Where should you begin when choosing the right kitchen worktop material for your needs? It’s a question many homeowners face, with the current market offering a huge variety of choices to pick from.
Taking a glimpse at the latest research on consumer trends, which takes into account a wide range of countertop material types, we can now give you a concrete answer.
In their 2022 study, Houzz observed that engineered quartz was the “most popular” kitchen countertop material of choice amongst US households, accounting for 42% of the total survey. For comparison, granite, another popular countertop material, was only found within 24% of the surveyed homes.
But it’s not just one source claiming quartz to be the new top-dog countertop material. In fact, the advantages of quartz worktops are well-recognised by many news media outlets.
When asked why they believe quartz worktops now have such widespread popularity, Jas Saimbhi, co-owner of Quartz Kitchens, had the following to say:
“The technology for creating quartz worktops has come a long way since the 1960s. Nowadays, current manufacturing methods allow for a huge range of colour combinations and styles. You’re sure to find the design that fits your needs down to a T.”
To see why quartz holds such a dominant position in the market, it’s useful to compare it to other popular kitchen countertop materials, such as granite and marble.
While quartz is an engineered stone worktop material, it has been found to have comparable, if not superior durability to granite, a natural stone material. However, what gives quartz the edge is that it is much more resistant to cracks or chipping than granite, largely to its higher strength. This makes quartz worktops an excellent choice for those with busier households, or for those who simply would like greater peace of mind when using their worktops.
Having such high strength, this naturally leads to quartz countertops having great longevity. While natural stone materials such as marble and granite may gain scratches, chips and cracks over the years, quartz worktops retain their original appearance for much longer and will likely outlast your home itself.
Additionally, quartz worktops are highly stain-resistant, making them much lower maintenance than marble, for example, which requires regular sealing to avoid permanent staining. Marble is a highly porous material, which means that spilt liquids can quite easily penetrate the surface layer and seep into the stone.
On the other hand, quartz is non-porous, meaning that there is no need to seal it to avoid staining. This makes it incredibly low maintenance; all you need is a damp cloth and mild, non-abrasive, detergent to remove any spills.
Selecting the right quartz kitchen worktop design for your needs is an exciting time. For inspiration on styles, textures, and more, we recommend checking out Quartz Kitchens’ Instagram page here. You can also have a look at their website for their complete catalogue.
