Quartz has begun to top the lists of countertop options for designers and homeowners alike. Anyone that wants a durable, low maintenance, and attractive countertop material is likely to consider quartz.
But quartz has a lot more to offer than durability and low maintenance care. This versatile material can also be used in a variety of ways to create unique and innovative designs. The clean edges, stylish colors, and the strength of the slabs have also led to a new trend: waterfall edges.
The trend of waterfall edge quartz countertops has been growing for the last several years. As more homeowners discover the benefits of quartz, they’re also beginning to see the uses of this particular edge style.
What Is a Waterfall Edge?
A waterfall edge is a design that makes a 90 degree angle at the end of the countertop. Rather than simply ending with a finished edge, the countertop turns toward the floor and continues down the side of the cabinet, island, or seating area.
The edge gets it name from the appearance of the countertop “pouring” off the edge like water over a cliff. Technically, any slab material can make a waterfall edge, but quartz is the most popular material for making this unique statement.
Why Quartz?
Quartz differ in many ways from other options such as granite. While quartz countertops are made from more than 90% natural stone, they’re not porous or susceptible to stains, sagging, bending, cracking, or developing pits and fissures the way that granite is.
For that reason, it’s a versatile material that can be shaped and formed in many ways. While some granites require enormous amounts of support to change planes without cracking or bowing, quartz is able to do so easily.
It is also easy to build up the edges. This can give you the appearance of a much more substantial countertop, one that adds depth and height to the cabinetry.
For these reasons, quartz is ideal for creating the change in plane that a waterfall edge requires. With the precision that all quartz countertops are made and cut with, the two planes lock together nearly seamlessly at the side. This gives you a very clean, crisp appearance that enhances the look of the countertop.
Why Use a Waterfall Edge
Waterfall edges also have benefits for the homeowner to consider. First, a quartz countertop is going to be easier to maintain much more durable than a cabinet end panel. Cabinet end panels are generally made of veneer and are easily scuffed and sometimes cracked. The edges may also delaminate, especially over years of use and in areas of high humidity.
Quartz countertops are durable and low maintenance, and so is the waterfall edge. Any scuffs are easily wiped away and the material won’t be damaged by careless bangs or bumps. It won’t delaminate or stain and will help protect the edge of your island or cabinet run.
In some cases, a waterfall edge can also help you create a kitchen island without the need for cabinetry. Many people believe that in order to have an island, you need additional cabinets. These cabinets are often different from the perimeter to help create dimension in the design.
Using cabinets may mean less room for seating, shelving, or other uses of this area. Utilizing a waterfall countertop instead can help you eliminate some or all of the cabinetry from this area. It’s possible to create a seating area with much more leg room, to integrate shelving, or to hide plumbing and electrical work. Using a waterfall countertop edge this way gives you more possibilities for islands and peninsulas. You can get the additional countertop space you need with more flexibility for the rest of the space.
Finally, waterfall edges are eye-catching. They have a clean, uniform appearance that can create an optical illusion that the area is larger than it is. When the same material is used to change planes over two directions, it creates a visually unbroken space. This is very attractive in minimalist design, contemporary spaces, or small kitchens where space matters.
Invest in a Waterfall Countertop Edge
A waterfall edge using quartz is attractive, durable, low maintenance, and will enhance your kitchen in many ways. Waterfall edges protect the sides of cabinetry while giving your kitchen a contemporary appearance. No matter what color of quartz appeals to you, it’s possible to create a waterfall edge. Invest in a quartz countertop with waterfall edge today to get these benefits for your kitchen.
