In todays blog I thought I would help you understand the difference in countertop materials!
Knowing Your Stone & Maintenance Level. Compare Marble, Corian, Granite & Quartz…specifically of course. Hardness Marble is a 3, Granite a 6, Cambria Quartz a 7. While Granite weighs 2/3rds MORE than Quartz…Quartz is actually 2/3rds more STRONGER, more durable than granite. Granite also has fissures which can make it crack and chip, especially, with larger slabs.
NO MAINTENANCE is what people are looking and striving for so Quartz by far is the best product out there right now!!!
Granite was popular for 20 years but Quartz has now surpassed granite and at SpaceMakers we predominately use Cambria Quartz. See below for reasons why we love Cambria! 🙂
Quartz vs. Granite
Strength & Durability
Quartz is much harder than granite or marble making it more durable. That means Quartz is less likely to scratch, chip, or stain for years of flawless service.
Maintenance Free
Granite and marble require regular sealing and polishing. With Quartz, all you need to do is wipe it down with a little warm water and mild soap.
A Healthy Kitchen
Quartz is nonporous and nonabsorbent so it won’t draw in moisture from raw or leftover food, which can harbor harmful bacteria.
For those of you who love granite…yes it’s so beautiful I agree but… here are the care instructions below for both Quartz and Granite and you will see the difference.
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Cleaning and Caring For Granite
Here are some tips and guidelines to caring for granite:
One of the most important things you can do for your granite surface is to get it sealed. A sealant, sealer or impregnator protects the granite by coating it with a clear finish. Granite is naturally porous, so it will absorb liquids. This can cause it to stain or erode. Sealing it protects it.
Cleaning It:
Cleaning granite is important. It helps to remove any particles, debris or spills that make your granite look dirty and worn. However, improper cleaning can do more harm. For most cleaning, all you need to do is wipe the surface down with a dampened cloth or microfiber mop. This will remove spills, dirt, dust and food particles. To disinfect your granite surface, you will need to purchase and use a granite cleaning product. Different granite manufacturers recommend or product various granite cleaning products. Never use abrasive cleaners, such as steel wool or acidic cleaners, such as vinegar. They can scratch, etch and discolor your granite.
Get it Resealed:
The sealant that is placed on your granite surface typically only lasts a few years. After that, it begins to wear away due to normal use. When this happens, you need to have it resealed, to ensure the granite stays protected. The easiest way to tell if the granite needs to be resealed is by doing a water test. Sprinkle a few drops of water on the most heavily used parts of the granite surface. If the granite absorbs the water, it needs to be resealed. If the water balls up and sits on the surface, your sealer is still protecting the granite.
Cleaning and Caring For Quartz
Maintaining your new quartz countertop is easy. Simply wash with a soft cloth and warm water, use a mild soap if desired.
SPILLS
Sometimes spills occur and dry on the worktop. Materials that harden as they dry, such as gum, grease, nail polish or paint etc. should be removed by gently scraping away the residue material with a blunt plastic scraper. Then the quartz surface should be cleaned with a household vinegar/water solution (always follow the manufacturer’s dilution instructions) or with a non-abrasive cleaning pad (such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite®) together with a non-bleach, non-abrasive liquid household cleaner and rinsed thoroughly with clean water. Surface should be dried with a clean white paper towel or white cloth.
RESISTANCE TO STAINS AND CHEMICALS
Quartz countertops are non-porous, so spills and stains are not absorbed into the surface, making it stain-resistant.
DO NOT expose, in use or otherwise, quartz surfaces to abrasive, strong alkaline, acid, free radicals, oxidizers or the like (whether high, neutral or low pH) cleaners. Avoid exposing your tops to harsh chemicals!
DO NOT use or expose quartz surfaces to such products including, but not limited to bleach, oven cleaners, Comet®, Soft Scrub®, SOS®, products with pumice, batteries, paint removers, furniture strippers, oil soaps, tarnish or silver cleaners, or the like. DO NOT use abrasive or harsh scrub pads. DO NOT apply any sealers, penetrants or topical treatments to quartz surfaces under any circumstances. Such products will wear off and cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent.
HEAT RESISTANCE
To maintain the beauty of your quartz countertop, DO NOT place hot skillets or roasting pans directly onto the surface. We recommend the use of trivets and hot pads to prevent heating the top. As with any natural stone, certain exposure to heat may cause cracks due to thermal shock.
CUTS OR SCRATCHES
Quartz is one of the hardest materials in nature. That’s why your new quartz countertop will not easily scratch or chip. We do, however, recommend the use of a cutting board to protect the surface and avoid dulling your knives.
With a small amount of care, your quartz surface will look as great as the day you bought it for years to come.
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NO MATERIALS ARE HEAT PROOF!
For example if you take a hot coffee pot and put it on any countertop the difference in temperature between the coffee pot and the material of the countertop are extreme temperature differences which would make the coffee pot shatter.
WHAT COUNTERTOPS WE LOVE THE BEST!!
Cambria is our preferred Quartz countertops because…
Here at SpaceMakers Remodeling we can’t say enough great things about the Cambria employees and Company. The service has been absolutely amazing!!! One of the things we often tell our customers about Cambria is, unlike other Quartz dealers, Cambria can guarantee dye lot match on the day of install and 10 years later if there are any issues. Which rarely if never happen 🙂 They also do not charge for several 3cm profile edges whereas other quartz dealers charge extra for each profile edge style.
Anyway we love them, love the huge variety of colors and love the service!!!!
I HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL!!
