Quartz is a man-made product consisting of 93% quartz particles and 7% resin and dyes to bind it all together. The hardness of the product comes from the clear quartz crystals and the different colors and patterns come from the dyes blended into the stone.

Although the names look very similar, quartz and quartzite are very different products. Quartz countertops are man-made using dyes and resins while quartzite slabs are mined directly from the earth in a quarry. Quartzite is a very hard material, making it difficult to fabricate, which gives it a higher price tag than quartz countertops. Quartzite looks much softer than granite, so it has that marble look without the acid etching and scratching problem that marble has. The only real downside to quartzite is that they are prone to absorbing stains. If you select quartzite for your home, we use a special sealer that performs much better on this product to help reduce the possibility of staining.

All products we use for countertops have pros and cons. Quartz needs no sealer or routine maintenance, but you should not cut directly on the surface or place hot pots on the stone without a hot pad. Granite is very heat-resistant and can withstand high temperatures with discoloring but doesn't come in soft white colors and does require some routine maintenance unless an upgraded sealer is purchased. Marble looks very white, soft and classic but can be scratched, acid etched and stained easily. Soapstone is even softer than marble but does not get stained or acid etched like marble does. We always tell people if they are not willing to accept the natural patina marble and soapstone will acquire to consider selecting an alternate product.

The general thinking is that something that is man-made faux marble should be less expensive than the real deal, right?! Due to the high material and production cost, quartz countertops actually cost the same as natural stone options. There are more expensive and less expensive quartz options just like granite or marble but generally about the same.

Soapstone is a natural stone used for countertops and is mined from the earth. Soapstone generally is dark green or black with white veining. Soapstone rarely comes in a polished finish, but rather in a honed or slightly leathered finish. Like marble, soapstone is very soft and will develop unavoidable scratches on the surface with normal daily use.

No, quartz never needs to be sealed like granite or quartzite countertops would need. Some lighter colors can develop surface marks from rubber or plastic but can be easily removed with a magic eraser and Clorox cleanup and bleach.

The standard finish for most stone countertops is polished. Polished stone is widely available and can be sourced easily. Polished is also the most durable finish and the hardest to mark or stain. Matte or honed is also available on granite, marble, quartzite and even some quartz countertops.

Marble is made mainly of calcium which if you know a little bit about chemistry, calcium reacts readily with even slightly acidic liquids. When tomato juice, lemon juice, vinegar or even some city water comes in contact with marble is begins to react immediately with the calcium in the stone leaving behind a spot or ring of stone with a different sheen. We refer to this in the countertop industry as acid etching. It is an unpreventable and unavoidable patina that will occur if you select marble as your new countertop surface.

Most stone available for countertops in Minnesota is 3 cm or 1-3/16 thick but on occasion 2 cm or thinner stone can be purchased.

Usually in solid surface countertops an undermount sink gives the cleanest look. Undermount means that the stone sits on top of the sink lip so that the surface doesn't have any grime catching ridges by the sink. Granite composite sinks give your kitchen countertops a high end and finished look. We also sell Fireclay sinks with a white glazing if you are looking for an old-world feel. We also offer the classic stainless steel sinks for a simple and timeless design.