Quartz

Since ancient times, quartz has been renowned for its beauty. It has been used cross-culturally for jewelry and a wide range of decorative and functional items for the household.

Quartz isn't only beautiful; it's strong. To build on its natural strength, modern technology has come up with the phenomenon of engineered quartz. Both practical and aesthetically pleasing when used for home décor, engineered quartz consists of 93% crushed quartz mixed with pigments and epoxy resin. The epoxy resin, a thermal setting resin employed to strengthen laminates, lends engineered quartz its durability. Engineered quartz combines the best of natural stone and laminate.

The Moh's Scale of Mineral Hardness, which ranges from 1-10, measures how easily a softer mineral can be scratched by a harder mineral. On the Moh's scale, talc rates 1, and diamonds rate 10. Engineered quartz rates 7.

Kitchens are great places for quartz countertops, especially kitchens with countertops that must stand up to wear and tear over years of heavy use. Food safety, a paramount consideration in any kitchen, is much-improved by the nonporous surfaces of quartz countertops. Since food and liquids can't penetrate the surfaces of quartz countertops, harmful bacteria have less chance to take hold. Quartz countertops require no sealing or polishing, and they're easy to clean. All you need is warm, soapy water.

Quartz countertops are scratch resistant, so their luster will last for many years after installation. Because they're stain resistant, there's no need to worry about coffee, juice, or wine stains. Quartz countertops also feature heat resistance. They're harder to scorch and will better stand up to hot pots and pans placed directly on their surface.

The strength and versatility of engineered quartz makes it the ideal material for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, tabletops, kitchen islands, and backsplashes. Because engineered quartz offers a uniform appearance, it allows kitchen and bathroom styles and color schemes to be more easily coordinated with the general décor of a home. Quartz design manifests in seemingly endless colors and styles, even designer colors and custom edges.

The beauty, style, and practicality of engineered quartz is sure to add value to a home, both with regard to everyday living and with an eye toward resale potential. To see what's available, check out the Custom Granite showroom. Our Go Granite website (http://www.gogranite.ca) also displays our dazzling array of attractive household options.