Quartz Countertops | Cost | Buying Tips | Installation | Maintenance

Quartz countertops
Quartz countertops. Photo courtesy of Theflooringfactory.com

Quartz countertops have surfaces that are hard and resist wear and tear. Quartz is a one of the most highly rated and preferred material in the market as it exudes quality and richness.

Natural quartz is the fourth hardest material available in nature, but quarts surfacing that is used in quartz countertops is actually manufactured by combining about 93% quartz crystals with resin binding and color pigments under high pressure. It is also known as quartz composite or engineered stone.

Quartz countertops look like natural stone and add a luxurious element to your kitchen. Their beauty lasts for a long time inspite of the rugged kitchen work.

Quartz countertops resist staining, scratching and high temperatures. They cannot be etched by chemical cleaning agents and therefore remain smooth and hygienic.

Quartz countertops do not require resealing as required in countertops made of natural stone, and remain smooth and easy to maintain.

Engineered quartz stone does not display veining. Unlike natural stone such as granite, its pattern is consistent and uniform and therefore it is ideal for large countertops.

Due to its uniform appearance the seams do not become obvious as in natural stone countertops.

The edges also look neat and can be carved into various shapes such as bevel, ogee or bullnose.

One disadvantage of quartz countertops is that inspite of costing almost as much as natural stone, buyers prefer natural stone such as granite. Buyers always put a higher value on natural stone countertops, and therefore you must understand that investing in quartz countertops may not increase the resale value of your home.

Although quartz composite is manufactured to replicate the look of natural stone, it may fall short of the naturally formed patterns of natural stone. This limitation can be made good when you consider the many options, the wide color range and the consistent pattern seen on quartz countertops.

Before selecting quartz countertops you may want to compare the engineered stone with samples of natural stone. This will help you arrive at the right choice.

Cost of quartz countertops

Quartz countertops with marble backsplashes
Quartz countertops with marble backsplashes

Quartz countertops are made of engineered material, but their prices work out to be similar to natural stone countertops; therefore they are considered to be on the costlier side. Quartz costs about $50 or more per square foot, which may or may not include installation cost.

This cost is determined by various factors such as the manufacturer, location, size, color and finish. The popular names for quartz countertops are Cambria, Silestone, CaesarStone, HanStone and Zodiaq.

Tips for buying quartz countertops

1. Keep in mind your kitchen décor while choosing the color, design and edge style of quartz countertops.

2. Contrasting colors will always look great. For example, if your cabinetry is of a lighter color, dark quartz countertops will look great. On the other hand if your cabinets are of a darker shade, a lighter quartz countertop would add some brightness and warmth to your kitchen.

3. A good way to understand color complementing is to look up some home décor magazines. For creating an attractive color scheme you can also consult an interior designer.

4. If you are looking at a smaller budget, you can of course combine quartz with uniform colored laminate, but be careful to use the hard and durable quartz near areas of rugged use and also around the sink area, as laminate can be damaged. This combination will be much cheaper and elegant if properly done.

Installation of quartz countertops

You will have to hire an experienced contractor to install quartz countertops. These are heavy and need careful handling. This is not a DIY job and may result in broken slabs if not installed with care.

Before hiring an installer, check out some of his work and see to it that he is certified to do the job. Also, he should be willing to co-ordinate with you and get the job done as per your preferences and customization.

Maintenance of quartz countertops

A good contractor will always advise you about how to use and maintain your newly installed countertop.

Quartz countertops are the hardest countertops you will find in the market and may last a lifetime. They have a smooth, scratch-proof, non-porous and glossy finish. Therefore they are easy to clean; do not get stained and do not require resealing.

Although quartz is hard, you need not use abrasive cleaning materials. Just warm soapy water will be enough.

If you avoid dragging and pounding heavy objects across the surface of quartz countertops, their sheen can be maintained for a very long time.

11 thoughts on “Quartz Countertops | Cost | Buying Tips | Installation | Maintenance”

  1. Dear Ganka,

    I just want to ask, how much material we can use for underlayment of quartz stone when we want to join two slabs of countertops together. Is it necessary to cover all the sub-surface with a special material or not?

    Thanks in advance for your information.

  2. I’m still a bit undecided about what countertop to get. I was thinking of granite or onyx but may now check out the quartz countertops. I’m going to take a look this weekend. I’ll let you know how I get on.

  3. Lori Henderson

    We just had quartz counter tops installed. We had our dishwasher screwed to the bottom of our last counter top, can we screw to the bottom of the quartz. Were afraid it will crack the quartz, were not sure what to do to attach to counter top. Thank you.

  4. Hi Lori,

    It is probably possible but it would be best to hire a professional for this operation. Otherwise, you may crack your beautiful (and expensive as well) quartz.

    Let me know if you have any other questions.

    Regards,

    Ganka

  5. I just had some quartz countertops installed and they said my cabinets weren’t level, so they placed wood shims to level it out. One side has 1/2 in. shims with a large gap between the cabinets and the countertop. It looks awful. Is this normal and what can be done about it?

  6. Hi Kim,

    I understand your troubles but your installers are probably right. It seems that you had to first level the cabinets before putting the new quartz countertops. The end results would be much better.

    If you do not want to start the whole work all over again, you may at least ask the installers (the current ones or some other professionals) to think about a better solution in order to hide the gaps and achieve a better look.

    Best Regards,

    Ganka

  7. Hi Ganka,

    My name is Raj. I am from A.P, India and I would like to export quartz. I want to know how to find contact details of potential buyers.

    Raj

  8. Hi Raj,

    You could probably find buyers of quartz on many places and you could research them using Internet.

    Regards,

    Ganka

  9. My friend has Silverstone countertops and she says that you cannot put a hot pot on them.
    She also says that they can crack.
    Is that true??? Are they less forgiving than granite???

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