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Made from ane of the hardest minerals on globe, quartz countertops are arguably the almost durable option for kitchens. They're as well some of the most eye-catching. They come in a wide multifariousness of colors, including fire-engine red and apple green, as well as bawdy browns, blacks, and creams, with sparkles and veining for the await of granite or marble. Simply unlike natural-stone slabs, which are mined, these slabs are engineered in a factory.

Is Quartz is Ameliorate Than Granite?

Their principal ingredient is ground quartz (about 94 percent), combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, pocket-sized amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also aid make these counters stain and scratch resistant—and nonporous, so they never need to be sealed. Compare that with granite, the reigning rex of high-terminate countertops, which typically requires a new protective meridian coat at least once a year.

In the past, the biggest knock confronting quartz was that it lacked the patterns and color variations you become with natural stone. But that'due south a moot point now, with all the manufacturers offering multihued slabs with enough flecks, swirls, and random patterning to make them nearly duplicate from the real thing.

They were once available simply with a polished finish; now yous tin can get one with a honed, sandblasted, or embossed treatment. Then if it's the look of matte limestone, textured slate, or glossy granite that you want, there's a quartz countertop for you. Read on for help picking 1 to match your budget, your cooking and cleaning needs, and your manner. Nosotros'll get over the pros and cons of quartz countertops so you lot can brand the all-time choice.

How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?

Expect to pay virtually the same as you would for natural stone, around $60 to $90 per foursquare foot, including installation.

How are Quartz Countertops Made?

Natural-quartz crystals are mined, then ground into a dust or an aggregate that'south fused with resin binders under intense heat and force per unit area to form a solid slab. Pigments added during the process impart color to the countertop.

Cardinal Questions Answered

Inspecting a white and black quartz countertop

DIY or hire a pro?

Similar natural stone, quartz slabs are very heavy. And though the added resins make them more flexible, they, too, tin crevice if non properly handled. Work merely with certified installers.

Where can you purchase it?

Guild through kitchen-blueprint showrooms or from home centers and big-box stores, such as The Home Depot, IKEA, and Lowe's.

How long do they terminal?

For every bit long as you accept your kitchen. Quartz countertop manufacturers provide warranties ranging from 10 or 15 years to lifetime, depending on the company.

Is a Quartz Countertop Right for Yous?

Here are the pros and cons to consider when deciding to get with quartz.

Pros

It'southward low-maintenance.

Unlike natural rock or wood, it never needs to exist sealed. Just wipe with soapy h2o for daily upkeep. Surface stains can exist removed with a gentle cleansing scrub. Avoid scouring pads, which can boring the surface, and harsh chemicals that could break downward the bonds between the quartz and resins.

It's antimicrobial.

Resin binders brand quartz counters nonporous, and so stain- and aroma-causing leaner, mold, and mildew tin't penetrate the surface.

It's design-friendly.

Some makers offer jumbo slabs for uninterrupted runs of countertop. Simply even with standard slabs, typically 60 by 120 inches, the seams can exist almost ephemeral; added resins allow cleaner cuts without chipping as stone does. The resins as well make quartz more flexible than natural rock, allowing fabricators to bend and shape information technology into sinks or the sides of a curved island. And information technology'due south versatile enough to be used on floors and walls—fabricators can even cut the slabs into standard tile sizes.

Cons

It's pricey.

Compared with DIY options, such as wood, laminate, and concrete, which can cost less than $x per square pes, quartz, like granite, is expensive—most $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation. Acrylic solid surfacing, another competing option, costs about $40 to $80 per square pes installed.

It tin't take extreme heat.

Quartz counters are oestrus and scorch resistant, simply only up to a signal. Most manufacturers say their products can handle upwards to 400 degrees F, but a sudden change in temperature or sustained rut from a pan left on the counter may crusade the surface to crevice. To be safe, e'er use a trivet or a hot pad.

It can't weather outdoor use.

Install it outdoors in an uncovered area, and you'll void the warranty. Direct sun chirapsia downward on it day afterward day can cause colors to fade or the countertop to warp or split over time. Currently, none of the major manufacturers offers an outdoor-approved quartz counter.

Quartz Countertops Buying Guide and Timeline

i. Compare Colors and Prices

Shop around to compare colors and prices. Some quartz makers sell exclusively through big-box stores; other slabs are available only through independent kitchen and bath showrooms.

2. Select Your Brand and Color

Option your make and color, and set upwardly a time for a fabricator to visit your dwelling house to take measurements and make a template of the tops of your base cabinets.

Unless you are keeping existing fixtures, you supply the dimensions for the sink and faucet cutouts also every bit any drop-in appliances, such as a cooktop.

3. Get Price Quotes and Place Your Order

Become a price quote and place your order. Once the fabricator knows the complexity of the installation, including the edge profile, number of slabs, and cutout details, they tin can quote the actual cost of the unabridged job.

4. Expect (About a Calendar week)

Wait, but not too long. Assuming your base cabinets are in and your kitchen is otherwise complete, the fabricator can get the slab from the distributor or direct from the manufacturer and shape it to your specs in most a week.

If you're using multiple slabs, consider request the fabricator to become them from the aforementioned manufacturing batch to ensure the best possible match.

5. Schedule Your Installation

Schedule the installation. The fabricator lays the slab direct on top of cabinets; in general, no plywood underlayment is required. It'southward held in place with silicone-based structure adhesive, and any seams between slabs are filled with color-matched epoxy resin.

Undermount sinks are installed with clips (and sometimes wood braces) that attach to the underside of the countertop. Expect installation for a typical kitchen to take from a few hours to a day.

Pick Your Color and Blueprint

Crema Marble

Brown veining against a sand background. Giallo Michelangelo, Zodiaq by Dupont, nigh $sixty-$100 per sq. ft.*

*All prices include installation.

Watery Hue

Recycled-glass flecks glisten in a blue-greyness base. At-home Springs, Zodiaq by Dupont, well-nigh $60-$100 per sq. ft.

Terrazzo Effect

Earthy recycled-glass particles add sparkle. Forest Snow, Eco by Cosentino, near $62-$78 per sq. ft.; ecobycosentino.com

Quartz surface with tan watermarks speckle on a brown base.

Tone on Tone

Tan watermarks speckle a brown base. Vintage Limestone, Viatera by LG, about $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com

Cobalt

Vibrant blue highlighted with translucent particles. Celestial Blue, Zodiaq by Dupont, about $lx-$100 per sq. ft.

Crystallized

Pocket-sized irised blue and charcoal flecks. Waterford, Cambria, most $75-$fourscore per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

White Marble

Gray striations for the look of Carrara. Tranquility RU613, HanStone, $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com

Cool Tone

Solid turquoise with a contemporary feel. Slice of Ice CW102, HanStone, nearly $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com

Travertine Style

Reddish-brown lines mimic veining. Ivory Moving ridge MV620, HanStone, about $55-$95 persq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com

Bold Swirls

Black and gray-blueish streaks against taupe and cream. Praa Sands, Cambria, most $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

Crisp Green

A lively solid. Green Fun, Silestone by Cosentino, about $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com

Subtle dark pattern quartz color option.

Warm Gray

Subtle cream veins look nature-inspired. Piatra Grey, Caesarstone, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Earthy Speckles

Granite-similar veins and light-reflecting crystals. Canterbury, Cambria, well-nigh $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

Polished Steel

Metallic flecks impart polish. Chrome, Silestone by Cosentino, about $70-$89 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com

Grey and white pebble quartz color option.

Pebbled

Grey-toned particles and swirls on white. Atlantic Salt, Caesarstone, virtually $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Black base with subtle white lines quartz color option.

Subtle Striations

Thin white lines overlay a jet-black base. Black Knight 1620, Caesarstone, almost $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Brown and stone textured quartz color option.

SoapStone-Like

A matte-stop warm gray. Altair, Silestone past Cosentino, virtually $54-$74 per sq. ft.; silestoneusa.com

Metallic Chips

Copper-colored flecks add depth. Mariposa Buff MV410, Samsung, nearly $l-$60 per sq. ft.; staron.com

Warm Neutral

This sandy hue has faint color gradations. Sugar Storm, Viatera, near $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com

Lite Limestone

A granular texture imitates fossil and beat fragments. Natural Limestone, Viatera, near $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com

Geode Look

Like a slice of blue mineral chunks. Ocean Palace 1550, Caesarstone, virtually $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Rare Jewels

Three textured quartz blocks in purple, pink, and brown.

Information technology doesn't get much more than luxurious than a semiprecious-rock countertop formed from existent slices of colorful quarried crystals, such as agate and amethyst. Added resins work like a glue to demark the gems together into a continuous countertop while likewise making information technology stain and scratch resistant. These opulent tops would add together a dramatic look to a pocket-size kitchen island, a built-in bar, or a pulverization-room vanity.

Shown: Concetto Drove in Dark-brown Agate, Rose Quartz, and Tiger Eye, nigh $400 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

The Finishing Touch

Quartz kitchen countertop with rough edges in desert limestone.

But virtually any edge profile that you lot can get with stone can be replicated with quartz. The standard eased border, slightly rounded over then that in that location aren't any abrupt angles, and the more fanciful ogee, which resembles an S curve on its side, are two of the most popular treatments.

Your fabricator will assist you select an border that suits your kitchen's way and the countertop's thickness—typically ½, ¾, or 1¼ inches—and will shape the contour using a template provided by the manufacturer. Fabricators can also do custom designs, such as a chiseled, raw edge (shown) or a gently cascading three-level waterfall-style profile. Keep in mind that the more complex the edge, the higher the price.

Shown: Desert Limestone with chiseled edge, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Quartz Countertops to Suit Every Style

Relaxed Farmhouse

Quartz kitchen countertop in farmhouse themed room.

This slate-gray countertop has a muted, lived-in look to match the zinc stools and the weather-browbeaten-steel pendant light. Open shelves and painted cabinets with bin-pull drawer hardware add to the kitchen'due south homey entreatment.

Shown: Fieldstone, nearly $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

Streamlined Modern

A white countertop with subtle grey veining, a sleeky finish, and a simple eased edge makes a crisp contrast with the green-painted cabinets and sleek stainless-steel fixtures and appliances.

Shown: Misty Carrera, about $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Earthy Traditional

Green quartz kitchen countertops. A darker shade of green near the cooktop and sink and a lighter shade of green on the kitchen island.

Two warm countertop colors complement the stained wood cabinets. A washstand-fashion curved backsplash backside the range adds a vintage notation. On the island, a 5-inch mitered edge contour gives the work surface a mesomorphic, furniture-like look.

Shown: Nottingham (perimeter), and Sussex (island), well-nigh $75-$80 per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

Timeless Elegance

White quartz kitchen countertops with black cabinets used in an open plan room.

A blackness-and-white color combination is always a classic. Here, the dark countertop pairs with the lighter perimeter cabinets. The contrasting scheme is reversed on the isle, where an ogee edge contour adds an extra dose of sophistication.

Similar to shown: Zodiaq Galaxy Black and Cloud White, $60-$100 per sq. ft.

Prefab Options

Quartz countertop used around bathroom sink.

You won't detect ready-fabricated slabs for kitchen counters, but home centers now offer smaller bathroom vanity tops with faucet drillings and undermount-sink cutouts. Wait to pay $350 to $900 for a vanity top, depending on the size and color.

Abode-furnishings manufacturers are as well communicable on to the pluses of quartz. Room & Lath offers dining, cocktail, accent, and counter-meridian tables with 5 different quartz-top options and a choice of bases.

Get a custom-look vanity for less by hymeneals a prefab counter (sink included) with a stock cabinet.

Shown: Solieque Bisque Bizarre, from $640; homedepot.com

Bonus: Beyond The Kitchen

You aren't just limited to using quartz in the kitchen, bank check out these smart and unique use-cases.

Mix and Match

Mix and match quartz tops and woods bases for an updated farmhouse table.

Shown: Linden walnut table with white quartz top, from $1,700; roomandboard.com

Tub Deck

Unlike marble, quartz won't be marred past an errant splash of bathroom oil.

Shown: Blizzard, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Laundry Counter

Quartz is antimicrobial, and so information technology won't harbor leaner from soiled clothes. Only be sure to make clean upwards bleach spills quickly to prevent damage.

Shown: Brentwood, $75-$fourscore per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

Shower Seat

Seat built into the corner of a shower made out of quartz.

In a fully tiled shower, a corner seat crafted from a quartz remnant means fewer grout lines to keep clean.

Similar to shown: Ultra White, $67-$72 per sq. ft.; lgviaterausa.com

Dining Room Server

Wooden dining room cabinet with a quartz countertop built in.

You can stop worrying well-nigh ruddy-wine rings; considering quartz is nonporous, wine can't penetrate information technology.

Similar to shown: Serenity, about $55-$95 per sq. ft.; hanwhasurfaces.com

Fireplace Surround

Two armchairs in front of a fireplace in the living room.

Quartz can withstand very high temperatures equally long as the estrus is indirect. So go ahead and surround your firebox with it.

Shown: Concrete, $65-$85 per sq. ft.; caesarstoneus.com

Bedside Table

By topping your nightstand with quartz, you won't need a coaster to keep morning coffee or tea spills from staining.

Shown: Ashford, $75-$lxxx per sq. ft.; cambriausa.com

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Source: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/21018440/all-about-quartz-countertops