Kitchen Countertops – Natural or Engineered?

Posted by Meaghan Hodshire | Kitchen Design | Friday, January 29th, 2010 · 7:45 am

Kitchen Countertops – Natural or Engineered?

Photo Credit: MJA Design, VA

Your kitchen countertop is the main functioning area of your kitchen. Whether it is making breakfast to putting together a grand dinner or baking cookies; the countertop is the central area that pulls all kitchen activities together. Stone countertops have become a really hot trend and I have noticed people usually go with Quartz or Granite. Stone countertops provide many different types, finishes, appearances, thickness and textures; however there are pretty big differences between the two.

Quartz is a man made product so it’s an engineered stone that is non-porous; so it is extremely hygienic, making it a food-safe choice. It’s made from a mixture of 93% quartz and 7% resin; so when you are looking for a stain resistant, no maintenance, heat resistant countertop, quartz may be just what you want.

One great thing about natural stone is that two stones are never alike, making every kitchen one of a kind. Granite is durable, scratch resistant, and resistant to water and heat. Since granite can discolor and has to be sealed I have noticed most people are now leaning towards quartz. For more information on countertops, visit www.kitchenbathideas.com . We would love to hear your thoughts on countertops!

5 Responses to “Kitchen Countertops – Natural or Engineered?”

countertop options, on January 29th, 2010 at 11:43 am Said:

What is your favorite type of quartz surface?
mozaiek tegels, on January 31st, 2010 at 3:08 am Said:

If only more people could see it this way. Would make things a lot better for sure!
Meaghan Hodshire, on February 1st, 2010 at 11:05 am Said:

It’s hard to have a favorite type as there have been so many advancements in color choices by all the leading brands. I have been very impressed with Caesarstone, not only because their color offerings but they are also a very eco-friendly company. Visit their website for more information http://www.caesarstoneus.com/
Sherry Norris, on February 1st, 2010 at 11:42 am Said:

Being solely in the countertop world for the last few years, I have seen amazing strides made in the man-made or engineered countertop industry. I agree that Caesarstone is a top choice, however, Cosentino recently launced ECO, their environmentally friendly quartz product. Check them out at http://www.ecobycosentino.com
Christine Ellis, on February 9th, 2010 at 3:30 pm Said:

We offer Caesarstone, Zodiaq, Silestone, Cambria, Eurostone, Okite, and a couple others. However, most people still are doing granite. Maybe it is because we are almost in the mountains, who knows. We are still about 80% granite. When people do go with the quartz, it is because they are looking for a more uniform look and they usually end up going with Cambria or Caesarstone. THe nice thing about Cambria is that all the colors are the same price. The other one we are seeing a lot of interest in is Okite. It is a newer product and considered “green”. Eventhough it is recycled material, it doesn’t have the big chunks of glass you find in some of the other recycled products.