Engineered Stone Countertops

Engineered stone countertops are remarkable products, offering the 'best of both worlds' regarding durability and aesthetics. They're made to look and feel like stone yet they possess enhancements that nature couldn't provide - namely, the durability and cleanliness that comes with a non-porous surface.

One of the most popular and widely used forms of engineered stone is quartz countertops. Brands like Silestone and Cambria use quartz as the primary ingredient in their engineered stone countertops and other surfacing products.

Quartz isn't the only form of stone that's used however. Granite, marble and semi-precious stones can be found in various engineered stone countertops, each with their own decorative and functional appeal.

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What Is "Engineered Stone"?

The term “engineered stone” is just a technical term that describes the combination of crushed natural stone and a resin binder. The binder holds the stone aggregate together. Through this combination the stone has been "engineered" to enhance it's properties, and form it into a product more workable and usable.

Engineered stone countertops are made in relatively thin slabs. The marriage between stone and resin is completed under intense heat and pressure. Pigments are added during the process to give the product its color. The resulting slab is then polished to a high gloss or honed to a more matte finish.

If this all sounds too technical, think of it as crushed stone that’s combined with a ‘glue’ and baked in a pan. That may be an oversimplification but it may help in understanding the basic concepts of what it is and how it’s made.

The key take-away from this bit-o-science is that the end result is a non-porous material, a very nice attribute for a countertop surface.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some manufacturers, particularly those that make quartz countertops, advertise their products as "natural quartz". And natural quartz it is - but it's not purely a slab of quartz that's been quarried and cut to size. Quartz is the key ingredient (usually about 93%), but the product you're getting is still the combination of quartz and other materials.

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What Do I Need To Consider?

To be honest, there's a lot of upside and not a lot of drawbacks with engineered stone countertops.

Let's take a look at the positives...

• Non-Porous - A Good Thing - You've no doubt heard the stories about how you have to seal natural stones like granite. It's true. But with engineered stone, that's not necessary. Don't worry about the cooking oil making a dark spot on the quartz counter. It's highly resistant to stains.

  Take a look at the picture of natural granite below. It shows the porosity and natural fissures that occur even after the surface is polished. Engineered stone is completely smooth with no small pits or pock marks.

  Real Stone - Those Dark Fissures Show The Natural Porosity

• Looks And Feels Like Stone - Engineered stone countertops are made to mimic the look of natural stone and manufacturers are getting better and better at it. It also has the smooth, hard surface finish just like a polished piece of granite, but it doesn't have the upkeep requirements.
• Easy To Maintain - Being a non-porous surface means it's easy to clean and maintain. Nothing is bullet-proof but you won't have to tip-toe around a quartz countertop or continually seal it.
• Lots Of Colors And Patterns - Whether you want a color that looks like stone or a fire-engine red countertop, there's an engineered stone countertop for you.
• Color/Pattern Uniformity - If you're not wild about the pattern variations you get with natural stone slabs, engineered stone is a good choice. The color and particulate patterns are uniform and consistent over the entire surface area.
• Resistant To Heat - An engineered stone countertop is more resistant to heat than a laminate or solid surface countertop. You won't want to make a habit of using your quartz countertop as a trivet for hot pans, but it will stand up to the occasional 'mistake'.

And the downsides....

• Some Products Can Be Expensive - Some, not all, engineered stone products can be costly. Cost per square foot will vary based on manufacturer, color and edge treatment.
• It's Still Not Real Stone - This is one of those considerations that's dependent on your personal taste. Engineered stone can come pretty close to looking like real stone but it's not the real McCoy and doesn't have the natural variation of real stone.

But on that note, you be the judge. Which sample in the picture below is the engineered stone and which is real granite? Even if you can distinguish between real and not, you have to agree that the engineered stone does a pretty good impersonation.

Answer: The Sample On The Left Is The Imposter

From a functionality and durability perspective, there’s really not many negatives associated with engineered stone. That's why it carries the name it does – it’s been “engineered” to offer the benefits of stone while eliminating the weak points.

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What Are The Differences Among Brand Choices?

Similar to solid surface countertops there are sufficient manufacturers of engineered stone countertops from which to choose. The benefit here is that competition among them spurs new styles, colors and other innovations that ultimately make for better choices and cost control.

What Are The Differences Between The Various Brands?

For a given classification of engineered stone, particularly the crowded class of quartz-based products, there aren’t any significant differentiation points on a basic level. In other words, they’re made up of similar materials and made in similar ways.

What does differentiate them is the quantity of color and pattern offerings. Some manufacturers offer more than others which offers you more in the way of choices to match your particular needs.

Availability in any particular geographic area is another determining factor when choosing among the various makers of engineered stone. Some brands have a wider distribution and a corresponding larger quantity of certified installers.

So What Should I Consider When Making My Decision?

First, decide upon the type of engineered stone surfacing you want, be it quartz-based or one of the other varieties. Then look for the color or pattern that suits you best. Since most other factors are roughly equal, it comes down to which manufacturer provides exactly what you’re looking for.

Tip: if more than one maker offers a particular color you’re interested in, obtain price quotes for all of them. In some cases, the same or a very similar color option has different prices between manufacturers. You may be able to get the color you want at a lower price if you shop around and investigate the offerings of each manufacturer.

Here are the details on the particular types and brands of engineered stone. Click on one of the brand names to learn more about their highlights.

• Avanza®
• CaesarStone®
• Cambria®
• Legacy
• LGViatera
• Silestone®
• Technistone®
• Zodiaq®

• Granite Transformations

• Marghestone
• Agglosimplex

• Concetto

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