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Quartz Kitchen Countertops
Quartz kitchen countertops, also called engineered stone, are arguably the best countertop that you can purchase. The one pictured above on a 3 foot x 3 foot island we built and installed weights approximately 500 lbs! Quartz kitchen countertops are:
The downfall of quartz kitchen countertops is that they are expensive, however, they should not cost more than natural granite. They will, usually, cost you way more than your actual kitchen cabinets. In the custom cabinet shop that we owned, we sold many quartz kitchen countertops. The advantages of these countertops outweighs the expense. To get an idea of cost, lets say you are spending $7,000 on kitchen cabinets, you could easily spent another $12,000 on quartz for a countertop. In our custom cabinet shop, we built a beautiful and intricate buffet and island (1/2 of which is pictured above). The cabinets themselves cost the customer $3,000, however, the quartz was an additional $5,000. Cost all depends on style, size, and installation fees. Because quartz kitchen countertops are so heavy (like the one above!!), they are expensive to install. Quartz kitchen countertops will also have seams where corners come together, etc. The only countertops that can be made to appear seamless are solid surface countertops, which are made of man-made materials. OUR THREE FAVORITE COMPANIES THAT MANUFACTURE NATURAL QUARTZ KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS:
CAMBRIA (Cambriausa.com) Cambria is manufactured out of St. Peter, Minnesota. The Davis Family that began and still owns and operates Cambria, were originally farmers that manufactured their own cheese. They are now also a leader in cheese making, and supply Kraft Foods. Their quartz kitchen countertops, and other tops, are exceptional. Their non-porous quartz kitchen countertops are certified by the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) for use in commercial food prep area. They have done testing to prove their countertops are twice as strong as granite, without the maintenance. (information obtained from the Cambriausa.com web-site). In our cabinet shop, we used Cambria several times. We never had any bad experiences with the company, product, or installation. SILESTONE (Silestoneusa.com) Silestone is the leader in quartz kitchen countertops. They are the largest manufacturer of natural quartz countertops in the world, and hold 75% of the US market. Silestone originated in Spain. Their United States division is headquartered in Stafford, Texas. A large retailer of Silestone is The Home Depot. Several other retailers throughout the country carry Silestone as well. Your local custom cabinet shop, or building supply company probably also carries Silestone. Their quartz kitchen countertops have all the benefits of other natural quartz manufacturer's, and they have been in the stone business for over 70 years. This year, they have come out with a new leather-look quartz finish, as well as 4x4 tiles that can be used as back-splashes. (information obtained from Silestoneusa.com) CAESARSTONE (Caesarstoneus.com) CaesarStone knows what they are doing. They originated the idea of using quartz in countertops, and were the first to manufacture natural quartz kitchen countertops in 1987. They also manufacture Concetto, which is a high-end stone countertop surface made from semi-precious stones. CaesarStone has also earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. CaesarStone's website gives a lot of information about how their quartz is manufactured and holds up to other countertops, such as granite and solid-surface. It is very informative, so check it out. CaesarStone is located in Kibbutz Sdot Yam, Israel, and is distributed in the US by U.S. Quartz Products, Inc. (CaesarStone USA). Your local cabinet shop may be a distributor for CaesarStone. Also check out their website for local distributors. (information obtained from Caesarstoneus.com). Return to Compare Kitchen Countertops from our Quartz Kitchen Countertops page. OTHER RELATED PAGES: Compare Kitchen Countertops - Your Options - Getting what's right for you. Cultured Marble Countertops - Cultured Marble, Cultured Granite. Know what you're getting and where it will be the most beautiful in your home. Granite Countertops - Lower the cost. Care & Benefits. Laminate Kitchen Countertops - Who are the main players, quality, do's & don'ts (especially, don't get fooled!).
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