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Not only does natural granite contain less quartz
than its manufactured counterpart, it also has air pockets which
make it a porous product,
requiring some form of sealant for use as a countertop (applied
every year or two). In contrast, air pockets are removed during the
manufacturing
process of quartz aggregates, when quartz particles are combined
with pigments and polyresins in a vacuum compression system. This
creates a non-porous surface,
which according to Canales will not be penetrated by soft drinks, wine, vinegar,
olive oil, lemon juice, ink, crayons, makeup, perfume, hair spray or nail polish. “No
sealing is necessary. Clean-up is simple–just warm, soapy water or basic
household cleaners. It is really a hassle-free surface,” Canales concludes.
Its non-absorbency also inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew, making
it an excellent choice for food preparation surfaces.
Popular for over a decade in Europe, quartz surfaces were introduced
in North America a few years ago. Most of the product sold here is
manufactured in Canada, Israel and Spain. Originally used for kitchen
countertops and backsplashes, quartz surfacing has branched out to
bathroom vanities, tub and fireplace surrounds, table tops, wet bars,
wall cladding and floor tiles (which can be combined to create patterns).
Natural Looks
Not only will engineered quartz hold up over the
years, its natural looks won’t go out of style. Its colors
and patterns are more consistent than natural stone, which means
homeowners can rely on
the showroom color to be true to what is delivered...and they
can match different elements perfectly. Cosentino alone currently
offers
45 colors of its Silestone® surfacing, in
a wide variety of styles – from
solid to particulate patterns, from sparkling to muted. Cambria®,
CaesarStone® and DuPont’sTM Zodiaq® offer their own
choices.
It should be noted that large applications may require seams comprised
of an epoxy color matched to the rest of the stone. (This would be
true of any stone product, but not true of solid surface products
that can be melted together.)
Although these quartz surfaces are extremely durable, they are
not indestructible. It is possible to damage them if force is applied
to a sharp object. While they resist damage from heat, the use of
a hot pad or trivet is recommended. (All natural stone surfaces can
suffer thermal shock from sudden temperature changes or heat build-up
in a small area.) Caustic chemicals, such as oven cleaners, drain
openers and floor strippers may also damage them. And long-term,
direct exposure to sunlight can cause slight fading.
As with any type of countertop material, the cost of quartz surfaces
will vary according to grade and style. But considering the multitude
of options out there today, it just might be the wisest of all your
hard choices. 
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