Clear Quartz: From Nature to Your Project
Tags: Kitchen, kitchen countertop | 6 years ago | Written by: Cosentino
Silestone countertop color Blanco Zeus by Cosentino
Clear quartz, also known as rock crystal, is one of the most abundant materials in the Earth’s crust. As a result, it is largely used in the design of different elements, such as worktops, floors, lining, and furniture, and in the interior decoration and architecture industry for its hardness, stability, resistance, and natural features. While years ago worktops were exclusively made from hardboard with PVC lining, marble or granite, today quartz has become one of the best alternatives to other materials, especially marble or granite. It’s also prescribed by a respectable number of professionals, interior decorators and architects in the design of their projects.
Why is clear quartz essential in interior design?
In essence, quartz offers great advantages when used in the manufacture of worktops and linings, since clear quartz (the raw material from which it is made) is one of the hardest materials in nature (ranked 7 out of 10 in the Mohs scale of mineral hardness). Besides stability and resistance, quartz naturally adds value to the kitchen, by being a material that adapts to the design and personalisation of the worktop or project, enhancing the functionality of each space.
Contemporary wood kitchen with white countertop
Compared to granite, another mineral proposed for the creation of this type of element, quartz is harder, more compact and resistant. This is largely due to its process, which converts it into a more solid and consistent material.
Besides its hardness and high resistance, another key advantage that makes it into an ideal material for worktops is its zero porosity. This essential feature prevents the formation of bacteria and increases its resistance to stains and scratches. This is possible thanks to the process quartz surfaces are subjected to, which is very similar to that of ceramics, where the mixture of materials undergoes vacuum vibro-compression treatment. Thanks to this treatment, quartz is also highly resistant to shock.
Unlike other materials, quartz also offers multiple aesthetic advantages thanks to the wide range of colours it presents. In addition, the colour does not fade, and new designs have been created over the years to faithfully simulate different textures, such as leather or natural rocks.
Quartz is easy to clean and maintain and it is durable, resistant over time and functional – essential properties for an excellent reform project.
Despite what it might look like, not all quartz materials are the same. The most common composition of quartz is of 84% to 95% rock and silica, 2% to 14% polyester resin, 1% organic pigments and 1% catalysts. However, manufacturers such as Silestone – specialising in quartz surfaces – develop their own percentages and compositions which allows for different types of surfaces for worktops, flooring or lining, depending on the needs and characteristics of each project.
Encimera Silestone color Ariel, autor Jodie Johnson
Quartz is undoubtedly prevailing on the market as the most in-demand material. Kitchen, bathroom and interior decor design have an increasing need for materials renowned for their hardness, resistance, and versatility – essential qualities for such surfaces.
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