Believe it or not, many homes are redecorated on average at least every seven years. If you’re one of those lucky individuals who is getting ready for a kitchen remodel in your home, you may be currently spending many hours looking at home decorating blogs, reading decorating magazines, and making a number of kitchen decorating boards on Pinterest. One of the main trends you may be seeing in your research is that after years of a strong preference for granite countertops in the kitchen, decorators are talking up another natural stone, quartz.
Although quartz doesn’t differ significantly in cost from granite per square foot, quartz does have an advantage to granite when it comes to durability and the range of color and texture options available. Let’s begin with the durability factor. Both quartz and granite are natural stones. Granite is mined in a quarry but the quartz that is made into countertops is actually engineered in a factory. The process to create the quartz countertops uses more than 90 percent ground quartz bound with polyester resins that provide flexibility, a protective coating and a wide range of color and pattern options.
When it comes to choosing a color for your quartz countertop, the sky is the limit because the same resins that help make the quartz scratch and stain resistant also can provide color. This means that your quartz countertops can be created in any color from a subdued earth tone to fire-engine red or apple green. There can even be metallic flecks added for a bit of flare. Because the resins add a barrier against stains and scratches, there’s no need to seal the quartz countertop, which could be another advantage for homeowners who are looking for a countertop with fewer maintenance requirements than a granite countertop. Resins also give homeowners options to choose polished, sandblasted, honed or embossed treatments, which can provide a similar look to matte limestone, glossy granite or textured slate. Another advantage of quartz countertops is that they are antimicrobial and non-porous so odors, stains and mildew will not penetrate the surface of the stone.
Despite the increased protection provided when choosing quartz for a kitchen countertop, it is still advantageous to choose a natural-based cleaner that is specially formulated for stone surfaces such as granite, marble and quartz. Rock Doctor’s “Natural” Granite & Quartz Cleaner can effectively clean your quartz counters with a gentle plant-based formula. Our patented Rock Doctor “Natural” Granite & Quartz Cleaner contains purified water, coconut-derived plant-based biodegradable surfactants and a fresh fragrance oil blend. The patented neutral pH formula is free of ammonia, bleach, phosphorus and dyes so it will not harm stone surfaces. For stubborn stains, apply Rock Doctor “Natural” Granite & Quartz Cleaner and gently clean with a non-abrasive scrubbing pad.
This article was brought to you by Rock Doctor, which offers a line of specially-formulated stone cleaner, stone polish, and stone sealer products. Rock Doctor stone care products can be purchased through a number of fine retail stores, including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ace Hardware, Do it Best Hardware, Hy-Vee, and Wegmans.
