Quartz countertops are made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, making them incredibly durable and perfect for kitchens. Not only are they tough, but they also look stunning. You can find quartz countertops in a wide range of colors, from bold shades like fire-engine red and apple green to more neutral tones like browns, blacks, and creams. Many even have sparkles or veining, which give them a look similar to granite or marble.
However, unlike natural stone, which is dug out of the earth, quartz countertops are engineered in factories. This means they’re designed to be both beautiful and functional, combining the natural strength of quartz with the benefits of modern manufacturing.
Is Quartz is Better Than Granite?
Their primary ingredient is ground quartz (about 94 percent), combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also help make these counters stain and scratch resistant—and nonporous. So they never need to be sealed. Compare that with granite. The reigning king of high-end countertops. Which typically requires a new protective top coat at least once a year.
In the past, the biggest knock against quartz was that it lacked the patterns and color variations you get with natural stone. But that’s a moot point now, with all the manufacturers offering multihued slabs with enough flecks, swirls, and random patterning to make them almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
They were once available only with a polished finish; now you can get one with a honed, sandblasted, or embossed treatment. So 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 one to match your budget, your cooking and cleaning needs, and your style. We’ll go over the pros and cons of quartz countertops so you can make the best choice.
How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost?
Expect to pay about the same as you would for natural stone, around $60 to $90 per square foot, including installation.
How are Quartz Countertops Made?
Natural-quartz crystals are mined, then ground into a dust or an aggregate that’s fused with resin binders under intense heat and pressure to form a solid slab. Pigments added during the process impart color to the countertop.
Quartz Countertops Buying Guide and Timeline
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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.
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Select Your Brand and Color
Pick your brand and color, and set up a time for a fabricator to visit your home 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 as well as any drop-in appliances, such as a cooktop.
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Get Price Quotes and Place Your Order
Get 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 can quote the actual cost of the entire job.
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Wait (About a 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 about a week.
If you’re using multiple slabs, consider asking the fabricator to get them from the same manufacturing batch to ensure the best possible match.
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Schedule Your Installation
Schedule the installation. The fabricator lays the slab directly on top of cabinets; in general, no plywood underlayment is required. It’s held in place with silicone-based construction 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.
Quartz Countertops to Suit Every Style
Relaxed Farmhouse
This slate-gray countertop has a soft, relaxed appearance that pairs well with the zinc stools and the rustic steel pendant light. Open shelves and painted cabinets, finished with bin-pull drawer handles, give the kitchen a cozy, welcoming feel.
Streamlined Modern
A white countertop with subtle gray veining. A glossy finish, and a simple eased edge makes a crisp contrast with the green-painted cabinets and sleek stainless-steel fixtures and appliances.
Earthy Traditional
Two warm countertop colors complement the stained wood cabinets. A washstand-style curved backsplash behind the range adds a vintage note. On the island, a 5-inch mitered edge profile gives the work surface a chunky, furniture-like look.
Timeless Elegance
A black-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 island, where an ogee edge profile adds an extra dose of sophistication.
Prefab Options
You won’t find ready-made slabs for kitchen counters. But home centers now offer smaller bathroom vanity tops with faucet drillings and undermount-sink cutouts. Expect to pay $350 to $900 for a vanity top, depending on the size and color.
Home-furnishings manufacturers are also catching on to the pluses of quartz. Room & Board offers dining, cocktail, accent, and counter-height tables with five different quartz-top options and a choice of bases.
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