Trend to Quartz Countertops
We are getting ready to design a house with a window view from south to north and the kiss of the rising sun. We want to join the trend to quartz countertops. Here we want to explore the pros and cons of granite, quartz, or marble.
In our first house, we chose to install a granite countertop. Not the full slab but 12-inch squares of granite. It had a nice grain and was the color of light caramel. It was easy on the eyes with the kitchen cupboards painted a lighter shade of caramel.
Granite has some drawbacks, however. It must be sealed each year from stains like wine or spoons used in cooking. Granite is softer than quartz, so you want to avoid cutting on it. It can have spider cracks at natural seams, and it is difficult to match patterns when you put two pieces together. However, it is beautiful and very rich looking. Now, with our new house, we want to check out the current trend to quartz countertops. More and more I’m seeing quartz replacing the traditional granite and marble countertops. Why?
Trend to Quartz Countertops
- These countertops are human-made. Quartz may look like it’s straight from Mother Nature—and that’s the idea—yet, quartz is actually crushed and customarily blended with resin or some other kind of binding agent
- Countertops of Quartz s are manufactured in a variety of different patterns and colors.
- Quartz is a mineral and one of the most abundant on our planet. It gives you a lot more options for both monotone textures or colors.
- Many people are encouraged by the fact that quartz countertops don’t require any maintenance. One of the biggest benefits that quartz has is it doesn’t need to be sealed to protect from stains. Quartz countertops can handle oil, tomato, wine, coffee, juice and many other staining products. Plus, quartz doesn’t hold viruses or bacteria, so you know that your countertops will be clean when you wipe it down.
- It may be hard to believe, but quartz is heftier than granite—and that’s saying a lot! When you’re looking at which one chips easier, quartz is a bit more flexible, so it’s the stronger of the two.
Comparison of Quartz, Marble, and Granite
Below is a comparison from manufacturer Caesarstone:
Trend to Quartz Countertops
What About the Cost of Installation?
When looking at the trend to quartz countertops, many ask about the cost of installation. According to FIXR, “Marble countertop slabs are more expensive than quartz, depending on the quality chosen. However, the labor cost for quartz is higher due to the complicated installation. Therefore, the cost difference is not dramatic.”
Marble costs approximately $57 to $76 per square foot. For kitchen cabinets measuring 30 square feet, the cost for the marble countertops would be about $1,860. Installing them would take just over 5 hours and cost about $312. Adding other factors such as a sink cutout at $100 and finished edging at $10 per linear foot, the total for the project will be approximately $3,770.
Quartz, however, runs slightly less at $55 to $75 per square foot. For kitchen cabinets measuring 30 square feet, the cost for the quartz countertops would be about $1,800. Installing them would take 5.5 hours and cost about $360. Adding other factors such as a sink cutout at $100 and finished edging at $10 per linear foot, the total for the project will be approximately $3,760.
My Plan
For our new house, we are going with Quartz. It has a vast number of patterns and colors; it doesn’t support bacteria, it is harder than granite and marble and is stain resistant. Two cautions: it discolors in direct sunlight and you don’t want to put very hot pots on the material.
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