When you're looking to buy quartz countertops, it's only right that you look into all the variables. This way, you can consider the full scope of the project and can tailor it to your liking.
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By looking into the following suggestions, you'll have the chance to install a new set of countertops that make your kitchen or bathroom look absolutely amazing. Use these tips and begin consulting with some countertop professionals.
There's a reason why people tend to look for quartz countertops when they want a kitchen remodel that makes a difference.
These countertops come with a number of benefits that you just can't get with other materials. For one, quartz is non-porous, so you can expect for these countertops to last a long time without damage.
The maintenance for these countertops is virtually non-existent, and you will be able to improve whichever room in your home you're buying the countertops for.
They make an excellent accompaniment for any bathroom or kitchen in your home, and they will be just as functional as they are attractive.
Before you plunk down some money on a set of countertops, think about what you hope to get from it.
They make an elegant addition to a master bathroom and will beautifully accent a waterfall shower. In your kitchen, quartz countertops can serve as a nice base when you install an island that has a range and lots of outlets.
The design possibilities are endless, but you will want to design exactly how you want it to look, and what function you'd like the countertop to serve.
It's also up to you to do your homework so that you can find a great countertop contractor.
Speak to about five different countertop professionals so that you can decide on which ones you like for the project. These contractors can show you a lot of different designs and will let you touch the material so you can get a feel for what you are getting.
Doing your homework in advance helps you decide on what you like, while also hiring the best professionals for the job.
You need to go into the project knowing how much you're willing to pay.
Since these projects can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000 or more, you will need to be mindful of your budget.
The price that you pay will depend on where you source your quartz, so ask any contractor where they get their materials from. It'll also be a matter of labor, so choose the professional with the most reasonable hourly labor rate.
Once you get a feel for how much this work might cost, you can decide on what sort of work you need, so that it makes great financial sense.
You'll need to have a contingency plan for what to do while construction is going on.
First and foremost, ask the contractor how long the quartz countertop installation will take, and get an estimated time of completion in writing. Plan out how to handle these days, so that you either still have access to your kitchen and bathroom, or figure out what to do in the interim.
Planning these variables out in advance will help you get the most out of the project timetable.
No matter what kind of countertops you decide to go with, an insurance policy will be part of the equation. You'll be able to buy an insurance plan that helps in the event of repairs or emergencies.
Be sure that you also tweak your homeowner's insurance plan to accommodate your new countertop installation.
Likewise, make sure that the contractor that you choose is not only capable but that they have a current liability insurance policy. This way, you will know you're protected and that the job is done with professionalism.
Your ability to keep your quartz countertops clean and protected is one of the most important parts of this process. When you shop with a countertop contractor, they should also be able to sell you a cleaning product that'll work best.
Be sure that you regularly wipe down the counters and use a gentle soap, rather than a chemical-based cleaning solution. Further, get a warranty for your countertops so that you can get repairs if you encounter cracks or other problems.
Set your kitchen and bathroom up in a way that makes the most out of these countertops, and always decorate and organize your household in a way that is complementary.
If you are trying to buy quartz countertops, these are the points that you need to be fully aware of.
Think of this as an investment in your household. It'll improve the appearance and function, and offer you a nice boost in property value. To get the most value out of this work, you'll need to take the proper steps and find a company that you can trust.
We'd love to help you out.
At Pablo Marble & Granite, we specialize in these countertops and our professionals have years of experience.
Schedule an appointment today so that we can offer you a free estimate on our services.
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I've installed quartz countertops in two of my houses and I love living with them! If this is a material you're looking at for countertops I thought I'd share my experience and what I love (and don't) about quartz counter tops- what you need to know to order and live with them.
Forever, I have been obsessed with having marble- that grey look with the beautiful veins. I'd daydream about it, but the thing I didn't like is that it is super sensitive, can stain and chip easily, and so you have to be very careful with it. That's now how I want to live, so when I heard of quartz, I was excited! So what is quartz?
Quartz are a man made engineered stone. Most of the countertops (90%) are made of small pieces of quartz. The rest is what holds the quartz pieces of quartz together- resins, polymers, and pigments. Once combined, they create a beautiful countertop that is hard like granite.
Let's start with the video tutorial so you get an overview on selecting and caring for Quartz countertops. Then, I'll dive in with more details below:
If the video doesn't work here, you can watch it on YouTube here. I'd be over the moon happy if you subscribed to my YouTube channel! Videos are actually released on YouTube first (usually the night before they're published on the blog). Thank you!
The appearance or quartz can vary greatly and depends on how the quartz is ground. The finer it is ground creates a smooth appearance. While the coarsely ground quartz has a more flecked look
One thing I love about quartz is it can look like a natural stone. There are also a variety of neutral colors- beige, black, grey, or white. It can look like marble (what I love!) or it can look like granite, it can also stand on its own and look like a composite.
Here's a few examples. Can you tell how number one looks kind of like marble while number two definitely has a more composite look?
Quartz costs $55-$200 per square foot (that includes the stone and installation). You can get it cheaper if you have a smaller kitchen and can use a remnant. It is now on average about $125 per square foot. It just depends on the vendor, thickness, and style selected.
For my kitchen, I needed a slab. That cost $.
Then for installation I got multiple quotes and they ranged from $ to $.
If I was to do my kitchen again, the second I had my floor plan finalized, I would have started getting quotes. That would have been in February- 5 months again.
Then, after getting the cheapest quote, I would have gotten in the schedule with the installer. Why? The home building and renovation industry is very backed up right now. Most installers were 8-10 weeks out.
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I was in a hurry to get my countertops done and had to go with who could get me in. My installation cost $. So the total was $ (in June ). If I would have planned better, I could have saved $. Ouch. So learn for my mistakes.
In November of , I had countertops installed in my kitchen in Florida. The price for a slab and installation cost $. It took 7 days to have the quartz cut and installed after templating.
Quartz is kind of the sweet spot between granite and marble. It's the most durable of the three. It's harder than granite and not pourous like marble and granite. That means that stains don't soak into the stone. It's also doesn't etch.
On the other hand, it's not heat resistant like granite.
Price wise, granite is the least expensive option while marble is the most expensive. But if you're spending around $100 per square foot of quartz for a high end choice, it'll cost about the same as marble.
Like with anything, there are a few downsides to quartz. Let's go over those-
Yes! Quartz does increase a home's value. I've read that it can be an increase of 3 to 7% of the home's value. So I'd consider them a good investment.
No! Quartz is actually considered a green material so it's great for the earth!
Why? The stone that forms the base of quartz countertops are actually waste from quarrying and manufacturing stone. So quartz is a by-product of other stone. This makes up 90% of quartz countertops.
The other 10 percent of a quartz countertop are made of resins, polymers and pigments. The combination makes a very strong countertop material.
Since most of it is made of stone that would have been wasted, it's like using recycled materials for making a countertop!
Here's the process to get your counter tops installed-
You can google 'quartz + your city' and you should be able to find a good variety. Make sure to read reviews of each company to make sure you select a reputable company and someone you're comfortable with.
I am on a budget for this kitchen renovation, so before I selected anyone or left my house, I emailed 3 quartz providers. I got a quote from each of them. It helped that I knew I wanted a marble looking quartz so they could give me their best price over and then I could visit to confirm everything.
Note- you'll need an electronic copy of your kitchen floor plan for this step so that they can see your layout (which effects the cost). Ikea provides one with their kitchen planner service so that was simple to over.
Like I mentioned above, start getting a quote early in the kitchen planning process. This will save time and money. Plus, the sooner in the kitchen renovation you can get counters installed, the sooner it'll feel like a real room and it'll be somewhat functional.
For my kitchen, I'm using Hanstone Quartz for my countertops. They are the quartz manufacturer. Most fabricators (the company who cuts and installs the quartz) will have samples you can check out so you can see them in your space.
Or, you can order samples directly from Hanstone Quartz here. $5 for a 4'x4' size or $10 for a 5'x10' size.
Once you've selected a fabricator, go to their store front to see the stone in person. Bring your kitchen plan so that the fabricator can give you suggestions. Then you can check out a few samples.
You will also want to know the sink, faucet, and sprayer you'll be using. Or, if you need an accessory hole for something like a soap dispenser or if you're using a garbage disposal button on the countertop.
here's the samples I looked at- Tranquility, Calcatta Extra, Calcatta Gold, Paros, Strato
If your fabricator doesn't have enough variety, you can also visit a slab yard (where your fabricator buys the slabs from). The slab yard will usually has a good variety of different stones to see.
It's nice to see the movement of the veins, the full color, and touch them in person. Plus, this is the fun part! You can pretend you're on a TV show ;).
If you aren't able to see the full slab in person, it'll be ok! Look online at a picture of the full slab and a picture of it installed in a kitchen. This will give you a great feel for how it'll look in your your space.
Quartz fabricators will sometimes offer accessories that you can buy right from them. Things like sinks, faucets, sink grids, etc. This is convenient because then they have the exact measurements needed for cutting the quartz!
I sourced all my own items, but for lots of people, this is a convenient way to get multiple items from one place.
After looking at samples and slabs, it's time to finalize what will be the quartz you select. Here's some things to consider-
I ended up going with Calcutta Gold. I liked the white background, the gold veining, and it was a great size to avoid seams.
Next, when lower cabinets are installed and level, it's time to schedule a time for a template to be made for the counter tops.
The quartz fabricator will send someone over to house to digitally measure for this. They make an exact drawing of the countertop with crooked walls and everything!
What this means is there is super fun (haha) part in your renovation where you have to have your base cabinets in without a sink and counter tops for 2 weeks or more.
Two or more weeks or so after the template has been made, the counter tops will be cut to size and the they will be delivered and installed- cue the happy dance!!!
Our installation took a few hours and three guys. I didn't take any pictures during the process, I didn't want to be in the way. But I have picture of it after installation!
They installed my sink. And they ended up cutting the holes for my faucet and disposal button once the sink was installed.
To say I'm thrilled for fancy countertops is an understatement! I just believe that your home should be a beautiful backdrop for the story of your family's lives. I was sick of my dingy, broken, hard to use kitchen. Living in a renovating mess isn't fun, but making your dreams come true is. You've got this '
The kitchen is done, the Calcatta Gold quartz countertops are in and we LOVE them! They're a clean white with warm gold veining and I've never had nicer countertops in my life. They're beautiful and 100% worth the splurge!
These clean up easily. I love wiping up my fancy countertops after cooking because they're so gorgeous! The installers specifically put the veining where it'd be seen most and its really pretty in person.
It's a little hard to tell in these pictures, but we made sure the cabinets were tall enough for the countertops to be cut to go in the window sill too. It's seamless and the perfect spot for plants.
Anyway, I hope it's helpful to know what to expect when ordering quartz counter tops and how to care for them once they're installed. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.
Catch up on all the Kitchen One Room Challenge Posts!
Floor Plan / Interior Window / Mood Boards / Stairs Plan / Demo & Flood / Drywall / Rainbow Wallpaper / Cabinets, Floors, & Ceiling / DIY Fireplace / Cabinet Doors / Reveal / Stair Railing Installation / Kitchen Cost Breakdown / Quartz Countertops
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. Thank you to HanStone Quartz for supplying the quartz slab for this kitchen!
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