Summary: Natural stone countertops are the epitome of modern kitchen luxury. But for busy Utah families, natural stone may not be the best fit. A better choice might be quartz, an engineered material that offers exceptional beauty and a level of durability natural stone just cannot match.
Walking into our Salt Lake City showroom, it’s quite easy to fall in love with a beautiful marble or granite slab. You see the pristine, bright white stone under our commercial lighting and you instantly imagine yourself sitting at your new countertop first thing in the morning with a hot cup of coffee.
Then reality rears its ugly head.
You are reminded of crazy Monday mornings spent packing school lunches. You have visions of last night’s dinner disaster, when spaghetti sauce from a heavy cast-iron skillet spilled all over the island. Then there was the lemon juice left behind last time you baked. Your busy household puts the kitchen through the wringer every single day. Do you really want to invest in natural stone?
Here is another reality you are going to love: you don’t have to choose between a gorgeous, magazine-worthy kitchen and a countertop surface that can handle real life. When it comes to Salt Lake City countertops, the local design landscape has shifted toward the trend of ‘quiet luxury’. Homeowners just like you are looking for materials that are rich, warm, and natural – all without extensive upkeep. Yes, it is possible.
Utah Kitchens Are Worked Hard
Every region of the country has its own lifestyle quirks. Utah is no exception. Here in the Beehive State, we tend to prefer large kitchens that double as essential gathering places. We are big on extended family gatherings featuring big, home-cooked meals. But that’s not all. Our homes face a unique climate featuring impressive extremes: freezing, dry winters followed by blazingly hot summers.
Let’s face it, a combination of daily use and climate works Utah kitchens hard. So it is no surprise that homeowners visiting our Salt Lake City showroom often ask questions like, “Is this going to scratch or stain? Am I going to have to baby this countertop?”
These questions stem from the fact that marble was the gold standard for high-end kitchens for the longest time. No doubt marble is stunning. But it is also highly porous and chemically sensitive. All it takes is a small pool of lemonade or a splash of red wine to cause etching. For busy families whose always-on-the-go lifestyles might cause them to miss a spill or two, marble can be more trouble than it’s worth.
Quartz: The Low-Maintenance Champ
In your search for new Salt Lake City countertops, is your number one goal finding a surface that you can keep clean with soap and water? Do you want a surface that you can quickly wipe down and then not think about for the rest of the day? If so, we want to introduce you to the low-maintenance champion: engineered quartz.
Quartz is the undisputed favorite for active Utah households, and for good reason. It offers the same stunning beauty you get with marble and granite but without all the maintenance. It is the best of both worlds. Engineered quartz is the foundation of a maintenance-free, quiet luxury vibe.
It’s Not Quarried in Slabs
Take one look at a sample quartz countertop and you might be surprised to learn that the material is not quarried in slabs. Unlike marble and granite, quartz is a manufactured product that comes from a state-of-the-art facility. Quartz is made by combining 90-93% crushed natural quartz crystals with a variety of resins and pigments.
Resins hold the quartz crystals together and fill in all the gaps between them. This creates a stunningly smooth surface that is completely nonporous. Meanwhile, the pigments provide color and simulated veining. Quartz countertops can be manufactured to look just like natural stone. They can also be made in solid colors.
4 Reasons Utahans Love Quartz
Being an engineered product gives quartz some decided advantages over marble and granite. Here are the top four reasons Utah homeowners are turning to quartz for their kitchen remodels:
- It’s Non-Porous – Quartz is a non-porous surface. There are no microscopic pores or fissures in the material, meaning spilled liquids cannot penetrate. They sit on the surface until they are soaked up.
- No Sealing – Being non-porous, quartz never needs to be sealed. Ever. Applying sealant is a task you will never have to worry about, no matter how long you own your quartz countertops.
- Durability – Engineered quartz is incredibly durable. It is highly resistant to scratches, cracks, and stains.
- Beauty – Modern quartz is every bit as beautiful as natural stone. Better yet, you do not have to go with a stone look if you don’t want to. There are so many other options.
Admittedly, first-generation quartz countertops didn’t look very natural. They were too uniform. But advancements in technology and design have made it possible to mimic natural stone patterns with incredible accuracy. From the finest Italian marble to the warmer, earthy tones of the Utah landscape, anything is possible.
Natural Stone Isn’t Out of the Question
At this point, it is important to remember that natural stone isn’t out of the question for your new Salt Lake City countertops. If you don’t mind applying sealant and following some routine cleaning practices, natural stone is still a great choice. It’s okay to consider marble, granite, and quartzite.
Marble needs regular sealing because it’s prone to etching. On the other hand, it also develops a lovely patina over time. Granite is normally resealed every 1-3 years. It is a fairly durable material as long as you stick to the sealing schedule.
Quartzite, which isn’t the same as quartz, requires sealing every year or so. It offers the luxurious look and feel of marble with the strength you expect from granite.
Countertops for the Latest Trends
Quiet luxury is the latest trend in Utah residential kitchen design. But there are other trends you might prefer. Here is the best news of all: Bedrock Quartz has countertops for all the latest trends. We invite you to visit our Salt Lake City showroom, where you’ll find the perfect quartz or natural stone slab for your project.
FAQs
What is the difference between quartz and quartzite?
Quartz is an engineered material manufactured by combining quartz crystals with resins and pigment. Quartzite is a natural stone that is quarried in slabs, just like marble and granite.
Can quartz countertops handle hot pans?
While quartz is exceptionally heat-resistant, we still recommend not placing hot pots and pans directly on it. Use trivets or potholders instead.
What kind of daily cleaning does quartz require?
Quartz doesn’t require any special cleaning products. Daily cleaning with soap and warm water is sufficient. Avoid using bleach and abrasive scrubbing pads, as they can dull the surface.
Can I get a matte finish with quartz?
Absolutely. If you want a less reflective surface that fits better with the natural Utah environment, a matte (or honed) finish is just what you’re looking for.
Is quartz a good material for outdoor kitchens?
No, the resins used to manufacture quartz are sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Long-term exposure tends to lead to fading, yellowing, and warping. Quartz is best kept indoors.
