Quartz/Engineered Stone Facts & History
Quartz Slabs, often known as engineered or manufactured stone, is one of the most durable stones available for countertop surfaces. This is due to the fact that it is man-made, consisting of 93% raw quartz crystals and 7% colors and resins. These components are mixed together, put into a form, vibrated to eliminate any air pockets, and then placed in a very hot oven to melt and fuse the contents together. After cooling, the quartz slabs are polished to a beautiful factory gloss. Without specialized technology, replicating the gloss is extremely impossible.
This technique and formula were created in the early 1960s by the Italian business
Breton S.p.A.
Breton is still a top supplier of engineered stone-making equipment today.
With Bretonstone slabs, a designer who wants to create something unique, original, and of the finest quality has no limitations.
It is a beautiful stone with the extra benefit of being time-tested, a tradition unlike any other. Bretonstone has become a prestigious product as a result of hard effort, devotion, and perseverance.
Bretonstone is where history & future intertwine! All materials created with the Brenstone process may be found in various quartz brands.
Caesarstone,
Cosentino,
Lucastone, and
Cambria are just a handful of the companies that use Breton's technology to create engineered stone slabs.
Following a quick history lesson, you're undoubtedly wondering whose brand of quartz is superior?
Answer: Any brand of quartz working with Breton's technique may have unmatched quality.
So, what distinguishes Brand Quartz now?
Creativity! That's right—each manufacturer has put their own stamp on the visual quality of manufactured stone slabs.
Colored glass inserts, crystals, mirror pieces, semi-precious stones, brass, and gold filings to sprinkle. These are just a few of the wonderful elements each brand offers to its own unique signature look.
Pros
Colors and styles that are versatile: Quartz has a diverse color wheel and patterns, which makes it simpler for people who want to achieve the desired style for their restoration project, such as trendy, sophisticated, or traditional.
Sturdiness & Durability: According to a recent "Consumer Reports" test, quartz is the most durable mineral countertop material.
Also ranked seventh on the Moh's hardness scale, which is used to determine the relative hardness of minerals based on scratch resistance, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest (ex: diamond). Granite and marble, which are also commonly used as countertops, have hardness ratings of 6 to 7, and 3 to 4, respectively.
As a result, quartz is exceptionally scratch-resistant and durable, making it an excellent countertop in frequently used areas.
Easy maintenance: Quartz should be maintained on a regular basis to ensure its durability and usefulness. There are several countertop cleaners available, but the ideal one for a quartz countertop is one that is gentle, non-abrasive, and pH balanced. To avoid scratches, use soft cotton, paper towels, or even a microfiber towel—anything non-abrasive, actually. Most moderate stains may be removed using a combination of hot water and dish soap applied with non-abrasive wipes.
Cons
UV Light & Heat Sensitive: Quartz can fade if exposed to too much UV radiation, it is better not to place it outside or in direct sunlight without UV protection. Indoors are ideal, especially if your windows are new, because they feature UV protection, which may help keep your countertop from fading. Other disadvantages of quartz include: lighter colored quartz can stain with rust or acidic foods if left on for lengthy periods of time, and it does not hold up well to severe heat (such as a red hot iron pan) since it will most likely cause some damage.
Color Limitation: Although quartz is available in a range of hues and patterns, its predominant color is white.
As a result, it lacks warm tones and may look ultra-modern and frigid, making it an unsuitable choice for a traditional-style kitchen.
Facts
Importers and Exporters:
The largest quartz mines in the world are located in North Carolina, United States. Another well-known mine is the Goiaz mine in Brazil, which has caused the country to be one of the top exporters of quartz alongside India, Spain, and Turkey. The world’s top importers, meanwhile, are Italy, Japan, Norway, and the United States. China is the world’s top importer and exporter.
Manufacturers versus Off Brand Manufacturers:
The biggest thing one must consider is the budget before moving forward with your remodeling/ renovation.
As previously mention quartz slabs are not all the same. Other Countries' standards differ from those of the United States, the chemicals utilized in manufacturing may not be the safest, due to excess chemicals utilized during manufacture. They may have similar prosses and produce using the same technique, however, there's a formula for combining raw materials to get quality quartz.
Off Brands may have comparable properties such as water-resistant surfaces, heat resistance, and hardness. Some off-brand quartz may care more about quantity over quality and vice-versa you may find high-quality quartz that may be trying to build a brand and focus on quality over quantity.
For this reason is always recommended to go through the warranty the material offers.
The cost of quartz slabs varies greatly depending on the manufacturer and material warranties.
That being said, one decision a person has to make when figuring out their budget is whether or not they want the material to be name brand or off-brand, and by extension, the quality of the product you desire, whether or not you want your material to be covered for any flaws or defects, and so forth.
As previously stated, quartz is not resistant to UV light and will fade if not properly covered and maintained. Although the material from off-brand manufacturers may be less expensive, you are more likely to receive lower-quality items that may fade or scratch more faster than the more expensive quartz. Furthermore, off-brand producers may not offer long-lasting quality & warranties in order to keep prices low.
Top brands all include some kind of guarantee, which typically covers manufacturing faults. In other words, if you spot a defect in the quartz, you're out of luck if you did not read their warranty or are a lower-end brand.
Meanwhile, brand manufacturers such as Cambria, Caesar Stone, Hanstone, Lucastone, and Viatera by LG, to name a few, provide the opposite: high-quality quartz that is less likely to fade and scratch as a result of high-precision production and the time and effort the manufacturer puts into maintaining it (thus the price).
In conclusion, quartz countertops are a good investment that is worth your attention.
