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When our customers are trying to choose their bathroom countertop, they often conclude that they’d like quartz or marble. If you’re in that same boat, you’ve come to the right place. How do you make that decision? Which material is better for the bathroom?

Quartz Countertops

Quartz is a man-made material composed of natural quartz crystals, resins, polymers, and pigments. These countertops are often designed to mimic the look of natural stone, but they come with much less maintenance than natural stone selections do.

Marble Countertops

Marble is a metamorphic rock that naturally occurs in the earth. It is made when minerals like calcite, limestone, dolomite, and serpentine are placed under great pressure and high temperatures for hundreds of years. Marble countertops are beautiful, but they come with their fair share of maintenance needs.

Quartz or Marble: Design

Even though quartz can mimic the design of marble, there’s nothing that quite reaches the luxurious look that marble countertops boast. There are countless options available in marble, with unique colorations and veining.

Quartz also comes in a variety of patterns and designs to choose from. Quartz has the potential to have veining as well, just like marble, and some even have flecks of reflective mirror chips on the surface.

Quartz or Marble: Durability

Marble is a porous stone, which means that it can be vulnerable to stains—especially from acidic substances. Always make sure to seal your marble countertops in order to preserve their integrity and beauty. Marble countertops can also scratch somewhat easily, which isn’t always a great quality for the bathroom.

Quartz is inherently nonporous, which means it doesn’t require a sealing routine. It doesn’t stain or scratch easily either, which makes it the winning choice in this case.

Quartz or Marble: Maintenance

Marble countertops require a fair amount of care, and that’s something you should be ready for if you decide to install them. They need to be sealed at installation and then periodically over the course of their lifetime. They should also be cleaned frequently, with regular polishing.

Quartz countertops are polished during production, which means they don’t need to be sealed or polished ever again. Much like marble, they should be cleaned often with mild soap, warm water, and a soft cloth.

One thing to note about quartz countertops is that they are not as heat resistant as marble surfaces. Since there are resins included in their composition, they don’t have the same heat resistance as natural stone.

Choosing Quartz

Between marble and quartz for the bathroom, quartz is the option we recommend at Wallstone Stone Countertops. In the end, this stone is notably more durable than marble, and it has the ability to match almost any style of bathroom.

Beyond that, even though quartz is an engineered stone, that fact will be anything but obvious—only a true professional would be able to tell. It has the same high-class appeal that natural stone does, along with added durability, hygiene, and lasting power.

Quartz countertops are easier to maintain than marble and will last for years—maybe even longer than your home itself.

Are you ready to incorporate quartz countertops into your bathroom? Call Wallstone Stone Countertops today to get started!

People love quartz countertops for plenty of reasons: they’re durable, attractive, and incredibly long lasting. Investing in the best quartz countertops is never a bad idea.

Quartz also comes in all sorts of designs, patterns, and colorations. Since it’s a man-made product, you’ll often find more variety than you would in a natural stone.

Beyond that, quartz is super easy to clean because it’s nonporous. That also means it doesn’t ever have to be sealed.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into just what quartz is made out of—so if you’ve been consistently looking for “quartz countertops near me,” you’ve come to the right place.

Quartz: A Man-Made Material

Quartz countertops can be confusing. We say that they’re man-made, but isn’t quartz a mineral that comes from the earth? Both statements can be true, and we’ll explain why.

Quartz is actually one of the most abundant minerals on the planet, and it scores high on the Mohs Scale of Hardness (which means it’s very hard). But that’s not to say quartz countertops are made from natural quartz alone. Unlike granite countertops, which are made of pure granite, quartz countertops include additives as well—and that qualifies them as engineered stones.

Keep reading to learn more about the process of how they’re made.

Quartz Countertops: What’s Inside?

There are a few steps that go into converting quartz crystals into the countertop slabs that you’re familiar with. Let’s break those steps down.

Step 1: Creating the mix

While quartz countertops aren’t 100 percent quartz, they are mostly quartz—sitting anywhere between 90 and 94 percent. This amount of quartz is ground up and combined with polymers, resins, pigments, and sometimes crushed pieces of other minerals and even mirrors. The polymers and resins bind the particles together, and the pigments are there for color.

Step 2: Molding the shape

After the mixture is done, it creates a material that feels similar to wet sand. That wet sand-like material is then poured into a mold and distributed evenly to create a perfectly flat slab.

Step 3: Putting on the pressure

In order to create a solid material out of this mixture, it needs extreme pressure. This extreme pressure also ensures the nonporous nature of quartz countertops, along with their rock-hard exterior. When the mixture is compressed, all of the ingredients bind together, and vacuums are used so the process remains airtight and the compression is absolute—with no air pockets to speak of.

Step 4: Turning up the heat

The quartz slabs are then dried and heated at very high temperatures to ensure the hardness of the final product.

Step 5: The final touches

The final touches involve polishing the quartz slabs after they’ve cooled down from the heating process. This makes the surface shiny and gives it that gorgeous, sparkling look that you love.

All about Quartz Countertops

At Wallstone Stone Countertops, you can expect to find the best quartz countertop installers right here on our team. We know all about quartz and the work that goes into creating it, and we’d love to help you implement this gorgeous stone into your kitchen.

For a hygienic, easy-to-clean, easy-to-maintain, beautiful engineered stone, get in touch with Wallstone Stone Countertops for the best quartz countertops you can find.

What makes quartz such a well-loved stone? You’ve come to the right place to figure that out. In this article, we’ll list some important benefits of quartz so you can see what all the fuss is about over quartz countertops in your kitchen.

Benefits of Quartz

Here are the top six benefits of quartz.

Quartz is durable.

Quartz countertops are man-made. They contain about 90 percent natural quartz and 10 percent polymers and resins, which bind the particles to create a nonporous surface. Because there’s such a high concentration of quartz, these slabs are hard and durable.

Durability is a great quality for a kitchen countertop, as it sees plenty of activity. Quartz is resistant to scratches, chips, and stains, so you don’t have to worry about it sustaining damage from everyday use.

Quartz is nonporous.

Since quartz is nonporous, there are no pores, holes, or cracks where liquids can seep in and cause damage or stains. The nonporous nature of quartz countertops also makes them an extremely hygienic choice—there is nowhere for bacteria or germs to sneak into the countertop either.

The smooth, nonporous surface is easy to clean—just wipe it down with soap and water and you’ll be set.

Quartz is easy to take care of.

Natural stones, like granite and quartzite, require sealant, which can be a hassle for someone who’s not interested in taking care of a countertop. What’s great about quartz countertops in the kitchen is that they don’t require any sealant at all.

Because they’re stain resistant, you also won’t have to spend time carrying out multi-step processes to get stains out. These countertops are perfect for people who value beautiful countertops but don’t have the time for involved maintenance routines.

Quartz is diverse.

There are many different aesthetics when it comes to quartz slabs. There aren’t as many choices with natural stones, which are designed by the earth, but the design of quartz countertops is chosen by humans, which means they come in a wide range of colors and patterns—and you’ll even be able to find slabs that mimic the look of natural stone.

If you’re looking for something that coincides with your kitchen’s current style, you’ll surely be able to find a quartz slab with the right aesthetic.

Quartz is uniform.

The design of natural stone countertops can be unpredictable. It’s likely that, even with the most perfect slab, there will be a hiccup in the pattern or something else unexpected. The same cannot be said for quartz countertops, as they are guaranteed to be uniform.

If you like a predictable pattern with a consistent style, quartz is the best choice for you.

Quartz is a good investment.

Quartz countertops for the kitchen are a great long-term investment. They last a long time because they’re not made with anything degradable, so you don’t have to worry about them falling apart. In fact, they might even last longer than your home itself.

Having quartz countertops installed could also increase the resale value of your home. Buyers are on the hunt for quality countertops, and since quartz is not something they’ll have to spend money replacing, they’ll be willing to pay more.

Quartz countertops don’t require much maintenance after they’re installed, which is yet another reason why they’re a good investment for anyone who decides to utilize them.

Quartz in Your Kitchen

The benefits of quartz cannot be overstated. While natural stones will always be popular, quartz countertops will continue to give them a run for their money in a number of ways.

Quartz is a great choice for your home. If you’re interested in learning more about it, be sure to contact Wallstone Stone Countertops today.

When you think of countertop trends, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a bright, white kitchen. While we can’t deny the alluring nature of that look, we’re here to open your mind to something a little different—dark stone countertops. More specifically, dark quartz countertops.

In this article, we’ll share a bit about the four of our favorite dark quartz countertops that you absolutely have to see. But first, let’s get into the “why” behind dark stone countertops.

Dark Stone—What’s So Great about It?

There’s no question that your kitchen sees wear and tear on a daily basis, and while white countertops may be stunning, they’ll show every bit of that use. Dark quartz countertops, on the other hand, use their chic looks to hide imperfections—and they never compromise aesthetics or functionality to make it happen.

If you want something tough and durable that still looks the cool and classy, then dark stone countertops should be your number one choice.

Here are a few more benefits of choosing a dark-colored stone:

• You’ll enjoy a dramatic look in your kitchen.
• They offer a classic aesthetic that will never go out of style.
• The sharp contrast breathes life into the room.

Four Dark Quartz Countertops

Now that we’ve gone over the greatness behind dark stone countertops, let’s get into our four favorite variations:

1. Midnight Majesty

Midnight Majesty quartz is loved by designers and homeowners alike. It has a mid-tone gray background with subtle flecks, and it’s a low variation of black quartz—and this makes it useful as a neutral surface. If you keep your cabinetry light in the room where this countertop is installed, you’ll most definitely notice the way it shines.

2. Fossil Brown

Dark quartz doesn’t just mean black and gray—it can mean brown too, even though it’s not a shade most people think of. Fossil Brown has a mid-tone brown background with slight shading and delicate veins, and it’s known for the warmth and character that it adds to space.

Putting this quartz with neutral-colored stone or tile is a great way to make the richness of its pigment really pop.

3. Shadow Gray

If you like the look of concrete but you’re in the market for something a bit more durable, Shadow Gray quartz is your answer. This shade has subtle tones of iron, onyx, and pewter, and it fits the parameters of “industrial chic.” But, that said, it works alongside almost any style of interior, whether you’re looking for a cool and modern aesthetic or something on the traditional side.

4. Mirano Gray

For many, keeping it simple is the way to go—and Mirano Gray is the perfect option in that case. It doesn’t have any flecks or veins; it’s a smooth and light gray that works in any style of kitchen or bathroom. It’s sleek and classy and looks great when used as a countertop, flooring, backsplash, or even an accent wall.

Dark and Dashing Quartz

Dark quartz countertops add personality to your space that’s difficult to achieve with any other shade. If you’re interested in learning more about this design choice, reach out to Wallstone Stone Countertops today!

The bathroom is a place that sees a lot of moisture and humidity, so it’s important to choose a countertop material that can withstand such things. But at the same time, no one is thinking of function alone—they’re thinking of aesthetics too. So, how can you pair those two concepts?

It’s easy! With quartz countertops. At Wallstone Stone Countertops, we find that quartz is severely underrated in bathrooms—and that might be because people don’t realize how perfectly suited it is for such an environment.

In this article, we’ll provide a few reasons why quartz countertops are great for bathrooms of all kinds, no matter the style, layout, or theme.

Using Quartz in the Bathroom

Check out why you should be using quartz in your bathroom:

The material is tough.

Quartz is one of the toughest materials out there. It’s unlikely to chip, crack, or show any signs of everyday wear and tear. It’s not indestructible—after all, no material is—but it comes pretty close thanks to the resins that bind all the materials together inside it.

You’ve got options.

When you choose quartz countertops, you’re choosing crisp patterns and predictable colorations. Since these stones are man-made, you don’t run the risk of imperfections like those that can pop up on natural stone slabs.

It’s nonporous.

Thanks to the resins we mentioned earlier, quartz is a nonporous material that never needs to be sealed. You don’t have to worry about stains or liquid damage either. Another great aspect is the fact that it’s so hygienic! No pores means nowhere for germs and bacteria to hide, and that’s a great quality for the bathroom.

It’s cost-effective.

No stone material is going to be “cheap.” But you don’t want cheap, anyway, because cheap doesn’t last. Quartz is affordable, and even if you have to spend a bit more up front, rest assured you won’t have to spend much on maintenance over the years. And if you sell your home, having quartz installed in the bathroom will raise the resale value.

It’s low maintenance.

If you don’t want to put much time or effort into taking care of your countertops, quartz is perfect for you. While the bathroom probably requires more cleaning than any other room in the house (rivaling the kitchen, of course), you won’t have to worry about your countertops needing special treatment. You don’t need any special chemicals or cleaners to get quartz clean—instead, all you need is warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft cloth. Wipe the surface down and you’re set.

Choosing Quartz

In our opinion, quartz is one of the best materials available for your bathroom countertop. To learn more about this engineered stone, give Wallstone Stone Countertops a call today at (614) 348-6541.