quartz are sold today, but they are not necessary. If you’re dealing with severe grease, you can use a degreaser, but in 99% of cases, warm soapy water will suffice. 

  1. Versatility

Quartz is a fantastic material not only for kitchen countertops, but also for bathrooms, fireplaces, bars, and any other area of ​​your home. It is an extremely versatile material due to its durability and variety of colors and designs. So one of the most desirable quartz countertops for the kitchen is Calacatta Laza.

While other materials are limited by their construction and ability to withstand certain elements, quartz has virtually limitless uses. 

  1. Quartz stone delighted people even in ancient times

In ancient times, the ancient Greeks called quartz stone “krustallos” (“ice” in translation). Then the Romans and Greeks believed that this pure mineral is ice, which was created by the gods. And only in the XIV century, it was proved that the quartz stone has nothing to do with ice. These amazing crystals are real stones.

Quartz stone was used in ancient times for the manufacture of bowls, vases, seals, and decorations and was treated with special frugality. 

  1. Eco-friendly

In the manufacture of a great number of building materials, radioactive substances are used. Spending most of his life in his home, a person does not even realize that he receives up to 60% of the total radiation dose while at home. Igneous rocks, such as granite, emit a significant dose of radiation that is harmful to human health). An artificial stone made of quartz agglomerate is free from this drawback. This makes interior elements, in particular quartz countertops, completely safe. The agglomerate has a zero level of radioactivity, which means it does not form harmful X-ray waves, unlike granite and marble. 

  1. You can cut food directly on the countertop without a cutting board

Quartz stone is indeed a very durable material – on the Mohs scale, its hardness is 7. It is inferior in strength only to such minerals as topaz, corundum, diamond. This means that no steel from which kitchen knives can be made can damage the surface of the countertop and spoil its appearance even after decades of active use. A quartz agglomerate top will also be resistant to high temperatures (up to +580°F). But nevertheless, we will never recommend this way of cutting products to our customers. At least because, due to such a high hardness of quartz countertops, the kitchen knives themselves will begin to deteriorate, which is why they will have to be sharpened much more often. Our recommendation is to use cutting boards, but if one is not at hand, the countertop will still not deteriorate. 

What can be said in conclusion? 

Quartz agglomerate is an excellent material for creating durable, comfortable and attractive countertops. A wide range of colors and textures allows you to create a unique interior exactly as you intended and maintain its attractiveness for decades. This material is devoid of many of the shortcomings inherent in other popular materials, and in terms of most user characteristics, it is far ahead of them. A countertop made of quartz will delight you and your guests for many years.

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