Why You Should Choose Quartz Countertops

Since a kitchen remodel costs an average of $150 per square foot of space, you're going to want to make sure that you're purchasing the highest quality materials possible. After all, home renovations are a huge project that you're going to spend a great deal of time and money on- you need to do it right. This is why you should choose quartz countertops.

Make sure to do your research on the cabinets, appliances, and essentials that will go best in your kitchen space, but also researching the best countertop choices is imperative. Possibly the most essential part of any kitchen, the countertops, are the surface that you'll use most often for cooking, storage, and cleaning. This means that you'll want to ensure that you're getting the most durable and aesthetically-pleasing material possible.

You may be asking, why quartz? We get it. There are a lot of possible materials you can use for a kitchen counter, and you've likely heard positive things about different ones from people in your life. Still, quartz is the best material for countertops any way you slice it. It wins in appearance, durability, longevity, and affordability among other factors.

Read on to learn the specifics of why quartz countertops are the ideal material for your kitchen as well as the other rooms in your home!

Quartz 101

Before we can get into the various styles of quartz countertops there are and why they're the best material for your home decor, it's important to understand what exactly quartz is. 

Quartz is the most common mineral found in the surface of the Earth. Made from silicon and oxygen, it can be found in places all around the world. The mineral itself tends to be found in the sand at the beach, in the desert, or at the bottoms of rivers. It's a really durable mineral and isn't likely to be destroyed in extreme weather conditions, making it really abundant and easy to get a hold of.

However, the quartz that makes up your beautiful countertop or backsplash is only 90% made up of this mineral. It's combined with other resins, polymers, and various pigments in order to give it its smooth and shining luster. All of these materials, when combined together, form a hard surface with a similar texture to granite. This surface can be cut easily into the slabs that make up your countertops before being polished, buffed, and ready for installation.

Quartz has a lot of benefits as a material to be used in your kitchen, bathroom, or other living space. It's basically indestructible. No matter what you drop on a quartz countertop, it's unlikely to break. It's also really sleek in appearance.

Still, there's a lot more to it than that. Quartz countertops are incredibly easy to clean because they're non-porous. They have no holes in the material and therefore don't have liquids and gunk hiding in difficult-to-clean areas. All you'll need to do is wipe down your counter with soap and water every once in a while and it will be as good as new.

What Styles of Quartz Are There?

Now that you know what quartz is and what benefits it has, it's time to look into the various quartz countertop colors available and which of the many options goes best with your home aesthetic.

Solid Color

Quartz classically comes in solid colors. Black, white, and gray quartz countertops are easy to create because of the incredibly effective process of dyeing quartz, and they give off a traditional vibe that people love. They look clean and simple, ensuring that nothing in your room clashes with them. 

Furthermore, since quartz is such an easy material to clean, solid white countertops will continue to look pure and unblemished for years. If you want a white or offwhite-leaning gray color for your kitchen, there's no other way to go than installing quartz.

Marble-Look

Everyone and their mother thinks that they want a marble countertop, but this is definitely not always the case. What these homeowners really want is the marble coloring on a countertop. This makes a lot of sense- the swirls of black and gray look sleek and classy while still adding a fun flair of personality to your space.

There are many different styles of quartz that looks like marble. The swirls and lines on the white base can be various sizes, intensities, and come in different patterns across each quartz slab. You'll have a ton of options to choose from when customizing your room!

Concrete-Look

There are also quartz countertops that are specifically designed to look like concrete. One of the greatest appeals to these patterns is that they look highly textured, adding to the visual appeal of your decor. You can also match the visual texture of your quartz that looks like concrete to other things like the walls, ceiling, and floor of your space if you want a little extra matching. This is a unique way to customize your space, so it's definitely worth considering.

Why Is Quartz the Best Countertop Material?

Okay, so you know now that quartz comes in a limitless number of colors and styles. You might be wondering whether or not other materials do this, too, and why you'd prefer a quartz countertop that looks like marble over one that's actually made of marble. Well, it comes down to simple dollars, cents, and common sense. There are a multitude of reasons, both economic and pragmatic, why quartz is superior to other common countertop materials, so read on to learn more.

Quartz vs Marble

Marble is an all-natural stone that people tend to gravitate toward because of its traditional elegance. Although marble is incredibily gorgeous, there are many things to consider when using it in your kitchen or bathroom.

Marble is an incredibly porous and soft stone, meaning that it is prone to staining if you spill something on it. It will require regular sealing and maintenance to look and preform its best – with may not be what all homeowners are looking for in a countertop. Marble will also will darken with age and have visible etching and permanent watermarks if not maintained properly.

Marble tends to be more costly than quartz as well. Usually, it costs around $5000 to install a full kitchen worth of marble, making it one of the most expensive materials you can use when renovating your home.

If you like the marble aesthetic, we can't blame you. It truly is beautiful. But you're in luck- you can get quartz that looks like marble -  so similar that you can't tell the difference on a visual level, but are as durable and affordable as any other quartz slab.

Quartz vs Concrete

While some people like concrete countertops because they believe them to be durable, this isn't exactly the full truth. Though concrete is an incredibly durable material, it needs to be sealed in a casing that can be compromised by scratches and any form of direct heat (clearly an issue in a kitchen where you'll be setting down hot pots and dishes.) 

Concrete also needs to be deep cleaned regularly, which means you couldn't do the simple wipe-down that quartz allows for. Just like marble, it can also be quite costly in the longs run with all of the cleaning and sealing that will need to be done.

The reason that people tend to purchase concrete countertops is that they find them to be unique and come in limitless colors and styles. This, however, is no reason to sacrifice utility. You can get quartz countertops that look like concrete, so there's nothing to fret about.

Quartz vs Granite

Granite is an incredibly hard stone that can be used on the surface of countertops. It's completely natural- what is mined from the earth is exactly what you get. It has the look of stone and is popular because it's easy to customize.

The problem with customization, though, is that it isn't always possible. Homeowners who decide to use granite often have a difficult time finding a cut that matches their color scheme. This is because there are nowhere near as many options for granite countertop colors as there are unique color schemes that people like to use for their interior decor.

On the other hand, it's easy to select a quartz countertop that goes with your room's design scheme because there are so many options. Any of the styles of quartz that we've discussed can be seamlessly incorporated into a minimalist kitchen design scheme, but they also could be used to give your kitchen a natural, earthy look or a high-end appearance. Ultimately, quartz offers you a wider and more consistent selection that granite just can't compare to.

In terms of price in the quartz vs granite debate, quartz also wins. Installation of granite is expensive- $2000 on the cheap end. This is unfortunate since it's nowhere as durable is quartz is, Granite will have to be sealed regularly as well, adding to the long term cost of maintaining this natural stone.

Get Quartz Countertops Today

Quarts is the best material out there for a lot of reasons. It comes in all kinds of colors, styles, and appearances, making it easy to match a quartz countertop to the rest of your home's decor. Since you have dozens of different options, you're sure to be happy with your new countertop. 

Now that you know all about the types of quartz countertops that are out there and why this material is the best option for your kitchen and bathroom counters, it's time to choose your color! Click here and look at the many options offered for quartz countertops and be on your way to a successful kitchen or bathroom renovation.