The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the home. It’s not only where cooking and eating take place, it’s often the room where the family gathers at the beginning and end of the day. Studying, talking, baking, chopping, cooking, eating, and gathering all take place in the kitchen. For this reason, any materials are used here need to not only look great, they need to function well and last for the long run.
The kitchen countertop succumbs to a high volume of wear and tear. It’s used as a kneading surface for baking, a cutting board for chopping vegetables, a place to store small appliances, and it’s where people will set their clean and dirty dishes, glasses, and cutlery. So, the countertop you select for your kitchen will come in contact with a variety of items, substances, and abuse.
What Makes Quartz Countertops the Most Durable Countertop?
Quartz has ranked high on the list of popular choices for countertops for the last few years, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Quartz countertops have the ability to mimic the color and pattern of stone, but with much lower maintenance and higher durability. In fact, quartz countertops are one of the most durable countertop materials available, ranking well above stone, wood, laminates, and concrete.
1. Natural Quartz
Quartz countertops are made with approximately 90% real, natural quartz. Quartz is an igneous stone, made from molten lava, and it ranks very high on the hardness chart. Quartz ranks at 7 out of 10 on the Mohs Hardness Test Scale which makes it harder than glass, a steel file, and even a sharp knife. There are actually materials harder than quartz; only topaz, corundum, and diamonds rank harder.
In comparison to quartz countertops, granite countertops contain a mixture of quartz, feldspar, silica, and mica. These amounts vary per piece of stone and can mean that the amount of quartz can be as little as 25%. Therefore, quartz countertops will consistently be much stronger and more durable than any natural stone option.
2. Quartz Countertop Manufacturing
Natural quartz is mixed with resins and pigments that give the countertops their style, color, and beauty
A quartz countertop will not require sealing because it is non-porous. However, quartz is not stain-proof, but stain resistant. Any spill should be wiped up immediately and not allowed to sit. This is in contrast to natural stones that may absorb these liquids below the surface, creating a stain or mark that cannot be wiped away.
3. Consistency
There are many types of natural stone countertops. Some are extremely durable, while others are very soft and easily marred. Sometimes even a single stone may have weak and strong areas, and it can be difficult to tell them apart until after damage has occurred.
Quartz countertops are consistently durable from slab to slab, piece to piece, and within one piece. The slab you select and have installed in your home will be just as durable as they one you see installed in a showroom. There is no guessing, relying on your eye, or testing the various slabs and colors to see which one will hold up better in your kitchen. Quartz countertops will perform well in all kitchens and areas, and no matter what type of use you put them to. Their consistency gives you peace of mind that they will hold up well no matter how busy your kitchen gets.
If your counter is cracked or has any signs of structural problems, it may be worth updating to a more resilient countertop replacement.
Choose a Truly Durable Countertop Material
The durability of quartz countertops has been well established. This beautiful option will provide your home with years of continued use with resistance to staining, etching, or fading. Choose a counter that looks like marble, or something more contemporary – the color, pattern, and style of the counter will not impact its function or durability like concrete or stone. Get a better, more durable counter for your kitchen, and choose quartz for your next project.
