In recent years, quartz countertops have overtaken granite countertops as the most preferred stone countertops, and all for good reasons.
This engineered stone is one of the most preferred alternatives to natural stone because of its brawn, beauty, and brilliance. However, this is a man-made material that is not cut directly from the earth, unlike marble and granite. Instead, the material is made from the combination of different minerals other than natural quartz, such as pigments and polymer resins that increase its durability, low maintenance and bring out its vibrant colors.
How quartz slabs are made
The surface of engineered quartz depends on the grounding of the quartz material. If it is coarsely ground, the surface will have a freckled appearance. Similarly, finely ground quartz will have a smooth surface. The engineering process of quartz countertops also involves creating colors that mimic natural stone, such as granite and marble. There are some technologies that produce cement lookalikes, which is an excellent idea because normal cement is prone to chipping, stains, and etching.
The role of a fabricator in the engineering process
A quartz countertop fabricator will first help you to select the right color and thickness of quartz slab for your kitchen. The practical designing procedure involves the templating of the stone and measuring the installation area to determine the size of slab needed. After this step is completed, they get to select the type of quartz slab, shading, veining, and several color patterns for you, the customer, to choose from among the available quartz slabs.
One of the factors to be considered during the selection of quartz slab is its density and structural integrity. Since this is an engineered stone, you would expect the quality of different slabs to vary. The engineering process of quartz countertops solely determines the strength and durability of each slab. Unfortunately, testing each quartz slab would be very expensive.
A lot of reputable quartz countertops fabricators, however, have structural information about every slab in their showroom. Quartz countertops fabricator is therefore a quality controller that ensures every customer gets the exact customization they want.
Fabricating quartz countertops
Every decision about the type of quartz slab you want should be made before the fabrication process starts. Luckily, with the help of a professional, most of these decisions should be pretty much straightforward.
The fabrication process basically involves inspecting the slab for certain flaws such as blemishes, the seams, fissures, and scratches. The slab will be laid out to give you a clear view of its veining and color. The stone will be then cut into 1/16 inch of its original thickness. The next step will be edging and adding any other details on the stone before the final polishing.
Drain boards and support rods will then be installed in case the slab requires any of them.
What follows is a multi-step procedure that involves the ever-increasing grit polish, used to smoothen out the surface of the countertop. The counter to be installed is now ready, and the fabricator will ensure that your home is cleaned before and after the installation.
The next step is to apply the sealer base coat. All of the above activities will take place away from the job or installation site so that by the end of it all, your countertop will be ready for installation.
Looking for a quartz countertops fabricator
This is the easiest part of the entire process.
The best idea would be to go for a local stone fabricator in your area or ask for a recommendation from friends. You can do a little background check to make sure that the fabricator can follow the engineering process of quartz countertops down to the last detail.
Chances are you will get multiple matches for a countertops fabricator in California. Make sure to talk to as many home improvement contractors in your area before settling for a single one.
Block Tops Inc. is a women owned and operated Countertops Company in Boston. Being in an industry that is basically male dominated, you can always trust us to work extra hard, not just to be fit for the part, but to outshine all the rest.
Talk to us about your quartz countertops requirements and let us deliver your dreams on a platter.