Quartz is a favored premium counter material for architects and interior designer of high-end kitchens and bathrooms. Many times being confused for natural stone and solid surface countertops materials. Quartz countertops are now finding their way into more kitchen and bathrooms. As brands increase rapidly in numbers quartz has become even more accessible and affordable. Similarly to natural stone, quartz yields a rich appearance and possesses a solid, rock-like feel. Quartz also known as engineered stone uses man-made additives that help stabilize the material while limiting natural son’s unpredictability.
All quartz countertops regardless of brand, were created with Breton company’s Bretonstone technology derived by Marcello Tonelli over 50 years ago. These Machines have been licensed to over 50 companies around the world, each brand adds their special touch and flair but work off the core Breton patent.
Brand Similarities
- Composition: Mineral content is at around 93%. This high percent of mineral content gives quartz its unique look. By contrast, solid surface’s 66 percent mineral and 33 percent polymer content creating a silky or soapy feel.
- Hardness: During the process of creating quartz countertops the hardest mineral (quartz) is saved while the softer minerals and impurities are eliminated. This allows quartz countertops to be harder and more durable than natural slab granite countertops.
- Low Water Absorption Rate: Quartz’ low water absorption rate of 0.5 percent is similar to porcelain tile. If the material weighs less than half of one-percent more as a result of water absorbing into its surface, it is considered to be nonabsorbent.
- Heat Resistance: Quartz’ minerals are 100 percent impervious to heat, typically up to 360 F but only for a short duration. The material is not heat resistant. The Binders or binding materials will be damaged at high temperatures such as a hot frying pan or pot.
- Visible Seams: Unless the countertop is small enough to be fabricated from a single slab, two slabs often need to be seamed together. Depending on the skill of the installer, this seam can be minimized but it will never be invisible.
Brand Differences
- Designs and Edges: The biggest difference you’ll find among quartz brands will be the range of designs or the quality of the slabs visual appearance, Including: color, size and shape of minerals, streaks, and striations. Another key difference takes place with Edging. Edge profiles are built into the slab at the factory level, not formed by the fabricator.
- Slab Sizes: Due to the need to seam quartz countertops, it is better to have larger slabs to reduce the chance of this happening. For certain projects it can be cost effective to purchase a jumbo slab and avoid using two slabs thus eliminating the need for the seam.
- Warranties: All quartz brands come with a warranty. What differs is the length, limitations, and transferability of these warranties.
- Prices: As can be expected, prices differ between brands. Quartz slab prices are wholesale-only and are confined to the supply chain between manufacturer and approved dealer/installers. Much like purchasing an automobile, consumer quartz prices are negotiated with the dealer and are variable.
Large Countertop Manufacturers
There are several Quartz countertops brands that dominate the market. Each will have their warranty on products and specific prices. Here is a list of Quartz surfacing and engineered stone manufactures and the name of their quartz surface or engineered stone material.
| Quartz Manufacturer | Quartz Brand | Quartz Selection | Years In Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosentino | Silestone | 142 Designs | 25 Years |
| Caesarstone | Caesarstone | 53 Designs | 31 Years |
| Cambria | Cambria | 133 Designs | 18 Years |
| LG Hausys | Viatera | 64 Designs | 30 Years |
| Compac | Compacstone | 46 Designs | 43 Years |
| Dupont | Corian | 62 Designs | 18 Years |
| Vicostone | Vicostone | 102 Designs | 16 Years |
| Wilsonart | Wilsonart Quartz | 52 Designs | 62 Years |
| MSI Stone | Q Premier Quartz | 76 Designs | 43 Years |
| Vadara | Vadara Quartz | 46 Designs | 2 Years |
| Daltile | One Quartz | 38 Designs | 71 Years |
| Cosmos Granite & Marble | Cosmos Quartz | 74 Designs | 13 Years |
Silestone
Silestone is the flagship quartz brand of Italian company Cosentino. Silestone is known for it’s vibrant solid colors. Out of the many brands of quartz countertops, Silestone is a popular choice, it offers all the benefits, very durable, low maintenance, and it comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes. It is highly promoted by retailers, known for it’s hard surface that comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes. For more Silestone quartz countertop brand design, check out their gallery.
Caesarstone
Caeasarstone is another recognizable name in the quartz countertop industry, Caesarstone is known as the “pioneer of natural quartz surfaces”, and carries 53 unique quartz designs. A publicly traded company headquartered in Israel, Caesarstone was developed by the kibbutz as a way to replace its failing terrazzo tile industry. It’s Concetto Collection includes ten surfaces that incorporate semi-precious stones like tiger’s eye, dumortierite and agate, this collection offers deep embossing in crocodile skin and lace textures. For more Caesarstone quartz countertop brand design, check out their gallery.
Cambria
Cambria is the only American company in the quartz surfaces business, unlike many other quartz suppliers, you won’t find Cambria at big box stores. It can only be found at kitchen and bath dealers or purchased through builders, architects, and designers. It offers the widest range of designs, colors, edges, and slab sizes. It is also very low maintenance and is a great choice for busy kitchens. Cambria and Silestone are considered to be two of the more expensive types of quartz, but they are also very high-quality brands. For more Cambria quartz countertop brand designs, check out their gallery.
Viatera
A subsidiary of LG, Viatera is originally a division of South Korean company LG, which produces everything from electronics and chemicals to solar energy equipment. Viatera has a collection of 64 designs dispersed among beiges, tans, and grays, it offers a highly coveted “acrylic solid surface” product. This additional product can be used to significantly hide seams on quartz countertops. For more Viatera quartz countertop brand designs, check out their stone gallery.
Compacstone
Compac is a Spanish quartz countertop brand that has done business for 43 years, and offers 46 different technical quartz designs. This special type of quartz involves a higher production process to boost the durability of the product. Compac quartz mixes natural elegance and support. Tougher than pure stone, with a wide variety of colors to accommodate any kitchen style or bathroom countertops. For more quartz countertop designs, check out the Compac gallery.
Corian
Corian has 62 different quartz designs to select from, with 18 years in business, Corian sets itself apart by using rich quality organic materials to produce their stone surface lines. Corian is known for focusing special attention to the additives in their products, and they are fully non-allergenic and nontoxic. It it is scratched, you can easily buff it out on your own, and it doesn’t require sealing. For more Corian quartz samples, check out their gallery.
Vicostone
Vicostone was founded in Vietnam and has been in the surface business for 16 years. With over 102 quartz designs to choose from, Vicostone broadcasts surfaces that are displayed with “up to 93% pure organic quartz aggregates.” Vicostone has a luxurious beauty, a harder stone with flexural strength, Vicostone compound stones are broadly used in interior applications such as kitchen countertops, and bathroom vanities. For more Vicostone samples, check out their quartz gallery.
Wilsonart Quartz
Wilsonart Quartz is headquartered in Austin, Texas and has been in business for an astounding 62 years. Wilsonart is an American-owned quartz supplier that ships to markets all over the world, it offers about 52 distinctive quartz designs and provides to both residential and industrial engineered surface markets. For exclusive Wilsonart quartz designs, check out their gallery.
Q Premier Quartz
MSI Stone has 43 years in the stone surface business, its quartz are affordable, and gorgeous alternative to more extravagant pure stones like marble and granite. MSI shows a wide range of stone options, including their Q Premium Natural Quartz series, which holds designs that imitates popular cuts of granite and marble without the elevated price tag. For more MSI Stone quartz countertop brand designs, check out the MSI Stone gallery.
Vadara Quartz
Vadara Quartz is the most recently assembled surface supplier with only a modest 2 years in business. Vadara announces their quartz as having “the most natural color palette possible.” Vadara offers products that are set up to look like natural stone. Vadara is a quartz-based stone that’s used for many kitchens across the United States. It is 93% Quartz and the rest are additives that make it tougher. For more samples from Vadara Quartz, check out their stone gallery.
One Quartz
Daltile, true to its name, is mostly a porcelain, ceramic, and glass, with a modest 38 exclusive quartz designs. With a very impressive 71 years in business, Daltile offers a wide range of surface solutions for all parts of the home. Daltire is clean and modern and nearly indestructible, in addition to normal slabs, Daltile also offers “extra-large surface slabs for huge jobs. For more samples, check out the Daltile quartz gallery.
Cosmos Granite
Cosmos has been in business for more than 13 years, rooted in the natural stone industry, it offers quartz products for both residential and industrial applications, and displays a direct link to stone providers in India. This allows them to offer reduced prices for higher quality samples of quartz from their 74 design strong line. To check out a full list of quartz designs that Cosmos offers, check out their stone gallery.
