Looking to spruce up your kitchen with a new fixture that can last a lifetime? Then you are most likely looking for a kitchen countertop that can fit your kitchen prep needs, as well as interior design needs. Understandably, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of countertop materials available. However, there’s a lot of reasons why you should set your eyes on getting a quartz countertop instead.
One of the toughest parts about getting a countertop for your house is picking the material itself. There are a ton of durable and very aesthetic countertop materials out there. The luxurious marble, those on a budget go for beautiful wooden countertops or even soapstone. The wise people? They pick quartz.
Quartz countertops are often called as engineered quartz countertops because they aren’t made from pure natural stone. Instead, what manufacturers do is crush quartz, and then mix it with various binding resins and other materials to create a wonderful countertop. Aside from the kitchen, these countertops can also be found inside bathrooms and other parts of the house.
As one of the most popular countertops currently, you shouldn’t be surprised to see more and more people investing in this type of countertop. Everything from commercial properties to luxury homes now come with quartz countertops. It’s a great investment for many reasons which is why you should consider picking it as well.
This time around, we are going to talk about the benefits of getting a quartz countertop. Hopefully, we can help you get a better understanding of why you should pick quartz over other options available. These benefits set quartz apart from other types of countertops so it is a must that you consider this during the selection process of your countertop.
It Is Low Maintenance
One reason why a lot of people avoid countertops is that they can be a bother to maintain at times. Well, it’s best that you treat quartz differently. Of all the countertops out there, this one is the easiest to maintain in perfect shape. If you are hoping to make quartz as a part of your home’s valuable parts when you sell it, it’s good to know that you can keep the countertop in 100% condition for years.
Unlike other countertops, you don’t need to have quartz resealed after a few years or so. For the cleaning process, all you really need to do is wipe it down with a cloth that is damp with water and mild dishsoap. For stains and spills, just make sure to wipe them down immediately. Homeowners that own white quartz countertops are even surprised at how easy it is to clean the material.
Some countertops are sensitive to certain cleaning materials. For instance, you can’t always use a damp cloth on a butcher’s block or a wooden countertop as moisture could result in mold from forming within the material. It’s the perfect countertop to have if you aren’t a hands-on type of homeowner so it’s always good to give it a try.
It Is Non-Porous
As we’ve said before, quartz countertops aren’t made from 100% quartz. At most, quartz only makes up to 90% of the countertop material. The rest is binding resin and other materials which make quartz work as a countertop. The way it’s made also results in it becoming non-porous which is an excellent feature for any countertop.
As it is non-porous, these kinds of materials are stain resistant. Basically, all you need to do to make sure that no long-lasting stains occur, just immediately wipe off any liquid spills on the counter. This is an important feature to have for any countertop as they are used for kitchen prep work too which means they are susceptible to spills.
Natural stones such as granite, marbles, and soapstone are porous. This is a problem as eventually, such counters are prone to absorb oil and other liquids. This results in the formation of bacteria deep within your countertop. As this is where you do prep work, that’s obviously not something you’d want for your countertop.
Another benefit to the best quartz countertops being porous is that they no longer need to be sealed. Again, natural stones like marble and granite need to be sealed to make sure that they are stain resistant. The sealing on these countertops wear out over time which is going to cost you more in terms of maintenance. Luckily, quartz no longer requires this strenuous part of the process.
It Has Amazing Durability
One problem that most people have with natural stone countertops like marble and granite is that they are prone to chipping and other durability issues. Natural stone countertops are indeed durable to a degree but if you are looking for something that can really last for a long time, you should go with the various types of quartz countertops.
Some countertops are made from quarried stone but mostly, you’ll come across countertops that are made from natural ground quarts and polymer resins. It’s these countertops that are truly indestructible as the manufacturing process adds a ton of durability to the countertop. That being said, it makes the countertop perfect for various kitchen prep work.
Some homeowners worry about damaging their natural stone countertops when using it as a platform to chop ingredients in. So long as you aren’t using a butcher’s knife to cut through bones, a quartz countertop is going to last incredibly long without getting cracks or chips. These issues are most experienced by other types of natural stone countertops.
It Is Cheap Considering Its Quality
One would think that quartz is expensive considering what you’d get from it. It’s a beautiful countertop that’s not only non-porous, it’s also very easy to maintain. Surprisingly, quartz is not as expensive as marble or most natural stone countertops. How much is the average cost of quartz countertops you ask?
To understand how much it can cost, you need to look at the grade. Aside from the measurement which is usually per square foot, the price of a quartz countertop is also affected by the type of quartz you choose. The higher the grade, the better the quality, the more expensive it will be for your wallet.
The cheapest grade, also called as clearance material is around $40 to $80 per square foot. Standard grade -w which is what you’ll usually find is around $70 to $100 per square foot. If you want a premium option, you’ll have to spend around $140 to $200 per square foot. Of course, don’t go over budget and just pick the countertop that you like.
You’ll also have to factor in the fact that pros will have to install the countertop for you. They usually charge by the hour and they can increase the price dependning on the complexity of the project as well. Overall, you are looking at around $4,000-$8,000 for installing a quartz countertop in your home. It’s much smaller than the $6,000-$12,000 you’d spend for a marble countertop.
It Comes In A Variety Of Styles
Last but not the least, if you are picking a countertop and are basing your decision on how beautiful it looks, then marble countertops are perfect for you. The key factor here is that quartz countertops are man-made. As they aren’t cut from natural stones directly, they can come in an assortment of shapes and sizes.
In used to be that people had a hard time picking their own kitchen countertop because it’s tough to find one that fits the aesthetic and design of their kitchen. As quartz is man-made, all people need to do is make a request on what color they want the quartz to be in and what kind of edges they want as well.
This is not possible with other natural stones because they are cut from real stones. This means the color they have are already as is. As for the shape, not all natural stones can be cut easily. Let alone be given a good edge. For quartz countertops, this is not a problem at all which is why buyers even with the most intricate of homes can get quartz.
Quartz countertops might just be the next best investment you can make for your home. If you want a great countertop to fit your home needs, you should consider getting a quartz countertop immediately. It’s a great long-term investment on your own and with its benefits, you’ll be surprised at how wonderful it can be.
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