Quartz countertops have become the countertops of choice for most new and remodeled kitchens. There are plenty of reasons why quartz countertops are superior. They are extremely durable and have great longevity, and unlike most natural options, like granite, quartz is easy to clean, making it low maintenance. Also, since quartz countertops are man made they come in a wide variety of colors, hues, and designs. It is important to explore if quartz is man made and, if yes, what are quartz countertops made of to truly understand the material.
Is quartz man made?
Many people get confused and inquire if quartz is man made because quartz is a well-known naturally occurring mineral. Quartz is among the most abundant minerals present on the planet and happens to score high on the hardness scale. It is, therefore, a widely available material that is durable and scratch-proof.
While granite countertops are made out of the actual mineral, which is cut and polished for a finished look, their quartz countertops are man made. Quartz countertops are what can be best described as engineered stone. So, is quartz man made? The answer is yes, and the process used to manufacture it is detailed below.
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What are quartz countertops made of?
The process that converts quartz crystals into solid, large countertops is known as the Bretonstone Technology, and the process involves the following steps:
Creating the mix:
Quartz countertops are composed of 90%-94% of quartz. The ground-up quartz is combined with resins, polymers, pigments, and even crushed pieces of other minerals and mirrors. The resin and polymers provide a binding force to the mixture, and pigments are added in to add color.
Molding into shape:
The next step in the process of what are quartz countertops made of is pouring the mixture into molds. All the raw materials, once combined, form a texture similar to wet sand. This is poured into huge molds to shape the quartz into slabs. The mixture is distributed evenly to ensure a perfectly flat piece of slab.
Implementing pressure:
To make the quartz mixture into a solid piece of a slab that is nonporous and rock hard, extreme pressure is implemented. The mixture is compressed, so all the polymers, resins, grounds of quartz, and other materials are bonded together. Vacuums are used to make the process airtight, so the compression is absolute, and the slab has no air pockets.
Heating the slabs:
To further solidify the quartz slabs, they are dried and heated at high temperatures to increase the hardness of the finished slab.
The finishing touches:
The last step consists of putting the final touches. This primarily means polishing the pieces of slabs after they have been heated and cooled down. Polishing the countertops is what makes them shiny and gives them the beautiful clean look that is perfect for such places as kitchens.
Buying your quartz countertop:
Now that you know what quartz countertops are made of and how quartz is man made, you can determine just how suitable it is for your kitchen. Quartz is easy to clean and keep bacteria-free, and it is available in plenty of colors and designs. Ed Stone provides high-quality countertop options in all manner of designs at the best prices. With professional installation capabilities available, all you need to do is select the quartz countertop that grabs your attention and leave the rest to the professionals at Ed Stone.
