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Although quartz was only found in upper class homes years ago, more homes today are beginning to feature quartz countertops. As the material has become more accessible, prices have begun to go down. This guide will address the several benefits of having a quartz countertop, as well as where you should look to purchase from.
Having a quartz countertop is beneficial in high traffic areas where natural stone might not be an ideal choice. In addition to kitchens, other examples of areas where quartz would be a better option than natural stone are bathrooms, changing rooms and business settings.
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Quartz is often confused for natural stone. However, it is actually man-made. This can be advantageous in many ways when using quartz for your countertop. Some of the benefits are that the material is aesthetically pleasing, there are a wide range of colors you can choose from and because it is manufactured, it is not porous. This makes the material water and stain resistant, whereas a material such as marble is not stain resistant. Quartz is also scratch resistant, which makes it a perfect fit to use for your kitchen countertop.
Despite being a man-made material, a quartz countertop will bring an elegant feel to your kitchen. The material stands out more than natural stone in some cases, as it comes in various colors and patterns. Finding the correct quartz countertop for your home can be one of the best home improvement decisions you will make.
Below is a breakdown of the similarities between brands, differences between brands and the 15 best brands you can buy.
Similarities Between the Brands
Hardness |
Composition |
Lack of Heat Resistance |
Visible Seams |
Hardness
Quartz is mainly manufactured using one of the hardest minerals on the planet. Because of this, a quartz countertop will be harder and more durable than a natural stone surface such as granite. This may be a factor to consider if you are looking for a low maintenance countertop.
Composition
All quartz is between roughly 85 to 93 percent mineral content. This gives the material its recognizable feel. As a comparison, solid surface countertops are roughly 66 percent mineral content and 33 percent polymer content, leading to a slick feeling on the countertop.
Lack of Heat Resistance
One of the few downsides to a quartz countertop is that it is not heat resistant. Experts recommend that you do not apply any heat over 400 degrees Fahrenheit to a quartz countertop. For example, the countertop will be damaged if you place a hot pot or pan on its surface.
Visible Seams
Unless it is a single slab countertop, your quartz countertop will have visible seams. When installed by a professional, the seam visibility can be minimized, but it will never totally disappear.
Differences Between the Brands
Slab sizes |
Prices |
Warranties |
Designs |
Slab Sizes
Working with any stone has its limitations. Because of this, you may not be able to find a slab large enough to create your countertop and as a result, you will end up with a visible seam on your countertop. However, different cuts may produce a seam that is prominent or one that is barely noticeable.
Prices
Different brands have different prices. While some brands offer relatively affordable prices, others are priced in the luxury brand range. Find out which option is best for your budget by discovering different brands below. Consumer quartz prices are negotiated with the dealer and can vary.
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Warranties
All brands of quartz come with some form of warranty. However, different brands have different warranties. These warranties vary in length, transferability and limitations. Some brands offer lifetime warranties, which you may find suitable.
Designs
With different brands comes variation in quartz countertop design. When looking at design, industry experts typically refer to several different qualities of the slab. These qualities are color, size, shape of minerals, streaks and striations. Another design factor for quartz countertops are edges. Edges are cut into the slabs at factories before the slabs are transported to fabricators.
What Are the Best Brands of Quartz Countertops?
When looking to buy quartz countertops, the guide below takes a look at 15 different brands that are your best options to purchase from. These 15 brands are:
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Marble.com
Started in 1996, Marble.com is an industry leading countertop fabrication and installation company. The company features a premium selection of countertops at affordable prices. Marble.com offers 85 variations of quartz countertops, so you are sure to find something that will suit your style and your budget. Because of the advanced technology the company has, it is even able to handle completely customized projects, regardless of the complexity.
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Caesarstone
In business since 1987, Caesarstone offers a wide selection of quartz countertops, with over 40 colors available. The company specializes specifically in quartz, and was among the first to make quartz countertops. Some styles have a more traditional marble look, while others are more innovative.
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Silestone
Silestone, based in Spain, is known for its quality selection of quartz countertops in various colors. Many of the colors the company offers can give your countertop a brighter look, such as red or green quartz. The brand is manufactured by Consentino.
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Daltile ONE Quartz
Daltile’s ONE Quartz comes in 38 different styles, which will leave you with a solid amount of options to choose from.
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Cambria Quartz
Cambria is an upscale brand that you will only be able to find through certain distributors and specialty stores. The brand is manufactured in the United States, and offers various shades of quartz countertops.
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LG Hausys
LG Hausys began as a division of the LG company, based out of South Korea. This company offers over 60 selections of quartz countertops.
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Santa Margherita Quartz
Santa Margherita Quartz offers a varied selection of designs to choose from. You can find the brand at the Verona Marble Company. The brand offers both standard and jumbo size slabs.
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Okite
Okite, much like Cambria, is an upscale brand sold only through design firms and luxury kitchen cabinet retailers. The brand is manufactured in Italy, and offers 40 different styles to choose from.
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Corian Quartz
The brand formerly known as Zodiaq is manufactured by the DuPont chemical company. Corian comes in more than 40 styles and is available at major retailers.
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HanStone
Manufactured in the United States, HanStone’s quartz selection offers over 50 styles to choose from. The material six times more durable than granite.
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Granite Transformations
These engineered countertops are made using a combination of granite, stone and quartz, along with resins and polymers. The brand comes in over 40 styles, and can only be purchased at Granite Transformation stores in the United States.
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MSI Q Quartz
Founded in 1975, MS International (MSI) offers various quartz countertops through their MSI Q brand. The brand has many different colors, from icy white to midnight black. The countertops are suitable for residential or commercial use.
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Pental
Based in Seattle, Pental offers a varied selection of colors and patterns for quartz countertops. The brand has its own private label quartz line.
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Samsung
Samsung offers 47 different variations of quartz in their multiple collections. Colors range from very light, like halo, to very dark, like aster.
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Vena Stone
Vena Stone offers a varied selection that can give your quartz countertop and elegant look. Many of their options are designed to have the look of marble.
Despite a long-standing love of natural stone, many American homeowners are now choosing to install quartz, as evidenced by the material’s recent rise in popularity. Many are choosing to use the engineered stone because of its durability and low maintenance requirements.
The 15 brands above offer you thousands of possible styles to choose from when considering a quartz countertop. Many of the styles can be manufactured to look just like granite, marble, limestone, slate or any other natural stone material. Through using this guide, you will be able to determine which brand of quartz is right for your kitchen.