Crystals To Countertops - How Quartz Countertops Are Made

December 18, 2013

Quartz countertops have grown rapidly in popularity over the last decade. They offer all the benefits of a natural stone but with the added practical benefits of manmade enhancements. Stylishness, brilliance, durability and low maintenance are just a few of the reasons to consider quartz for the kitchen, bathroom or other application. If you are investigating quartz countertops as an option for your home, you probably want to know more about this exciting material. So what is quartz and how does it become your countertop?

Quartz-blog1a

Before it is a countertop, quartz itself is a mineral. In fact, it is one of the most common minerals on Earth. Chemically speaking, quartz is silicon dioxide (SiO2)and is found in most types of rocks - igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. Pure Quartz is clear or transparent, but quartz in general comes in a variety of colors, depending on what else is in Mother Nature's mix and from surrounding elements - pure quartz is what gives ordinary rocks their sparkle!

Quartz is found in many sizes and shapes and is usually mined from veins. It can be mined in small, globular-type masses deep beneath the surface, or as sharp crystals that look like salt, anywhere from dusty granules of salt to larger pieces, much like rock salt, from the surface. As quartz is very hard, it does not erode - this means that large rocks containing quartz over time may be eroded by wind and water, leaving behind the crystals. White sand beaches are often mostly comprised of quartz!

As one of the most popular minerals, quartz is found the world over. However, it is commonly found and extracted in the United States (particularly in Arkansas) and in Brazil. Other than use as a gemstone, quartz alone isn't much of a building material. It must be bonded with something to make it into a useable structure, such as a countertop. (It doesn't emerge from the Earth's crust as a block or slab, like granite.) Typically, resins and binders are utilized for this purpose. Manufacturers also usually add other natural stone products, like granite pieces, pigments, recycled mirror, or color glasses to enhance the material's pigment and appearance. Sometimes antibacterial chemicals are even added, to make the stone even more adept for applications like kitchen countertops or bathroom tiles.

These raw materials are fed into mixers and blended together. Mixers play an important role, and multiple mixers may even be used, depending on the number of colors introduced. This mixture is then poured into a mold to create the shape and sizes we expect in a countertop. These slabs will be pressed to form 2cm or 3cm thickness with the help of a vacuum and vibration process. Aside from creating the countertop dimensions desired, this step presses air pockets from the material. Lastly, the slabs are baked in the oven at very high temperatures.

Quartz-blog2

Once manmade materials have been bonded with nature's quartz under pressure and heat, the result is a very hard, strong and durable material that is very low in porosity (quartz is usually described as non-porous) so that moisture, bacteria, and soil have no place to settle. After the slabs are baked, the final step is to polish them to a glossy shine. The resulting product is beautiful in appearance and may be cut without difficulty as well, making it an easy material for installation. It requires no sealing or polishing to keep its brilliant shine. Quartz is truly an excellent marriage between nature and manufacturing!

MSI’s Q™ Premium Natural Quartz countertops are more than 90% quartz, backed by a lifetime residential warranty, and are distinguished by a certification from The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) as a green choice. We offer a large selection of colors and sizes for all your quartz needs!

Read More About Quartz History and How Quartz Countertops are Made:

The History of Quartz Countertops
What Is Bretonstone Technology?
What Is Quartz and How Is It Made?
Where Do Quartz Countertops Come from?