Pros and Cons of Quartz Countertops for Bathrooms and Kitchens

Although engineered quartz countertops can be a beautiful addition to any kitchen or bathroom renovation project or design, that’s not to say that there aren’t any drawbacks to having them installed. Learn about the pros and cons of having quartz countertops installed in your home. 

In the world of home improvement and interior design, quartz or engineered stone countertops are a fairly new design creation. 

But still, quartz countertops have been a homeowner favorite ever since the process for creating engineered stone was first developed and trademarked in 1963 by the Breton company, based out of Italy. 

Not only are quartz countertops a gorgeous addition to any household, but they’re also extremely durable, and do not possess as many of the weaknesses you’ll often find in natural stone countertops. 

And because of this, it’s obvious to say that quartz countertops for bathrooms and kitchens will continue to be a top-selling feature in homes all around the world for many years to come.

So, if you’re getting ready to renovate your kitchen or bathroom, and wondering if quartz countertops are the right choice for you, then you’ve come to the right place. 

In the following article, we’re going to go over some of the main differences between quartz and granite countertops, as well as establishing the pros and cons of each, to help you decide which material to choose for your kitchen or bathroom project. 

 

Quartz Vs. Granite

Many people often confuse quartz and granite for being the same type of building material. However, although both are made from natural stone, there are a few keys differences between the two. 

For starters, granite is a natural stone material, similar to marble and travertine. These types of natural stone are quarried directly from the ground. And then they are processed and cut directly into countertop-sized slabs.

On the other hand, quartz or quartzite countertops are not quarried from the ground in whole pieces. 

Instead, quartz countertops on made by grinding quartz down to a much finer material and then mixing it in with a variety of synthetics resins, polymers, and colorants. This mixture is then pressed and cooked under pressure at extremely high temperatures.

The result is an extremely hard material, similar to granite. But, this new, engineered stone material comes out of the oven virtually flawless and offers many benefits that natural stone simply does not. 

 

Pros and Cons of Quartz Countertops

Now that you know what sets quartz countertops apart from natural stone, let’s dive in and take a look at the pros and cons of having engineered quartz installed in your home. 

 

Low Maintenance (Pro)

Unlike natural stone, engineered quartz countertops have a solid, non-porous surface. This eliminates many of the weaknesses and imperfections found in natural stone countertops, as well as the need to seal the surface to protect it from damage.

The non-porous surface also makes quartz countertops more sanitary and more stain-resistant than natural materials. 

 

Quartz Countertop Colors (Pro)

Because of the engineered process that we’ve outlined above, manufacturers are able to produce quartz countertops in a much wider variety of colors and style designs than what they’re able to produce from natural stone materials. 

In other words, you’re not as limited when it comes to styles and designs. 

In fact, if you’re willing to pay, some manufacturers even offer their customers the ability to customize their engineered quartz countertops, choosing from virtually any color or design imaginable. 

 

Durability (Pro)

As we’ve already mentioned, quartz is an extremely hard, non-porous countertop material. And the fact that quartz countertops are engineered by a controlled process eliminates virtually all imperfections in the finished material.

Unlike natural stone countertops, this makes it so that quartz is more durable and less likely to chip, split, or crack in the future. 

Other materials are also more prone to scratches and other types of damage. 

This often leads to homeowners replacing their countertops every 10 or 15 years. But quartz is a such a hard and durable material, it’s strong enough to last a lifetime. 

Plus, it’s so hard that it’s virtually scratch-resistant. But that’s not to say completely scratch-proof. In fact, solid colors such as black and white, tight-grained, and darker pigments are especially prone to scratches.

 

Easily Design Your Rooms (Pro)

Many homeowners and interior designers believe that designing a room is much easier when using engineered quartz than when using natural stone. 

This is because any samples of the material that you see either online or in-store will look exactly like the material that you’ll have installed in your home. 

But because no two slabs of natural stone are ever exactly the same, the finished product can sometimes look drastically different than the material you picked out from the sample tiles. 

 

Quartz Countertop Cost (Con)

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to you. But both engineered quartz and natural stone countertops are significantly more expensive than wood or composite countertops.

Typically, you’ll find wood or composite countertops coming in around $50 per square foot (depending on where you live and the availability of materials). However, this is a very reasonable price for renovation material. 

On the other hand, engineered quartz countertops can sometimes cost as much as $100 to $200 per square foot. 

But with that being said, the durability and longer lifespan of a quartz countertop makes it much more affordable in the long run. 

 

Heat-Resistance (Con)

Although engineered quartz has a much better stain resistance, the resins and polymers that make up the material are more prone to heat damage and environmental exposure. 

So with that said, always take precautions when placing hot food trays on your quartz countertops. Use a trivet or dish towel to prevent the heat from causing the resins to split or crack. 

It’s also important to note that engineered quartz is not a suitable material for outdoor countertops. Long-term exposure to direct sunlight will cause the material to become more prone to damage over the course of time.

 

Choosing Quartz Countertops In Toronto

Engineered quartz countertops have been around since the 1960s. And not only do they make a gorgeous addition to any home, but they also possess many advantages that you won’t find in more traditional countertop materials like wood or natural stone. 

Quartz countertops truly have the ability to transform any kitchen or bathroom from plain and boring to being one of the most outstanding, eye-catching features in your home. 

If you’re interested in learning more about quartz countertops or getting a quote, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.