How are Quartz Countertops Made

How are Quartz Countertops Made

Approximately 10.2 million homeowners decide to remodel their kitchen every year. And one of the major decisions that you need to make for their kitchen remodelling is the material that they wish to use for their new kitchen countertop. The first and foremost choice that comes to anyone’s mind is Quartz Countertops.

Because of their beauty and durability, quartz countertops have become the most popular option for countertops. Their beauty, durability and low maintenance, make them the number one choice for many homeowners.

How are Quartz Countertops Made-2
 

It may come as a surprise to you that the material used in these countertops is man-made and they are made artificially. This gives the manufacturers the capability to adopt unlimited designs and colors giving you a wide range of choices to make. But how are quartz countertops made? We know that you must be curious to know this. So we brought this article to you for explaining how are quartz countertops made

Where Does the Quartz Come From?

Quartz is a type of mineral that occurs naturally and can be commonly found in mountainous rocks. It is predominantly found in igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks about which you have probably learned in your high school science class. The upper rock material erodes with time leaving behind the hard quartz which is then quarried out from the mountains.

As quartz is a very common material, it can be found in every part of the world. However, the quartz that we are focusing on in making our countertops, comes mainly from either the United States or Brazil.

How are Quartz Countertops Made?

  • In its raw form, quartz cannot be used as a building material because it is too loose. The naturally occurring quartz needs to be bonded with something to shape it into a usable form.
  • First of all the quarried out quartz is grounded to form very fine sized particles which closely resembles sand. Then it is bound together using binders to give them a definite shape and size.
  • Generally, the binding materials used for binding the quartz are resins or other binders and some added pigments to give the desired color. Most countertops comprise of roughly 90% quartz and 10% of binder and other materials.
  • Commonly, other materials like natural stones or colored glass particles are mixed with the quartz to give a glossy appearance to the finished product. By doing this, the color of the countertops can be changed as well as a sparkle can be added to the surface.
  • After the materials are mixed properly, it goes into a mold of the size and shape of the countertop. The mold is compressed using a vacuum to make it completely compact.
  • The compact countertop material is then baked in an industrial oven at a very high temperature. This solidified the mixture and makes it hard. Then the countertop surface is polished to create a glossy and shining finished surface.
  • After this final process, the quartz countertop is ready for installation in your kitchen.

This is the process of  how are quartz countertops made. Now you know what goes into making the beautiful quartz countertop that you are using in your kitchen. Keep following K&B Cabinets for more interesting articles.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE