Are Quartz Countertops Right for Your Kitchen?

You've visited your local stone supplier. You’ve done online research…and then you’ve gone back to visit your local stone supplier. The variety of materials that are available for your kitchen countertops are endless and you’re feeling overwhelmed and confused. They all look beautiful. What’s the real difference between them? Which one will work best for your kitchen?

Natural stone is an elegant, beautiful choice for a kitchen countertop. However, it can have a few drawbacks. It’s more expensive than a man-made material such as quartz. This can take up a huge chunk of your kitchen remodelling budget, especially if you have extremely large counters. Another factor to consider is how often your kitchen is used. For some people, their kitchen is mostly for looks. They do most of their dining out or only eat simple meals at home that don’t require a lot of kitchen time. For them, potentially staining or etching their natural stone may not be as much of a concern. For people who use their kitchens frequently, however, natural stone can prove to be a headache. There’s nothing worse than peeling roasted beets and discovering that you’ll be living with a glowing red stain on your counter from that moment on. 

If cost and durability are big concerns, you may want to consider quartz as a possible countertop option. Because it’s an engineered stone, quartz is made to be non-porous. This means that you can peel beets, spill wine, and smear paprika powder all over it without leaving a stain. Quartz never needs to be sealed, freeing up your time and money for more interesting kitchen endeavours. It also doesn’t require any special cleaners; simply wipe it down with soap and warm water.

Quartz is also very cost-effective when compared to natural stone. Marble is gorgeous, but it’s also pricey. Granite can provide a rustic charm to your kitchen and you may be able to find low-cost granite that’s similar in price to quartz, but you will give up quality for that price. More and more people are turning to quartz because they would prefer to have reasonably-priced countertops and spend the rest of their kitchen remodelling money elsewhere in the project. 

Another plus of quartz is that manufacturers create variations in so many styles and colours that the perfect style is out there no matter what kind of kitchen you’re designing. If you’d like sleek, jet-black countertops, there is a quartz that will work for that. Want a light and airy farmhouse-style kitchen? Use quartz in white to make the space appear larger and more open. If you’re a fan of natural stone but don’t want the cost or the high maintenance, use a quartz that’s manufactured to resemble granite or marble. Traditional or modern, typical or unique—there is a quartz countertop that will really make your new kitchen shine. If you’re not considering quartz for your countertops, you’re missing out on an entire world of possibility.