Quartz Manufactures: What’s the best option for your budget?
Comparing manufactures to help make your home,
the home of your dreams…
Once reserved for high end homeowners among the likes of Bill Gates, Steve
Jobs and those two guys that started google, Quartz countertops are finding their way
into more and more kitchen and bathrooms as brands expand and the material
becomes more accessible and affordable. A favorite countertop choice by designers,
Quartz if often confused with natural stone.
If it isn’t a natural stone, then what is Quartz? Unlike marble or granite, Quartz is
an engineered stone mixed with resin and polymer to create and mimic the look of
natural stone. (For more information on quartz and all its properties read our in depth
blog here.)
But, before we break down the differences in each brand lets look at some of
their similarities because despite the brand several qualities of the material stay the
same.
Composition: Having the highest degree of mineral content gives Quartz a distinctive
look and feel.
Hardness: Because Quartz is engineered, the process eliminates the softer minerals
and impurities, making quartz harder and more durable than any natural slab.
Water resistance: Quartz is on par with other low porosity materials like porcelain tile.
This means Quartz nonabsorbent making it a great addition to any kitchen or
bathroom.
Heat resistance: The mineral quartz is impervious to heat, however the synthetic
binders used in the process of engineering the surface material is not. This makes
Quartz a primarily indoor surface material and surface covers must be used when
placing hot pots and pans, otherwise the material Will get damaged.
Visible seams: Unless working with small enough square footage to be fabricated from
a single slab, two slabs often needed to be joined together. The seams are able to be minimized, depending on the installer, but never invisible.
All Quartz are made the same but no 2 manufactures are. Each has a different
design or speciality or “That one thing” that makes them stand out from the
competition. From colors & styles, Material properties & the size of those raw materials,
I want to highlight some of these features for you before listing out the brands.
Design & Edges: This is the biggest single difference in all the manufactures. The
range of designs is what gives each brand their unique style. “Designs” is shorthand
for a slabs; Visual appearance, overall color, size, and shape of the minerals inlayed
throughout it.
Slab size: Because slabs need to be seamed, the larger the slab the better. Minimizing
seams by using a larger slab is not only aesthetically pleasing but your bank account
with thank you as well.
Price: As can be expected, prices vary among brands. Quartz slab prices are
wholesale-only and are confined to the supply chain between manufacturer and
approved dealer/installers. Much like purchasing an automobile, consumer Quartz
prices are negotiated with the dealer and are variable.
Quartz manufactures:
There are many different manufactures to choose from with Quartz and each
offers a wide selection to choose from for any kitchen style, Listed below are a few of
the leading brands.
1. Caesarstone
Withe over 40 colors readily available in stores nationwide, Caesarstone is the number
one choice in engineered stone. Known for their stone-like appearance, It comes in a
wide variety of styles and colors, ranging from traditional looks like marble to some
more daring and contemporary textures. With an ever growing product catalog
Caesarstones range will fit into any kitchens style.
2. Silestone
Available in over 60 different colors and styles, this flagship of the Italian quartz brand
Cosentino is one of the most popular amongst homeowners and designers. If
Caesarstone is known for their stone-like appearance, Silestone’s “it” factor is their
vibrant solid colors!
3. Cambria
Like the Lamborghini of Quartz, Cambria is the high-end brand that is available through
select speciality stores and distributors. With over 100 design styles and colors to
choose from this luxury brand hosts some of the most exciting color patterns and
realistic looking natural stone patterns. Also Cambria is the only brand that is
manufactured in the United States.
4. HanStone
Manufactured in North America, With 6 times the durability of granite, this surface
material is ideal for chefs and those families that spend a lot of time in the kitchen!
Offering several different collections, HanStone and their 50 different styles of design
are able to match a wide variety of kitchens.
5. Polarstone
A leading company in manufactured Quartz since 2014 when it released the first
accurate Calacatta marble design Quartz. Up until this time the quartz industry had
focused on granite designs, but Polarstone was the original innovator recognizing the
demand for high-quality marble designs.
6. MSI Q Quartz
Founded in 1975, MSI has been a premium surface provider for residential and
commercial applications since day 1. Their line of Premium Natural Quartz comes in
dozens of elegant scratch, heat, and stain-resistant styles AND is back by a lifetime warranty.
In Conclusion…
Today, there are many brands of quartz on the market that look good and seem
to offer great value. But brands come and brands go. These 6 manufacturers produce
the highest quality products and provide homeowners with great value, and there are
several more than that. Be sure to ask your designer for every available brand to them
to know that you are receiving a quality surface material for the years to come.