When one thinks of “natural stone” countertops, the first thought that comes to mind is Granite – and no one can argue that Granite countertops can be beautiful. But why is it that Quartz countertops are not immediately thought of? Some think that Quartz countertops are not natural, safe, or do not have a variety of looks. However, Quartz is a natural, absolutely safe countertop that has a constantly changing style.

Quartz is one of the hardest “natural” minerals that exist on our planet – only diamonds, sapphires and topaz surpass it in hardness.  Quartz counter tops are comprised of 93% Quartz and 7% resins and color – that’s roughly a 13:1 ratio.  So if you’re looking for a natural stone countertop, Quartz is an option to consider.

Both Quartz and Granite are strong, scratch resistant, heat resistant, has variable seams and are, of course, beautiful. Due to size limitations of the slab, seams are necessary and sometimes unavoidable in both Quartz and Granite countertops. However, only Quartz is food safe, low maintenance, stain resistant, and has a consistent color. Quartz is naturally non-porous and nonabsorbent, and therefore resists stains from common household items such as coffee, tea & wine. For this same reason, Quartz is also food safe. The nonporous surface reduces the potential for bacterial growth from food absorbing into your countertop. Granite is a porous stone and must be sealed periodically, making it a higher maintenance countertop, as well as increasing its risks for stains and bacterial growth.

The more popular brand names for Quartz countertops include: Cambria, Zodiaq, Silestone, and Caesarstone – with Cambria being the only Quartz surfaces manufacturer in the United States.  The products offered under these brand names are very similar, with the primary difference being in appearance.  New Quartz designs and colors continue to evolve, with the newest Quartz designs on the market exhibiting movement that closely resembles granite and marble, wide range of neutral and vibrant colors, cool textures, and recycled materials.

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Movement: In 2011, Cambria introduced 12 new styles under its “Waterstone Collection”.  The designs were influenced by the natural movement of water over stone.

Wide Range of Colors: Adding to its existing wide range of hues, Zodiaq has added 5 new “spicy” colors to its collection in 2011. Silestone has added three unique colors to its color palette

Cool Textures: With new embossing technologies, we are starting to see a trend in “textured” Quartz, as well as honed (matte) and leather finishes.

KC Cabinetry’s kitchen remodeling showroom have 100′s of Quartz sample to help you decide if Quartz countertops are right for your kitchen remodeling project.