Quartz Stone Countertop For Kitchen Cabinet
Quartz No Longer Competes With Granite
For years, quartz tried to play the natural stone game. It sought
to develop a reputation as a more durable, less porous, and more
easily fabricated version of slab granite.
While granite-look quartz materials still ply the market in huge
numbers, quartz that looks like nothing else is an increasingly
popular segment. One example is Caesarstone. As if "modern" wasn't
a current-enough style category for consumers, Caesarstone now has
an "ultra-modern" category with offerings such as Apple Martini,
Blizzard, and Crocodile.
More Quartz Means Lower Granite Prices
According to a report from the Freedonia Group, quartz countertops
are continuing to take over granite's market share.1 Homeowners who
in years past might have chosen slab granite are increasingly
choosing quartz.
But this has one fortunate side-effect for anyone who wants to
install granite: lower prices due to lesser demand. Freedonia notes
that "granite prices declined over the last decade, making the
material more widely available."
FAQ
Does quartz have any negatives associated with it?
Quartz stone is resistant to heat, but since the countertop
material is about 10% resin, a hot pan or baking dish placed
directly on a quartz countertop can cause a whitish, cloudy
discoloration on the surface.
What is the difference between high-quality and low-quality quartz
countertops?
The most significant difference between high and low-quality quartz
surfaces is the amount of resin used in the manufacturing process.
Low quality typically has about 12% resin and is considered a
builder-grade material with low luster. Meanwhile, a high-quality
quartz top can have about 7% resin, look flawless, almost like
marble, and has a sparkle. A high-quality quartz top is also double
the cost of a builder's grade
