So, if you want the look of marble without all the fuss, the expense will likely be worthwhile. Therefore, what exactly is a quartz countertop? Milford Showroom & Stoneyard Caesarstone lists the hardness of their product as 6.5 to 7. What Is The Life Expectancy Of Stone Countertops? Unlike some natural stones, it will not easily etch when exposed to common household items such as lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, wine, or other acids. You're likely wondering about the pros and cons of quartz vs. granite countertops . Amid the confusion wrought by marketing strategies, perhaps the most useful conclusion lies in the age-old adage: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In this article, we mostly focused on Quartz which is a man-made stone. (203) 882-1000, Stamford Stoneyard There have been reports of health concerns in quartz countertop manufacturing. Should the grout be Bleached Wood or Urban Putty? I believe another area of confusion arises when quartz manufacturers refer to their products as natural stone. As with all information, its important to pause and reflect on the validity of these statements so that we can make informed choices. What Is (And Isn't) Scientific About The Multiverse, pros and cons of quartz vs. granite countertops, Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally found in granite, misleading or scare-mongering information, prefer a man made stone or a natural stone. For example, one paragraph of a quartz companys website begins: All natural stone surfaces, including [company name]. This type of phrasing is prevalent throughout the companys marketing materials. Based on significant research from granite's around the world, it is determined that there is a minimal and acceptable amount of radon in average granite building materials. But manmade quartz isnt natural stone. The quartz particles can vary in size from about 5 millimeters down to less than half a millimeter. The Cambria samples I tested were similar to, or slightly softer than granite. Magma occurs throughout the Earths crust: under volcanoes, along seams between tectonic plates, and in hotspots. High-quality quartz not only provides an array of options for each and every style, but can also look just like the more expensive stones. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That means [company brand] is less likely to scratch, chip, or stain for years of worry-free service.. You'll find that quartz countertops are easier to clean, maintain, and forget about. Im not anti-quartz, he explained, but Im just not a fan of some of their marketing. In his experience, the biggest drawback of manufactured quartz is the way it can be damaged by heat. They range from the low 80s up to 93% at the top, he said, while explaining that the solid colors typically have a lower percentage of quartz minerals. When using quartz, the buyers everyday life is managed with caution as to the placement of hot pans or heated hair stylers. Quartz countertops are man-made and consist of quartz chips or quartz dust bound together with resin. Quartz vs Granite countertops: which one is better? These various applications have the ability to be altered to compliment the color scheme and chosen look for the space. My home kitchen is airy, with a gas stove, a stainless-steel island table in the center and granite countertops. In fact, this is one of the greatest features of quartzite: it gives you the look of marble, but with more durability. Particles of quartz are a hardness of 7, regardless of whether they are in a natural stone or a manmade composite. In addition chip size and color can also vary as well as veins. However, they have also become THE countertop choice for university or office cafeterias, commercial applications, medical buildings, office buildings, and more and for a number of good reasons. While engineered quartz countertops are resistant to staining, some clients find that using a special sealer formulated for engineered quartz helps with the daily clean and care of the countertop. As an engineered product, quartz also has cons to this factor. Another important aspect when considering the two options is radon and unfortunately there is a variety of misleading or scare-mongering information online. Also if youre doing a kitchen island, it is quite difficult to have the veins matching in a natural-looking way. These veins are mostly handmade in China and can look artificial. Hardness has little to do with chipping and nothing to do with staining. Polyester resin binds the mineral pieces together. I suspect that most in our industry can empathize with the potentially confusing choice designers and customers need to make. Indirect Contributions Are Essential To Physics, The Crisis In Theoretical Particle Physics Is Not A Moral Imperative, Why Study Science? Sign up for our emails to receive the very latest and best in tile design straight to your inbox. The texture of granite sheds light on its past. Neither! Why You Need A Kitchen Island With A Natural Stone Top, Veneer Stone: The Best Idea You Havent Had (Yet). Harder stones like granite consists of quartz. Because engineered quartz and quartz are both man-made, another huge benefit of opting for either is the fact that there are plenty of options for customization. Not at all! Generally, you can expect to find quartzite countertops in variations of white, gray, red yellow, pink, and blue. These inexorably slow geologic processes forge a stone that is dense, durable, and will far outlast our lifetimes. Their price points are very close to each other. Generally, the slower the molten rock cooled, the larger it'smineral crystals with K-Feldspar megacrysts forming in special circumstances greater than 5cm. Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally found in granite due to the decay of radium to radon. Is It Better To Lease Or Buy A Car In Summer 2022? Note: A version of this article appears in the Spring 2019 issue of Building Stone Magazine. How about Piatra Grey versus Pietra Grey? When researching countertop materials, youve probably come across quartz and quartzite and gotten a bit confused arent they basically the same thing? Photos supplied by Slabworks of Montana and Triton Stone. Areas with pools of resin are often the softest part of a manufactured quartz surface. When it comes to the way manufactured quartz companies call their products natural stone, Scott voiced some concerns. The Bottom Line Quartz is one of the only countertop materials that has the flexibility to be personalized to your style. The countertop industry is a big one, offering billions of dollars in annual sales in the United States alone. Where noted, I use quartz arenite instead of the composite quartz countertop due to lack of data on the quartz composites. What makes up the different colors of granite? Due to the popularity of quartz countertops, some American and European producers came up with taking this abundant raw material, mix it with resin and pour slabs out of it. However, certain slabs will very closely resemble marble in their coloration and veining, but dont have all the maintenance issues that natural marble comes with. Specifically, quartz refers to a man-made stone option that is typically composed of about 90-97% natural quartz that is mixed with a resin and pigment to create a unique look. We can all agree that natural stone is awesome. Some quartz product names intentionally evoke natural stone, such as this manufactured quartz offering called Calcutta Borghini (inset image), factory created and similarly named to compete with Calacatta Borghini marble, shown installed in this kitchen. You will find much more beauty in granite and there is certainly an excitement involved in picking out the small imperfections and color variation. Should You Be Concerned About Radon From Granite? 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Naming aside, what are the practical differences between manmade quartz products and genuine natural stone? This practice is widespread. The industry recognizes the need for larger slabs but there are issues with manufacturing, shipping, fabricating, and installing larger materials. Here I will outlinethe geology of granite and quartz, their source, physical attributes, durability, and environmental sustainability. While this is a relatively easy process you can do yourself, some homeowners dont like the added work and get lax with the maintenance, which can cause damage to the stone over time. Required fields are marked *. What you see, will always be what you get. Breton machinery company in Italy was one of the pioneers of this technology and eventually it evolved into one of the most popular kitchen countertop materials in the world. All Right Reserved. PwC Cloud and Digital Transformation BrandVoice, How To Earn Cash Rewards For Everyday Spending. Over the course of his career, Scott has seen numerous failures with cook top cutouts, more so than with natural stone slabs. However, quartz countertops are considered UV unstable, which means that they can discolor in direct sunlight. Benefits of Engineered Quartz or Man-Made Quartz for Commercial Applications and More You may have heard of Quartzite as well and maybe wondering the differences between the two. I analyzed samples from several different quartz manufacturers. Its important to note that engineered quartz is not recommended for exterior applications in New England. Now lets check the advantages and disadvantages of quartz countertops. As a result of quartz availability, it takes a lot of shopping in order to find the right cost, style, and quality to fit the buyers needs. Although quartz countertops are primarily stain-resistant, they are susceptible to damage from sunlight leading to dulling and staining. Comparison of Granite vs. Quartz Countertops. It wont be damaged by heat or cold, nor will it be discolored by sunlight. You may initially think that a quartz countertop would be composed of a quartz arenite, a rock made up of at least 90% quartz. Quartz countertops made with chips have a mottled, speckled appearance since you can see the individual stones suspended in the resin. Quartz is a cheaper alternative to natural stone such as marble countertops and granite countertops. mountains). Deep magmas cool more slowly. It is somewhat similar to natural stones like marble and granite. In all cases, the rock turns from liquid to solid over a span of thousands to millions of years, and takes shape miles deep within the Earths crust. Before we jump into a fact-check on hardness, its worth pausing to point out that hardness only relates to a surfaces resistance to being scratched. But when companies deliberately muddy the water and intentionally confuse their customers, it makes life harder for all of us. Although quartz countertops will have less to zero radon, it does not preclude granite as a "less safe" choice in kitchen countertops. Generally, engineered slabs vary by brand. Quartz countertop manufacturers are working hard to influence the marketplace, and they are doing so with big promises and lofty assertions. Man-made quartz is very stain-resistant so spilling a bit of red wine on a white quartz countertop should not result in staining. Notice the inherent difference of one manufacturers Mont Blanc (left) and a second companys Montblanc (center) as manufactured quartz product offerings compared to its natural counterpart. Finally, we can say that both quartz or quartzite countertops are very beautiful. Color options here are pretty limitless, as resins can be tinted to any hue and the quartz chips can be as uniform or diverse in color as youd like. While quartz is very abundant in nature, there are some famous quartz crystals such as Indian quartz, Brazilian quartz, and American quartz. Marble Systems Quartz Slabs has a wide variety of quartz colors while remaining low maintenance, making the creation of the space of your choosing unique, and timeless. The Same Reason You Would Study Anything Else, The (Mostly) Quantum Physics Of Making Colors, This Simple Thought Experiment Shows Why We Need Quantum Gravity, How The Planck Satellite Forever Changed Our View Of The Universe. Oki quartz from Italy, Stone Italiana quartz, Silestone are some of the earlier players with a variety of colors and textures. Therefore the hardness of these samples is less than 6. Design Professionals can receive a free subscription to the print edition of Building Stone Magazine. Technology is still limited and veins are repetitive. Because the quartz chips or dust is suspended in resin, it never needs to be resealed. In addition, engineered quartz is very resistant to scratching, staining, and other surface damage due to its hardness. In some cases, the resin is mixed uniformly through the slab, and in other cases there are visible areas of resin, depending on the design. Geologically speaking, a manmade quartz countertop is not pure natural quartz. You can find a variety of different colors and designs which are mostly not available in natural stone countertops. Eventually, Ceaserstone and Cambria became some of the mass manufacturers. All of these questions will be answered below and lead into interestingdiscussions on the formation of igneous rocks. The varieties of quartz options span from colors to designs differing from compared to countertop materials. Despite the price difference in the two countertop options there are really two variables that you should take into account. In the palms of our hands, we can tap into an enormous realm of facts, opinions, advertisements, and educational materials. Some manufacturers put as much as 15% resin in quartz countertops. Most of all, make sure you have fun choosing out your very own slab and make it something that has meaning to you and your family. Brands like Silestone now offer slabs that come 1.2 cm thick, making them suitable for wall applications, backsplashes, showers, and any wet areas. As quartz is an engineered material, there are many different quartz variations of color, pattern, and shade, while remaining less costly and more long-lasting than other surface-covering materials. Granite is an intrusive igneous rock, which means it was formed in place during the cooling of molten rock. Do you know which one is real stone and which is an imposter? What makes a granite dark vs light What causes cracks within the stone? Companies that manufacture quartz countertops have been very clever with their naming. It's very modest but there's tons of counter space, so you can slap down three or four cutting boards. He works in quartz, natural stone, and sintered ceramic materials and he appreciates the advantages of each. As a natural material, quartzite countertops come in a more limited color palate than quartz, though they are often multi-hued and can have dramatic marble-like veins. One of the biggest problems of quartz countertops is it is difficult to make edges look natural and veins going all the way through. On this sample of Cambria Shirebrook, the resin is lightly scratched by a tool with a Mohs hardness of 6. Lets start by looking at how each one is formed. In other examples, they say that they sell the worlds most beautiful and innovative natural stone surfaces, they offer the worlds finest natural stone countertops, and they describe their products as stone slabs.. Should your clients opt for Cloud White or Dune White for their trim color? And because both are man-made, it is possible to find either stone option in a wide range of colors and styles to meet any type of interior stone needs. There can be no doubt that real stone is a product of the Earth, created by geology, God, or whichever combination you prefer. Other typical minerals in granite could include hornblende (hardness 5-6), pyroxene (hardness 5-6), biotite (hardness 2.5-3), and garnet (hardness 6.5-8.5). Interior & Exterior Products Here, I'll directly compare both granite countertops and quartz countertops with physical, chemical, and geologic parameters. This is straightforward to verify using metal picks calibrated to different hardness on Mohs scale. Most quartz manufacturers have a large assortment of different colors of quartz from black and bronze, to white and cream leaving plenty of room for the buyers preferences. Polyester filler and binder materials are softer than quartz, which is reflected in the softer values in those areas of the slab. Youll find no polyester resin on a seafloor, nor ethenylbenzene in a magma chamberthank goodness. In many ways a natural stone countertop can fuel interest in geology. But how accurate is it? Visit, Get Inspired by Interior Designer Kitchen Backsplash, Pennies On The Bathroom Wall? What Else Do You Need to Know? Heres our terrazzo floor edit at Marble Systems, Natural Stone Flooring Interior Design Trend 2022. The debate breaks down into a few large picture questions that you have to ask yourself. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Let's Get Stone'd sells granite, marble, travertine and limestone for counters, backsplashes and flooring from its shop on Route 611 in Warrington. Granite is an igneous rock made up of primarily quartz, feldspar, micas, amphiboles, and a mixture of additional trace minerals. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Exterior Products Only Cleaning quartz surfaces is as easy as can be as the material can stand everyday staining sources without leaving a mark. Before diving into the details, we have to understand what is quartz. However, because information is so easy to access and share, plenty of not-so-great material gets widely circulated, too. Therefore, when ordering multiple slabs of natural stone, the purchaser could be surprised by the differences when focusing on the details, but this is not the case with quartz. I'll give this one to granite as it has a unique and impossible to replicate feel that never disappoints in upgrading your kitchen countertop. Manufactured quartz surfaces are mostly quartz, but they are not purely quartz. Over time, these factors cause the materials to recrystallize and reconfigure the quartz grains into an incredibly strong, interlocking structure. You might be surprised to know that, although theyre man-made, quartz countertops are not necessarily chapter than quartzite countertops. Engineered quartz or man-made quartz are very popular options for both kitchen and bathroom countertops. What Was It Like When The Universe First Created More Matter Than Antimatter? Either you are [natural stone] or youre not, he quipped, adding that the claims of manmade quartz companies are dancing a mighty fine line., Theyre trying to compare themselves to natural stone, said Scott. Why are some minerals small and others big? Follow this author to improve your content experience. Quartz can maintain just as high quality and looks of natural stone options while staying more cost-effective. - Grant Achantz, Chef. (203) 967-2937, special sealer formulated for engineered quartz. Quartz countertops are non-porous and easy to maintain. Ive replaced enough of them; I know, he said wryly. So there's the breakdown of quartz vs. granite countertops from a geologist's perspective. The fine-grained matrix on Caesarstone colors such as Buttermilk, Lagos Blue, and Pebble had a hardness of between 5 and 6, while larger, individual quartz particles in coarse-grained varieties were 7. Quartzite countertops are an actual slab of natural quartzite stone. If your primary concern is having a countertop that you can ignore and heavily use, quartz composite is the way to go. As a result of quartz being man-made, this covering material offers many more stylistic options than other natural stones. One variable is whether you prefer a man made stone or a natural stone. Of course, the granite we see today is near surface, and thus at some point was uplifted, causing overlying sediment to be shed via erosion. Our challenge is to sort fact from fiction, to educate ourselves, and guide designers, architects, and customers through the melee. They are good alternatives to marble or granite countertops in terms of pricing. Basic colors such as white quartz is very popular in apartment building kitchen countertops. It is extracted from quarries and then cut into slabs to be used as mostly kitchen countertops. Continuing the theme of copying natural stone, several quartz companies have usurped individual stone names and applied the exact same label to their manmade products. Natural stones are natural, abundant, and fundamental parts of our planet. Man-made quartz has become an extremely popular interior stone option among designers, contractors, and more in recent years. Website design by WebFly. They are made of minerals, and only of minerals. Photos courtesy of Triton Stone. Quartz raw material is found in nature. Each piece of natural stone is unique and each bears the mark of a particular time and place in our planets history. He motioned out the window to the rows of granite, quartzite, and marble in the yard, adorned by recent snowfall, and continued emphatically, But these are unique, God-made pieces of art for us to enjoy.. Image courtesy of Karin Kirk. Man-made veins can become overwhelming in a large area, especially the chance that multiple slabs could make the countertops look artificial. Image courtesy of Karin Kirk. Formally, granite is a plutonic rock that is composed of between 10 to 50% quartz (typically semi-transparent white) and 65 to 90% total feldspar (typically a pinkish or white hue). The majority of standard size slabs are approximately 55-56x120. There are good and bad manufacturers of quartz slabs and it is difficult to distinguish which is a good quartz and which is not. In addition, engineered stone around fireplace facings is not recommended. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 1982-2022 Marble Systems. All Rights Reserved. For starters, man-made quartz is extremely durable and can hold up to a lot of different activities. Composition of a granite (Credit: National Park Service). by Karin Kirk | May 21, 2019 | building stone magazine countertop geology quartz selecting. From my perspective as a geologist and a professional admirer of rocks, I can easily appreciate the attempt to align a manmade product with a natural one. Other cases are even bolder, taking the identical names from well-known stones and applying them to manmade versions. Thanks to variations in the composition of the magma, granite comes in a span of all-natural colors, from nearly white, to coppery brown, to deep grey and black. Electric frying pans and slow cookers are some of the biggest culprits, he added, which can cause quartz surfaces to crack or scorch. Is quartz surfacing much harder than granite? Quartz countertops are virtually maintenance-free. Both surfaces are very strong and durable and will look beautiful in your home for years to come. These results make sense. Finding the perfect quartz countertop match can become very timely. Mineral quartz has a hardness of 7. 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