What Is Quartz Countertops Made Out Of

Quartz countertops are an increasingly popular option these days.

What is quartz countertops made out of.

What you may not know is the material used in these countertops is man made. Unlike granite or marble quartz counters are a mixture of different materials. Quartz countertops are man made engineered stone countertops formed by combining 90 ground quartz a natural hard mineral with 8 10 resins polymers and pigments. Be careful with cooking pans though.

Quartz countertops made with chips have a mottled speckled appearance since you can see the individual stones suspended in the resin. Quartz countertops once unknown have developed a reputation over the last 50 years as a high end surface material but the process of gaining respect has been slow even today quartz counters compete with solid surface i e corian and natural stone for space in kitchens and baths. Some of the most common forms of quartz are known as amethyst ametrine rose quartz carnelian onyx jasper smokey quartz agate milky quartz tiger s eye and so much more. Usually the composition is about 90 95 quartz to 5 10 resin.

To make the countertops roughly 90 percent ground quartz is blended with about 10 percent resins pigments and various compounds to form quartz slabs. Also called engineered quartz the countertop slab is actually made of this mixture which is pressed into slabs which are hardened by baking and cooling. Unlike granite marble and other natural stone countertops quartz countertops are made of engineered stone. Quartz is a mineral that has been used in the making of kitchen and bath countertops for many decades.

How are quartz countertops made. Quartz countertops are made by man but are not synthetic since they are chiefly particles of natural quartz aggregate held together and colored with seven percent or less of other substances. Fully 10 percent of the material volume in a quartz countertop isn t stone at all but rather a polymeric or cement based binder. However you will find that quartz countertops are actually man made and although they consist of 90 quartz the rest of the countertop is composed of resins polymers and various types of pigments.

In fact quartz is nearly indestructible and because it isn t porous like granite it s easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria free. Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus more durable. They are beautiful durable and easy to take care of making them a great choice for many homeowners. Sure in most quartz countertops there is some quartz present but saying that quartz countertops are solid quartz is like saying that all cars in an average parking lot are chevrolets.

If so then our countertop spotlight series will help you.