Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Using quartz for your kitchen countertops


The kitchen, it has been said, is the heart of the home. This is because it is offers a place to sit down around the table, or perhaps stand at a countertop, and unload the events of the day.   The kitchen is also, where guests have a tendency to congregate during parties. Therefore, with that in mind, you want to be sure that your kitchen looks great. One way to do this is by having beautiful kitchen countertops such as those with a quartz surface.

As one of the more recent arrivals to kitchen countertop surface choices quartz is referred to as an engineered stone; however, this does not mean it lacks the advantages of stones such as granite, marble or other natural stones. In fact, it has many of the same characteristics. In addition, the list of colors it comes in in seemingly endless, so having quartz kitchen countertops will not cramp your design style.

Not only is the color choices for quartz vast, but it is relatively easy to maintain. Because of its composition, having quartz kitchen countertops means that you have a surface that resist scratches, dents, scuffs, burns and stains, is nonporous  and can last for many years. And, when it comes to basic cleaning, quartz kitchen countertops only require a soft cloth and warm soapy water. In fact, harsh chemical cleaners are not recommended. Of course, kitchens are meant to be used, so there are likely to be times where even the most careful of home cooks may have something spill. But don’t fear. Just clean it up with a damp cloth.

Of course, no natural stone or even an engineered stone is without a few usage concerns. Perhaps the only drawback to having Mankato quartz countertops is that they are not a replacement for a cutting board, as this could result in causing a scratch or damage the knife blade. It should also be noted that liquids such as coffee, lemon juice, vinegar and wine, if spilled, need to be cleaned up immediately; this is not necessarily a drawback, but rather a precaution.