The countertop is the aesthetic, functional and sometimes social centerpiece of the kitchen. At costs ranging from $20 for base level laminate to $200 per square foot for stone slabs like granite or marble, it can also be one of the most expensive components of the room. With outstanding durability, exceptional appearance and ease of care, quartz countertops are quickly becoming a top choice in new construction and home renovation.

How Does Quartz Differ from Granite?
 
Quartz is quarried from the earth like granite and marble.Quartz, like granite, marble and sandstone, is a natural stone quarried from the earth. The difference is that in nature, granite is a composite of several different materials, including quartz, feldspar and mica. This composition of harder and softer minerals is what gives granite its porosity and necessitates sealing of granite countertops in normal use. Quartz, as it is mined from the earth, is only quartz and is nearly as hard as diamond. On the Moh's Hardness scale, a diamond is a 10 and quartz is a 7. Quartz countertops are fabricated from 93% quartz and 7% resin binders and pigment. This combination of natural quartz and resin produces a surface that is completely non-porous and even harder than granite.
The Quartz Fabrication Process
 
Like granite, quartz produces a countertop with visual depth in a variety of colors.The same patented process of mixing pure quartz stone with resin and pigment to produce quartz countertops is used by all the top manufacturers. The differences in quartz countertops are based on the color, detail and delivery programs offered by each manufacturer.

Manufacturers
Choosing the right quartz countertop is a process of deciding the color, style and price you want and examining the availability and warranty for each product.

Avanza is a product of Costentino, a company headquartered in Spain. Avanza is fabricated in Texas and offers a 10-year warranty. The Avanza dealer network is not as well established as other quartz countertop brands, so delivery of an Avanza countertop may take a bit longer.

Cambria is a product made with quartz quarried mostly in America by a family-owned, U.S.-based company. Cambria is available in a wide variety of natural and fashion colors and carries a lifetime warranty.

CaesarStone is the original engineered quartz surface presented by an Isreal-based company, CaesarStone achieves high points for aesthetics and also offers products that incorporate recycled quartz content. CaesarStone warranties vary from 10 years to lifetime depending on the product line.

HanStone quartz is a product fabricated in Atlanta, Georgia by Hanwha Surfaces from Seoul, Korea. With distribution centers throughout the U.S., HanStone is available in a large variety of colors and carries a lifetime residential warranty.

Legacy is a quartz countertop product produced by Verona Marble, the U.S. subsidiary of Santa Margherita of Italy. Legacy is also available for floors, walls and in mosaic tile. Residential applications for Legacy carry a 10-year warranty.

Silestone is a product fabricated in California by Costentino of Spain. Silestone offers a contemporary color selection, built-in Microban protection for food preparation safety and a 10-year warranty. Silestone is also known for its line of recycled-pigment quartz countertops.

Technistone, from Technistone USA in Texas, provides quartz countertops with a 10-year warranty. Technistone has a distributor network that makes Technistone available in most states throughout the U. S.

Zodiac is a brand of quartz countertops produced by DuPont and easily available at most home improvement chain stores. Color choices for Zodiac are slightly more limited but the product quality is similar to other manufacturers and Zodiac offers a 10-year, transferable warranty.