The evolving trends in interior design mean styles and products come and go as tastes change and innovations emerge. One of the trends that seems to have established a solid place in the minds of designers and homeowners looking for options is the use of quartz for countertops and other interior features.
Quartz is one of the most abundant minerals in the world. It is a hard, crystalline mineral mined in multiple countries including Canada.
Over the last decade, quartz has emerged as a popular alternative to traditional natural stone countertops, and there are many reasons for this surge in usage.
“Quartz has become the number one choice over a natural stone like granite or marble because it is virtually maintenance free,” said Carmen Brimo, manager of Elegant Solutions in Barrie. “The problem with those options is they have to be sealed, they can crack or chip more readily, and they’re not food safe because they can absorb food particles. If you’re looking for a material that won’t crack, scratch, or chip easily quartz is the way to go.”
Natural granite and marble used to be the go-to option for people who wanted something better than traditional decorative veneers like arborite on their counters. While natural stone countertops are literally pieces of stone cut from giant slabs and polished to a high gloss, quartz stone is engineered through a process that creates a material more durable than stone. Through the addition of various pigments and other materials during the manufacturing process, quartz offers an unlimited variety of designs. It is also become a top design choice for other residential applications according to Brimo.
“We are seeing solid surface quartz being used not just in kitchens for countertops but also for backsplashes, in bathrooms for vanities and shower surrounds, as well as fireplace cladding, feature walls and in some flooring applications,” she said. “The reason it’s a go-to choice for designers for bathrooms and showers is because it’s a quick installation. It’s become a very good option and a competitive price option as well.”
The expansion of solid surfaces in homes had been trending for most of the last decade, and quartz countertops are a primary reason. Manufacturers are so confident in the quality and durability of their quartz products that most offer exceptional warranty plans upon installation.
“Different manufacturers offer different warranties,” said Brimo. “For example, Cambria offers a lifetime transferable warranty. If the quartz chips without any external force applied, the repair will be covered through the Cambria warranty.”
Elegant Solutions is Barrie’s local Cambria quartz install associate. Their team offers over 30 years experience in the stone industry along with a variety of other name brands. Along with Quoting and Installation services, one of the most important services Elegant Solutions offers to designers, dealers and direct customers is the templating of the quartz.
“The measuring or “templating” of the quartz can make or break everything. It needs to be templated correctly. We have on staff highly skilled professionals who will make sure the quartz is scribed perfectly to the walls, to the countertops, the fireplace and shower surrounds.”
To learn more, visit the Elegant Solutions slab gallery as 12 Sarjeant Drive in Barrie. Or view their products online.