In the not so distant past, homeowners in luxury homes all wanted granite countertops. But in the last several years many of these homeowners are looking for quartz as an alternative countertop material. Unlike natural stones, such as granite, quartz is an engineered stone, which means the stone is not being used in its natural state.
Quartz is made up of about 90 to 95 percent ground up quartz, mixed with about 5 to 10 percent polyester resin and polymers as a binder with pigments for color. It is one of the hardest and most abundant minerals on earth.
Grey Quartz Water Flow Natural Stone Paneling
One of the advantages of using Quartz is the abundance of color options and the consistency in the slabs, unlike natural stones. Since pigments are added in the manufacturing, there are unlimited colors available, which is not so with natural stones.
Another major advantage is that quartz is nonporous, which means it’s resistant to mold and bacteria. The stone will not harbor harmful bacteria from raw food. In a kitchen this can be a major advantage, particularly for those who are physically challenged. Quartz does not require regular polishing and sealing so it almost maintenance free, other than washing it with warm water and a mild soap.