Made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, quartz countertops are arguably the most durable option for kitchens. They are also some of the most eye-catching. They come in a wide variety of colors, including fire-engine red and apple green, as well as earthy browns, blacks, and creams, with sparkles and veining for the look of granite or marble.
Unlike natural-stone slabs, which are quarried, quartz slabs are engineered in a factory. Their primary ingredient is ground quartz (about 94%), combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also help make these counters stain and scratch resistant—and nonporous, so they never need to be sealed. Quartz is low maintenance, antimicrobial, and design friendly.
