{"id":4487,"date":"2018-08-11T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2018-08-11T17:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kitchenartdesign.com\/?p=4487"},"modified":"2023-10-25T21:50:39","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T04:50:39","slug":"top-benefits-of-quartz-countertops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitchenartdesign.com\/top-benefits-of-quartz-countertops\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Benefits of Quartz Countertops"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The popularity of quartz is exploding as of late, and both designers and homeowners seeking to renovate their dream kitchens are taking note of the vast benefits of quartz countertops – thanks in part to its dynamic style, immense strength and durability, and its cost effectiveness.<\/p>\n

But the benefits of quartz countertops also go beyond<\/em> those key pillars. With advances in countertop production, quartz can now be custom tailored and used in innovative new ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>

What Is Quartz Anyway?<\/h3>\t\t\t

Quartz is a stunningly beautiful mineral comprised of silicon and oxygen atoms (SiO4<\/sub>), and is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth\u2019s planetary crust. Derived from the German Quarz<\/em>, corresponding to the Czech term tvrdy<\/em>, Quartz literally translates as \u201chard.\u201d The ancient Greeks called quartz krustallos, meaning icy cold because many philosophers believed the mineral was a form of supercooled ice.<\/p>\n

The unique chemical composition of quartz allows it to exist in two separate forms thanks to its distinct chirality<\/a><\/u> – in that its properties cannot be distinguished from their mirror image. A-quartz and high temperature B-quartz begin to transition at a precise 573\u00b0C – and thanks to an epic restructuring of form, undergoes a reduction of volume, giving quartz its fragmented and crystallized raw look.<\/p>\n

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The majority of quartz is formed through crystallization of molten magma, but can also exist through chemical precipitation from hot hydrothermal veins, where it can deposit alongside gold, silver, and copper.\u00a0 It\u2019s typically found in sedimentary rock like shale and sandstone, and is a defining constituent of granite. It also boasts the lowest potential for breakdown or erosion in the geological world.<\/p>\n

There are a large number of major varieties of quartz, some popular ones being amethyst, onyx, Tiger\u2019s Eye, as well as Smoky and Milky Quartz.<\/p>\n

In its countertop form, quartz countertops are man-made engineered stone products created from a combination of about 90% ground quartz with 8-10% hard resin, colours\/pigments, and polymers to form a very hard surface with either a speckled or smooth surface look.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>

Strength & Durability<\/h3>\t\t\t

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Many homeowners have a vision in their head that\u2019s tough to counter – and it often features marble or stone countertops for their sleek and modern elegance – and we totally get that. Stone is beautiful and loaded with unique character, but natural stone materials also require ample maintenance, regular applications of stone sealant<\/a><\/u>:<\/p>\n