Quartz countertops are surprisingly durable, but they’re not heat-proof! Like most countertop materials, quartz can be damaged if a hot pan is placed on it directly from the oven or stove. As with any countertop surface, you should always use a trivet, hot pad, towel, or other insulated protection between a hot pot or pan and your quartz countertop.

Quartz countertops contain durable natural quartz, as well as binding resins, so they don't absorb stains as quickly as many soft natural stones do (such as granite, marble, quartzite, or soapstone). That being said, quartz countertops are not 100% stain-proof. Certain substances will stain quartz, so the best preventive measure against staining is to clean spills quickly.

The advantages are numerous! Quartz countertops are durable enough to resist scratching, staining, and chipping under normal conditions. They're affordable, especially when compared to high-end natural stone such as limestone or marble. They add value to your home. As a manufactured product, each piece can be as unique as your kitchen or bath design concept requires and made to look like marble, granite, limestone or just about any other natural stone. Quartz is easy to fix in the event that it does scratch or chip. Because the surface of a sealed quartz countertop is non-porous, it naturally resists bacteria and grime.

The main difference in the many quartz brands on the market today is the quality of materials used. Cambria uses only the highest quality quartz and manufactures its designs at a state-of-the-art facility in the United States which gives Cambria a color palette with more depth and clarity than other quartz lines.

Our supplier, Cambria, offers an industry-leading transferable full lifetime warranty on all its quartz countertop products, and the details are available on the Cambria USA website. If you have a question about your warranty, please contact Cambria Customer Care at 1-866-226-2742. In addition to the product warranty, Missouri Kitchen and Bath Creations provides a one-year warranty on any installation or related issues.

The cost of a good quality quartz countertop ranges between $80 to $150 per square foot. Cambria kitchen and bath countertops purchased through Missouri Kitchen and Bath Creations run $80 to $111 per square foot, meaning our customers get high quality and a reputable brand name for a very reasonable price.

Good news! Most spills can be cleaned off your quartz countertops with nothing more than a soft cloth and some warm water. Sometimes, though, you’ll run into tougher stains such as oil or grease, in which case you might need to add a little dish soap. You’ll want to avoid abrasive cleansers including bleach or anything acidic, and you should never use scouring pads or anything that might scratch the surface. While there are plenty of cleaning products on the market that claim to be designed for quartz and other stone countertops, we recommend simple soap and water for most applications.

Quartz countertops are most often considered as an alternative to granite, so discussing their pros and cons usually amounts to a comparison between quartz and granite or other natural stone countertops. One of the most significant differences that often surprises customers is that quartz is actually more durable than granite. While granite countertops are natural stone, quartz is a manufactured product that combines ground natural quartz with polymer resins. This isn’t to say that your quartz countertops aren’t real stone. The quartz-to-polymer ratio varies from product to product (but Cambria is known for higher levels of quartz in their countertops and related products). What’s more, quartz is often more environmentally friendly than granite. The only downside to quartz is the price, as with many high-end stone countertops, but Missouri Kitchen and Bath Creations always offers the best prices on quartz countertops.

While quartz is a very durable material that is highly resistant to scratches, it’s still always a good idea to use placemats under items that might scratch any stone, such as ceramics, china, cast iron, and silver.

As we’ve mentioned, quartz countertops are durable and comparable to many other natural stone countertops, but they have one big advantage. Because they are manufactured using a mixture of ground quartz and polymer resin, custom patterns and colors are available to fit almost any design need. Here is a short video on the Cambria process.

The simple answer here is yes, especially if you’re replacing outdated laminate countertops in an older home. Quartz countertops are durable and highly desirable, and when cared for properly they hold their value over time.

Most quartz countertops come in a standard thickness of 3 centimeters.

Natural stone countertops such as granite need to be sealed or waxed in order to protect them from stains because the natural stone is porous, allowing substances to soak in. A sealant does exactly what its name suggests, “sealing” the porous natural surface to keep chemicals from being absorbed. Because quartz countertops are already made with a polymer resin, they do not need to be sealed or waxed. However, it’s always important to look over the instructions of anything that you might apply to your countertops to ensure that there are no special guidelines that you should take into consideration before applying.