Quartz countertops have overtaken granite as the most popular kitchen countertop. According to House Logic, an online consumer publication of the National Association of Realtors®, quartz surpassed granite in 2014 after tying it in 2013. Offering many advantages as a work surface, quartz countertops are among the most popular materials ecological to use.
Producing quartz countertops is a greener process
Stone products like granite are often criticized because extracting, cutting, and transporting the stone use a lot of resources. While some of the granite is domestic, a large percentage comes from Italy, China, India, Africa, and Brazil, and large amounts of fossil fuel are needed to bring it to the United States. A considerable amount of waste is generated in the extraction process, especially since many slabs crack and become unusable. The additional waste that is produced in the manufacturing and installation processes is usually not recycled.
Quartz is an engineered stone with a composition of 93% quartz (silicon dioxide (SiO2) and 7% resin and pigments. Much of the material comes from the US, which saves mining and transportation costs.
Producing quartz countertops is an environmentally sound process. Caesarstone, a major manufacturer of quartz products, claims to recycle 97% of the water used in cutting and strives to use minimal resources for shipping, handling, processing, and production. This company also uses 42% post-consumer recycled material in its production. Other manufacturers like Cambria have similar statistics.
Why you will love quartz in your kitchen
While you may appreciate the green aspects of quartz, you may be more concerned with how it looks and works in your home. The best thing to do is work with a local dealer and visit their showroom for a hands-on introduction to the material and its many benefits, including:
– Quartz comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, including solids. You can get the look of granite and other natural stone if you like, but high-intensity and neutral tones are also in the palette. Unlike granite, which has variations from slab to slab, quartz has a uniform color and pattern.
– The product is naturally strong, making for long-lasting countertops that are more resistant to chipping, burning, or cracking. While you should treat all stones with care, quartz will keep for years.
– Since quartz countertops are non-porous, they do not need to be sealed like granite. This makes them impervious to bacteria and mold, a big plus for allergy sufferers. The product is also more resistant to stains.
– Quartz countertops do not off-gas or release volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air the way other man-made materials like laminate do.
Choose an experienced installer
You can’t go wrong with the look, durability, or eco-friendliness of quartz, which rivals granite in price and now surpasses it in popularity. How it looks depends largely on the quality of the installation, so if you want to explore the benefits of quartz countertops, work with a supplier that offers top-quality materials and experienced installers.
