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What is Quartz?

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Quartz has been a common option for home stone surfaces since the mid-century popularity it enjoyed in Europe, but in the last decades it’s also become one of the favorite stones in American home remodeling and kitchen surfacing.

For many years, quartz wasn’t able to get a foothold in American kitchen design. The quartz countertop manufacturers of the past simply didn’t have the technology to achieve a natural-looking, gorgeous product that could rival granite or marble, the hitherto first choice for luxury kitchens. Fifty years ago, quartz countertops didn’t have the same color range or organic-looking texture and variation that they do today, and they were also much more expensive, making them an unpopular choice.

But recently, the quartz industry has exploded, and architects, bloggers, and designers can’t get enough! Premier manufacturers like Caesarstone have been able to develop quartz countertops that have captured the hearts of homeowners with their natural look and feel, wide variety of colors and patterns, and incredible strength. Furthermore, prices have been dropping as the process becomes more streamlined and common.

Quartz is an “engineered stone.” Unlike granite and marble, which are cut from the earth in solid slabs that go straight into homes without any alteration to their composition, quartz is created from ground quartz crystals that are combined with a polymer resin. Quartz agates are first inspected for quality and homogeneity, ground into a fine sand, blended thoroughly with the resin, and poured into a mold. This mixture is then subjected to high heat and pressure, which cures the resin and simulates the geothermic conditions that create stones like granite, meaning that the resulting slab is extremely hard and non-porous. Finally, the slabs are polished with diamond abrasives to a beautiful, reflective shine.

Because the process of creating quartz is controlled and accelerated by human machinery, manufacturers are able to produce a material that’s even more impenetrable than granite. Unlike natural stones, you will never have to re-seal your quartz countertop because the resin it’s created with acts as an inherent sealant, and it’s so hard that it will never scratch or chip. Quartz is the ideal choice for homeowners who want something that will look look as flawless as it did the first day it was installed for many years without regular maintenance. If you want a kitchen evocative of stunning luxury, yet your lifestyle doesn’t leave any room to worry about your c knife blades, wine spills, or sealing schedule, quartz could be perfect for you!

One of the other major advantages of quartz is the incredible color variety in which it is available. You can purchase quartz countertops in vivid, solid colors you could never find in a completely natural stone,  whether you want a completely black or white countertop or a solid red, purple, chartreuse, or more! Quartz is also available in textures that convincingly mimic the natural veining or speckling of granite or marble, and if you want something truly stunning and unique, you can also buy quartz countertops that still have the intact agate crystals, which make for an absolutely jaw-dropping stone surface.
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Quartz vs. Granite

Measuring Your Countertop

Clean Granite Countertops

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> READ MORE REVIEWS

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[fullwidth backgroundcolor=”#f8f8f8″ backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”top left” backgroundattachment=”scroll” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”#e5e4e4″ paddingTop=”30px” paddingBottom=”5px”][one_half last=”no”] [title size=”2″]WHY CHOOSE US?[/title] [accordian][toggle title=”LOW PRICE GUARANTEE” open=”no”]We beat Home Depot, Ikea, and Lowe’s prices EVERY TIME! Large retailers tend to outsource countertop fabrication to other vendors. At Granite & Marble Specialties, you also get to pick your very own slab from our warehouse. If you are able to find the same merchandise at a lower advertised price, please provide us with a copy of the advertisement or written quote and we’ll be happy to meet or beat our competitor’s price.[/toggle] [toggle title=”NO MIDDLE MAN INVOLVED”] We are an importer, fabricator, and retailer all-in-one. While most fabricators are forced to purchase from distributors and must earn a mark-up, we are able to offer our customers a direct selection of the highest quality natural stone, including granite, marble, and quartz. There are no middle-men involved, so you get to enjoy the tremendous savings and the experience of dealing with only one company, from start to finish.[/toggle][toggle title=”PREMIUM QUALITY & SERVICES”] From our 3cm premium hand selected imported granite, marble and quartz slabs, to our state of the art fabrication facility and skilled workforce, we pride ourselves on procuring and building the highest quality products. [/toggle] [toggle title=”HUGE COLOR SELECTION”] Because we are also a wholesaler, we have one of the largest stone collections around. With hundreds of granite, marble and quartz slabs to choose from in our showroom, you are sure to find the color and pattern you are looking for![/toggle] [toggle title=”SAME-DAY COUNTERTOP REPLACEMENT!”] We know that your kitchen is a central part of your home and being without a kitchen even for one day is quite inconvenient. Once your countertop is fabricated (usually a 4 day process), we tear down your countertop and install your new granite, marble, or quartz countertop the very same day.[/toggle] [toggle title=”80% BUSINESS FROM REFERRALS”] Most of our business comes from referrals from happy customers who have selected us for their kitchen upgrade. We pride ourselves on quality work and customer satisfaction.[/toggle] [/accordian] [/one_half] [one_half last=”yes”] [title size=”2″]WHAT WE DO![/title] [accordian][toggle title=”PREMIUM GRANITE IN SEATTLE AREA” open=”no”] Granite & Marble Specialties is Seattle and the Puget Sound area’s one-stop-shop for an unprecedented variety of premium quality granite, marble, and quartz slabs. We retail, wholesale, fabricate and install natural stone countertops. Customers of most other fabricators find themselves traveling between stores and warehouses back and forth – a time consuming and frustrating experience. Our showroom and warehouse is conveniently located in the same building. This approach makes it easy for you to plan you kitchen and bath, choose your actual slab, and make your purchase, all in one location! [/toggle] [toggle title=”STONE PRODUCTS WE OFFER”] We have an extensive collection of high quality, hand selected and imported granite, marble, quartz, quartzite, onyx, slate, travertine, limestone, soapstone, and semi-precious slabs as well as remnants of all sizes. We also carry an extensive selection of tile.[/toggle] [toggle title=”FREE IN-HOME MEASUREMENT”] Measure twice, cut once is our motto. We offer free in-home measurement so you can rest assured that your countertop will be customized and precisely fabricated to the exact dimensions of your kitchen. [/toggle] [toggle title=”PROFESSIONAL FABRICATION”] Our staff has over 15 years of professional experience in commercial and home building projects. After two decades in the construction business, we are equipped to handle any kind of countertop fabrication project you throw at us! [/toggle] [toggle title=”DEMOLITION & TEARDOWN”] You can rely on us to cleanly teardown your existing countertop and recycle old materials so you don’t have to worry.[/toggle] [toggle title=”CUSTOMIZED TO FIT YOUR KITCHEN”] Our staff is skilled and experienced in handling complex, custom projects to simple kitchen upgrades. We have the capability to build your countertop to your exact specifications.[/toggle] [/accordian] [/one_half] [/fullwidth] [fullwidth backgroundcolor=”#D8D6D6″ backgroundimage=”” backgroundrepeat=”no-repeat” backgroundposition=”top left” backgroundattachment=”scroll” bordersize=”0px” bordercolor=”#f6f6f6″ paddingTop=”40px” paddingBottom=”40px”]

RENEW KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS STEP BY STEP

[content_boxes layout=”icon-on-top” iconcolor=”#303030″ circle=”no” circlecolor=”#D8D6D6″ circlebordercolor=”#D8D6D6″ paddingBottom=”12px” ] [content_box title=”1. SELECT MATERIAL” fontawesome icon=”search” circle=”no” size=”large” iconcolor=”#2d2d2d” circlecolor=”” circlebordercolor=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Granite & Marble Specialties offers an unparalleled selection of granite, marble, and quartz available for your perusal at our showrooms located in Kent and Seattle, WA. Our professionals are ready to assist you through your selection process.

[/content_box][content_box title=”2. TEMPLATE” icon=”calendar” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”0″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] After you choose your stone, our team will contact you to schedule a day to come out to your home or business and create a custom template of your project.

[/content_box][content_box title=”3. TEMPLATE VIEWING” icon=”desktop” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] After creating your custom template, we will place your template on your slab, and identify the best possible layout for correct flow of pattern and grain, ensuring seamless end results and visual harmony.

[/content_box][/content_boxes][content_boxes layout=”icon-on-top” iconcolor=”#303030″ circle=”no” circlecolor=”#D8D6D6″ circlebordercolor=”#D8D6D6″ ] [content_box title=”4. FABRICATION” fontawesome icon=”cog” circle=”no” size=”large” iconcolor=”#2d2d2d” circlecolor=”” circlebordercolor=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Once the template has been created, and pattern flow lines have been established, the stone and custom template is delivered to our fabrication department where the actual cutting and fabrication occur.

[/content_box][content_box title=”5. DELIVERY & INSTALLATION” icon=”truck” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Granite & Marble Specialties’ heavy duty vehicles have been specifically modified to ensure safe delivery of your new countertop. Our installation team has over 20 years of experience in delivering and installing stone slabs in the greater Puget Sound region.

[/content_box] [content_box title=”6. CARE AND MAINTENANCE” icon=”wrench” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”.4″] Congratulations! You have made a significant investment in your home by purchasing natural stone that will last you and your family a lifetime.

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