Quartz Countertops For Amherst, Orchard Park & East Aurora, NY
What is a Quartz Countertop?
While “quartz” is a natural mineral, when you see the term used in the context of countertops, it’s referring to engineered quartz or engineered stone. Engineered quartz, the material that makes up your quartz kitchen countertops, contains a mixture of 93 percent ground quartzite and 7 percent durable resins, along with the pigments used to create the patterns. Specific brands of engineered quartz will have a slightly different makeup, but the percentages are all roughly the same.
Quartz countertop material is manufactured and distributed to fabricators as slabs. The vast majority of slabs are either 2 centimeters (.78”) thick or 3 centimeters (1.18”) thick. There is slight variation in the thickness from different manufacturers. Almost all of the quartz countertops we fabricate and install are 3 centimeters thick. The length and width of the slab ranges from 55” x 120” to 79” x 136”. The average weight for a 3 centimeter thick slab is 18 lbs per square foot. The average weight for a 3 centimeter thick slab ranges from 825 lbs to 1,343 lbs. Handling slabs takes specialized equipment, is very dangerous and should only be performed by trained professionals. Because of this, a slab distributor will only deliver quartz slabs directly to an approved fabricator.
How is a Quartz Slab Manufactured?
The first step in creating a quartz slab is mining raw quartz clusters from quarries and open-pit mines around the world. Although many rock formations are as blocks, because of the silicon dioxide in quartz, it forms clusters instead.
The quartz clusters are then crushed into a powder. The quartz powder is then mixed with polyester resins, pigments, and compounds. This mixture is then pressed with over 100 tons of pressure to create the countertop slabs. During the crushing and blending process, the quartz material becomes non-porous - water or other liquids cannot seep into the slab and cause damage. This non-porous property is one of the reasons that quartz is such a popular countertop option.
The next step is to cure the slab in a kiln at extremely high temperatures. This final step gives the quartz a permanent, high-quality seal that helps protect it for a lifetime.
While most quartz countertops in homes have a glossy finish, they also come in matte or brushed finishes.
Why Choose a Quartz Countertop?
When heat and pressure are applied, the resins and pigments fill any gaps between the natural quartz crystals creating a non-porous material which is resistant to common household cleaners and chemicals, resists staining and does not absorb food-related material. Plus, it is highly customizable and comes in many color combinations and unique patterns. Finding your favorite color and pattern may be your most difficult task.
Maintenance
Taking care of your quartz countertops will be significantly easier compared to other materials such as granite. Quartz requires minimal maintenance and it doesn’t need to be sealed. However, be mindful that honed quartz countertops are porous, meaning that they need to be resealed on a regular basis to avoid staining.
Give Us A Call
Queen City Quartz & Granite personnel have decades of experience measuring, fabricating and installing quartz countertops. We are professionals with exacting standards. We know what to do and what not to do. We guarantee our work. “Quality, not Regret” is not just our motto, it is our promise. Please allow us the privilege of working with you to create the countertops of your dreams.
Customers in Amherst, NY; Orchard Park, NY; East Aurora, NY; West Seneca, NY, the surrounding Buffalo communities and all of Western New York can trust that Queen City Quartz & Granite is the most affordable and trustworthy operation in the area. Please call our team today to receive a free quote on your quartz kitchen and bathroom countertop needs.
