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Phone: 925.335.9801
Quartz
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Durable
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Low Maintenance
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Heat Intolerant
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Stain Resistant
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Uniform Look
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No Sealing Required
Quartz is a beautifully reliable choice of man-made stone comprised of ground up Quartz crystals bound with resin. The patterns are set and then compressed under high pressure to form these slabs. This makes Quartz an extremely durable choice that is impervious to scratching, chipping, and staining. An advantage of this being a man-made product is that you can rely on every slab being identical in color and pattern in your choice of style. Quartz is the lowest maintenance choice by being the most unporous, this stone requires no sealing or polishing and does not harbor bacteria. One of the very few downsides is that it is heat intolerant and can not have direct heat applied to it, all pots and pans need to be put on a heating pad to prevent discoloration due to the resin. This is easily manageable and Quartz is our most popular surface used in our clients homes.
Natural Stone
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Unique
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Easier Repair
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Requires Regular Sealing
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Heat Resistant
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Could Crack When Hit Hard With Sharp Object
The natural stones produced by Earth can be truly breathtaking and unique. There is a wide variety of stone compositions to choose from. Most common would be Granite, Marble, and Quartzite. Granite is formed over millions of years of cooling magma pushing through Earth's Crust. Every slab is truly unique and available in many colors. It tends to be durable but is prone to natural fissures and can be permanently stained. Marble is a classic timeless beauty that adds light and brightness to any room. It is a very porous stone however that stains, scratches and erodes easily and requires regular sealing. Quartzite is the natural slab version of Quartz which is slightly more durable/heat resistant, however it requires regular sealing and is prone to staining.
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There are lots of options in natural stone and we are happy to answer any further questions you have for us.
Porcelain
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Marble Alternative
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Durable
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Heat Resistant
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Costlier
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Stain Resistant
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Harder To Repair
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No Sealing
Porcelain is a trendy material that has a range of colors and styles. It is great as a marble alternative due to its ability to mimic marbles style but much more durable. Heat, acid, stain resistant porcelain requires no sealing and is waterproof making clean up easy. That being said porcelain is harder to repair if chipped or cracked as it is a design printed onto tile slabs, in some cases the whole counter must be replaced. The material is generally costlier to manufacture and fabricate as well. It is best utilized for outdoor BBQ's and fireplaces due to its high heat tolerance.