Quartz is a relatively new kid on the block when it comes to countertops and is rapidly becoming a favourite amongst the designers here as well as many of our clients. Quartz, or "engineered stone", is a combination of natural quartz (approximately 93%) and epoxy resin binders and colours (approximately 7%). The resulting product has the appearance and hardness of stone but dues to the resins doesn't require sealing.
Another benefit to quartz surfacing is the consistency of the product. Each sheet of material will have the exact same proportions of colouration which avoids the sometimes undesirable randomness of stone. No threat of a natural mineral discolouration in the middle of your island with a quartz countertop! When it comes to cleaning quartz, most brands simply require a mild, non-abrasive cleaner. However you should be sure to follow the instructions provided for the specific brand you select.
Quartz surfacing behaves almost identically to stone in terms of fabrication. So you can expect seams in your quartz countertop and integrated sinks are not possible. Depending on the manufacturer, quartz comes in either 19mm or 30mm thick slabs, so depending on the thickness available, the front edge of your countertops may or may not have a seam in it.
Overall, expect to pay about $70-$250 per square foot. As with all of the higher end counter surface materials, be sure to get your specific layout priced rather than going on average, or lineal-foot pricing.
We have access to most brands of quartz here at Paradigm Kitchen Design, but feature the following in our showroom:
Caesarstone
Silestone
Zodiaq
