Quartz is a largely popular option for home countertops in Massachusetts. That’s because quartz gives granite a real run for its money. Quartz is low-maintenance, design-friendly, lasts longer, and looks just as beautiful as natural stone. If you are thinking about upgrading your kitchen, bath, or home, consider quartz countertops.
When choosing a countertop for your home, you want it to be strong, life-proof, and low maintenance. Countertops are the focal point of your kitchen or bathroom. Since it’s the primary and biggest surface in the room, it is the anchor of the room design. As such, it needs to be stylish but durable.
Quartz countertops are popular because they are a durable, sanitary, and fashionable countertop surface. Unlike natural stones or concrete, quartz countertops have a smooth finish, meaning you do not have to worry about stains or food getting stuck in the pores or cracks of your countertop surface.
If you are ready to make quartz king in your home, try not to overlook any important considerations. In this article, we break down how to choose the best quartz countertops for your home.
Pick a Look
When choosing quartz countertops, before you get into the nitty-gritty details, you need to choose between a solid color, a natural stone pattern, or a finished concrete look. Choosing between these three options sets the tone for the rest of the room. Since quartz countertops are manmade, there is an infinite number of pattern and color possibilities.
Solid Color Quartz
Choosing solid color quartz over natural stone patterned quartz narrows down the options, albeit not by much. The amount of customizability you get with quarts is a huge positive factor for this countertop material.
Choosing the color of your quartz will come down to your preferred style of home. One key thing to note is that contrasting your quartz countertops with your cabinets helps create a dramatic, stylish, and clean look to your home, kitchen, or bathroom — dry mixing dark and light colors together in a room to create a modern look.
Natural Stone Patterned Quartz
Natural stone patterned quartz can give your countertops the appearance of granite or marble countertops without the added maintenance stress. More than that, natural stone pattern quartz countertops can mimic the appearance of nearly any natural stone look you admire.
Quartz manufacturers are pushing the envelope thanks to recent advances in technology. With new technology comes new quartz style options like veined quartz. Veined quartz countertops add sophistication and style to your kitchen or bathroom. This style is most popular in soft whites and greys for a realistic looking veining.
Choosing a quartz countertop that looks like natural stone will give your home, kitchen, or bathroom a timeless appearance. Natural stone patterned quartz often pairs well with natural wood or wood finished cabinets. Pairing the natural looks with one another can create a modern earthy feeling to your kitchen, bathroom, or home.
Concretely Quartz
A third look that your quartz countertops can have is the appearance of concrete. While the thought of concrete countertops might sound unappealing, this fresh look is becoming increasingly popular in the Boston area.
Quartz countertops that have the appearance of concrete give homes, kitchens, or bathrooms a bold, modern, and industrial style look. Quartz countertops that look like concrete have the same aesthetic without the difficulties that come with concrete countertops.
Concrete can stain easily, and particles from food or drink spills can easily become stuck in the cracks. Choosing quartz countertops instead of concrete will give you the best of both worlds. If you want your room to stand out from the crowd, concrete-style quartz countertops are the way to go.
Engineered or Natural?
Both engineered quartz and natural quartz come from the same mineral — however, the distinction between the two lies in their manufacturing.
Engineered Quartz
Engineered quartz is mostly made of 93% quartz mineral while the rest is additional additives like resin and color. When these ingredients are combined and then formed under heat and pressure, the end result is engineered quartz.
Often engineered quartz can be less expensive than natural quartz. But when choosing between engineered versus natural quartz, it is more important to consider maintenance, durability, and style. Here are some of the pros of engineered quartz:
- Maintenance free
- Customizable
- Non-porous
- Uniform color for the entire countertop
Of course, engineered quartz does have some drawbacks such as scratch susceptibility, chemical sensitivity, and heat limits. But these drawbacks are largely overcome by the many advantages of engineered quartz countertops.
Natural Quartz
Natural quartz is a beautiful option for your home, kitchen, or bathroom. Natural quartz is one of the strongest materials on earth. Unlike engineered quartz, it is not susceptible to any decomposition of the additives that are in engineered quartz.
That being said, natural quartz has some drawbacks of its own. Where engineered quartz is customizable, you can’t have the same wide variety of options with natural quartz. Natural quartz countertops also need to be sealed in order to be stain-resistant.
Sink Mounting
If your quartz countertops feature a sink, you need to decide if you want the sink that sits on top of the countertop or is mounted under it. This will largely come down to your personal design preference, but it plays an important role in choosing your quartz countertops. To find out what works best for your room, speak to your contractor.
Fine Edges
Since quartz countertops are so customizable, you can personalize your countertops right down to the edges. Here are some of the most popular decorative edge styles:
- Bullnose
- Bevel top
- Round Top
- Eased
- Traditional Ogee
Decorative edges can make your countertops more stylish and noticeable. Consider customizing your quartz countertop edges for a polished design finish.
Final Considerations
Choosing the quartz countertop that is right for your kitchen, bathroom, or home can be tough. If you are unsure about choosing a quartz countertop, consider talking to the experts. The professionals at RSK Marble & Granite have over 15 years of experience. Located in Wilmington, MA, the pros at RSK can help you with all of your countertop needs.