For interior design aficionados, kitchens are the hearts of our homes. We cook delicious meals, brew hearty drinks, gather with friends and loved ones, and celebrate in them. Then you may ask, what creates the dream kitchen for our home? The most efficient kitchens are formed through the combination of certain staple elements in them such as utensils, cooking metalware, kitchen cabinets, and additional essential details. But what about the most important part of them all? We are doubtlessly talking about none other than kitchen countertops.
Kitchen countertops bring organization, decoration, and style to our kitchens. We use them almost in all of our day-to-day activities revolving around and in our kitchens. Our kitchens are basically utilized according to the location and purpose of our countertops. Perhaps that’s why when it comes to picking new kitchen countertops it feels like a very daunting task at first. There are many different styles, materials, and brands when it comes to kitchen countertops.
First thing’s first; the material is important. This is where you determine how and why do you intend to use your countertops. There are many material options ranging from soapstone, wood, and lacquer to natural stone material options such as granite, marble, and quartzite. If you have a busy kitchen environment where kids, friends, and family members are always present then you want the best maintenance possible to preserve the beauty and elegance of your countertops. For that reason, we have a superior choice when it comes to material selection and that is quartz.
What are Quartz Countertops Made of?
Quartz is a man-made engineered stone that is made by blending natural quartz crystals, stones, polymers, pigments, resins, and a variety of modern industrial products. The finished product has a surface that works as good as, if not better, than its natural stone counterparts. The finished surface of quartz is a very solid and hard material similar to granite but is it glossier. This makes quartz countertops an excellent option for your kitchen decoration as they look mesmerizingly beautiful.
In addition to their beauty, quartz countertops have a non-porous structure which makes them way less prone to stains and bacterial growths. Perks like these form the main reason why quartz countertops are so popular. Cleaning quartz countertops is also quite a breeze as almost all variants of quartz countertops either require a minimal amount of maintenance or are maintenance-free. These and many other benefits make quartz countertops an ideal option for your home kitchen.
On top of these superior benefits, quartz countertop installation is a breeze in today’s market conditions. Professional installers have loads of experience designing, cutting, and shaping quartz countertops with ease. You can easily attain a modern look for your home kitchen with beautiful and efficient quartz countertops whenever you want!
How Much are Quartz Countertops per Square Foot?
Alright, now that you’ve been reading so far, you might be searching for answers to some determinant questions in your search for the best kitchen layout. “What is the cost or quartz countertops?” or “What is the price tag of quartz countertops since they come with all these wonderful benefits?” are some of the first ones that pop up in mind. The answer depends on what quality or decoration intricacy that you are aiming for.
Generally speaking, the average cost of quartz countertops ranges between $60 to over $200 per square foot. The cost of each quartz surface is based on its size, type, cut-outs, edges, and other additional modifications. The cost of a fine quality quartz countertop’s material alone can range between $60 to $85, while the higher-quality versions can go between $85 to $120. Thus, if you are looking for the best quality quartz countertops the market has to offer, then you’re likely going to spend between $130 to $200 per square foot.
Quartz Countertop Brands
Here is our next step in process of selecting quartz countertops; the best quartz countertop brands. For quality purposes, we wanted to focus on 5 long-lasting and well-known quartz countertop brands to ensure that you get the best value for your buck. Without further ado, here is our list of best quartz countertop brands.
Dekton Quartz Countertops
Starting our list comes one of the most unique quartz surfaces manufacturers of our modern era. Dekton countertops are not exactly made of your typical quartz materials. Their unique material is known as “ultra-compact surface” in the world of quartz countertop materials. They use the same raw materials to make quartz such as glass, resins, and porcelain. However, their final product is totally different from them all.
Dekton utilizes the Sinterized Particle Technology, where raw materials combine under extreme heat and pressure to form a material that is virtually impossible to damage in normal home conditions. We are talking about pressures that go all the way up to 5900 PSI (pounds per square inch) and ovens that reach the heat levels of 2191ºF (1200ºC). On top of that, this material is very easy to maintain and clean.
Dekton kitchen countertops are a product of Cosentino, a well-known private Spanish company that produces some of the highest quality architectural and decorative surfaces, such as Silestone. But do not confuse Silestone and Dekton, as they both focus on different styles when it comes to artistic choices. There is one thing in common though, both of the brands are excellent candidates when it comes to choosing the right quartz countertop surface for your home.
Cambria Quartz Countertops
Coming second on our list is one of our company’s personal favorites; Cambria. Cambria is a high-scale brand that you will only be able to find in specialty distributors and luxurious fashion stores. The brand manufactures its products in the USA and is a family-owned private company. They have more than 150 unique design patterns for their quartz surfaces and have a more natural feeling for their engineered stones in comparison to their competitors.
Their products are a manifestation of bold and breathtaking styles. Needless to say, a company that caters to high-quality product-seeking families also has perfect customer service. To ponder upon this further, we humbly point out that they produced a film exclusively made to narrate one of their core historical traditions; the Legend of Cambria. You can find the link here.
Cambria kitchen countertops are also certified by Greenguard as a low emission product group that increases indoor air quality. This means that both maintenance and atmospheric quality within your kitchen will be superb. Cambria also offers a transferable full lifetime warranty, which is something many of the companies would not be able to do. All in all, you can never go wrong with a company such as Cambria that values tradition, high quality, and excellent craftsmanship when it comes to choosing your new quartz countertops.
Silestone Quartz Countertops
As we mentioned earlier, Silestone is a brand produced and distributed by Cosentino, a very well-known natural stone, quartz, and architectural surface manufacturer. The brand has been created back in 1990 and ever since has been creating quartz surfaces with a major focus on natural beauty.
Silestone has over 100 colors in its arsenal and when it comes to decorative choices, there are very few other perks that beat the variety of color options. They offer three textures; suede, polished, and volcano for their quartz surfaces. On top of that, they offer a different range of styles such as but not being limited to; plain, fine grain, coarse grain, and veined.
As one of the premier manufacturers of quartz surfaces, Silestone kitchen countertops offer 25 years of certified and transferable warranty for homeowners. You are sure to find whatever design pattern you are looking for among the beautiful and elegant products of this renowned Italian countertop brand.
MSI Quartz Countertops
MSI is one of the giants in the surface business with more than 46 years under its buckle. MSI first began business back in 1975 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, by famous designers Manu and Rika Shah. Traditionally, the company has been focusing on different types of natural stone surfaces other than quartz. In 2008, they made the faithful decision of adding quartz surfaces into their inventory, and ever since they have been a dominant market brand.
The brand offers high-quality and low-maintenance products at an affordable price range. Over the years, just like many of its competitors, MSI kitchen countertops focused their attention on bringing the inherent quality of natural stones to their quartz surfaces. Needless to say, they already had a vast amount of experience in the field, taking into account their success both in the past and present with natural stones. And we have to say, that they are doing a very solid job in this regard with their Q Premium Natural Quartz Series.
MSI quartz countertops mimic natural materials such as marble and granite in an excellent manner. Their product lines include both nature-inspired patterns as well as industrial styles such as realistic marble and modern concrete. MSI offers a residential lifetime warranty with a 10-year commercial warranty for their quartz products. On a final note, MSI is one of the brands focused on reducing their environmental footprint and have been committed to manufacturing through sustainable practices and utilizing recycling technologies.
Caesarstone Quartz Countertops
Last but not least, coming on our list is the famous Caesarstone kitchen countertops. Caesarstone is based in Israel and was founded in 1987. The brand considers itself as the leading manufacturer of natural quartz surfaces within the market. Their boast is well warranted as well, as they were one of the first companies to actually make high-quality quartz countertops while the industry was still trying to tackle the formulation for a low-maintenance surface.
Caesarstone offers more than 60 design choices for its quartz products with nearly every style choice covered in their catalog. They offer various collections to reflect that under the names of Supernatural, Concetto, Classico, and Metropolitan. We are most certain that any family can find their true desire when it comes to design with Caesarstone. Some of their styles display a more marble-esque texture, while some of them are very innovative and sleek.
The brand is also very deeply committed to recycling practices and environmentally friendly manufacturing techniques. This is made evident through their two recycled color options for their quartz countertops, where 42% of the quartz used for their production is made out of reclaimed quartz. If you possess a green-conscious mentality, Caesarstone would be an excellent choice for your dream kitchen among other high-quality brands such as MSI and Cambria.
Until next time, keep yourself safe and in good vibes!