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The Basics Of Custom Quartz Countertops

by Camila Holland

Folks looking at the array of options for countertops often start to focus on quartz. If you're planning to install quartz countertops for the first time, it's usually a good idea to understand the basics. Take some time to look at what quartz is and how it's different from other countertop materials.

What Is Quartz?

The earth contains a significant amount of a material known as silica. Under the right pressures, silica can take on a crystal form known as quartz. This process occurs naturally, and it's not radically different than the ones that produce most stone countertop materials.

What's Different About Quartz?

One major difference is that quartz lends itself to engineering. Companies create custom-manufactured quartz countertops by mixing existing quartz crystals with resin and pigments. These mixtures allow them to tailor the slabs to nearly any application. Suppose a restaurant wants custom quartz countertops to withstand decades of tenderizing steaks with mallets. They can explain their needs to a supplier, and the company can deliver a product that meets those specifications.

The ability to shape custom quartz countertops is also a big deal. With material like marble, you have to find the perfect slab to fit your applications. If you want a seamless countertop that fits a weirdly shaped corner, for example, you'll need to start with a huge slab and cut it down. Conversely, a manufacturer can easily create a custom quartz slab to the precise dimensions of your space.

Cost

Waste is a major cost problem with most countertop materials. That's not the case with manufactured quartz because, even if your countertop needs to have seams, it's not hard to match the pattern with quartz. Consequently, you can usually produce a tougher and more customizable countertop for a lower price.

Aesthetic Options

The use of pigments is also a difference-maker. With natural stones, you're limited to whatever nature and the quarry can provide. You might not be able to find a color or pattern that meets your sense of style. The manufacturing process for quarts makes it easy to produce nearly any color and pattern you can imagine.

Notably, a big segment of the market for custom manufactured quartz countertops replicates other materials. If you want a sandstone finish but are worried the material won't hold up to years of kitchen use, you can produce that look with quartz and not sacrifice its overall durability.

It's also possible to match quartz to other elements of a room. If you want the countertops to match the floor tiles, for example, you'll get very close using a customized solution.

For more information, contact a custom quartz countertop retailer near you.

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