Engineered Stone Countertops
Engineered stone countertops are rather amazing products that have enjoyed increasing popularity in the last several years. Probably the most widely known forms of engineered stone countertops are the quartz-based products. While the majority of engineered stone uses quartz, there are other forms that use different natural stone materials. The term “engineered stone” is used to describe the combination of natural stone with other materials that are processed together to form the final product. The stone material is typically in aggregate or crushed form and is held together by a resin binder. The combination is processed under heat and pressure to compact the materials together and remove porosity. The end result is a hard, stone-like product that has all of the good characteristics of stone without the drawbacks. 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. Some manufacturers don’t use the term “engineered stone” and refer to their product by the type of stone used. In truth, the stone material does make up the major percentage of the end product however it’s still combined with other materials and is not the same as a solid piece of granite or marble. So what’s so great about engineered stone countertops? Why would someone take the time and effort to ‘engineer’ stone if there weren’t some unique traits not found in purely natural stone? The reason is because there are some special qualities that come with engineered stone. Consider these: - It is low maintenance and non-porous and doesn’t require sealing like natural stone
- It can be manufactured in many different unique colors and patterns
- The quartz-based products are highly scratch resistant unlike ‘softer’ natural stones like soapstone and marble
- It can be made to mimic the look of natural stone without the maintenance or drawbacks of natural stone
- It’s scorch resistant and can withstand the occasional placement of a hot pan
- It’s not as rigid as a slab of natural stone which reduces risk of cracking and breakage during shipping or installation
What are the downsides? From a functionality and durability perspective, there’s really not many negatives associated with engineered stone. That’s basically why it has the name it does – it’s been “engineered” to offer the benefits of stone while eliminating the weak points. In the interest of balance however, there may be some downsides depending on your perspective. - The cost is on the higher end of counterop materials, depending on colors, patterns and edge treatments. With the advances in cutting and processing technology associated with natural stone, the cost of engineered stone products is on par with its natural cousins.
- While some come close, the engineered stone products can’t replicate the true look of natural stone. Natural stone has a variability and beauty that makes each slab unique which is difficult to achieve with the engineered products. This is really a personal preference since some people want a consistent pattern on their countertops.
Engineered Stone Countertop Available Choices Since the introduction of engineered stone countertops numerous manufacturers and suppliers have entered the market with their unique brands and types of stone material. Here’s a list of engineered stone products broken down by the category of stone used. Click on the names to learn more about their products. Quartz-Based Granite-Based Marble-Based Semi-Precious Stones 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 types 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 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 brands: Cambria | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 27 colors according to their website but recent brochures show 31 colors | | Edge profiles available: | 8 | | Where you can find it: | Retail outlets are located in most states except Hawaii, Alaska, Wyoming and West Virgina. It’s also unavailable in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. | | Warranty: | 10 year limited warranty | | Comments: | Cambria is the only manufacturer of quartz-based engineered stone in the United States, the remaining brands being manufactured in Europe and Israel. Part of the Cambria color lineup includes their Quarry Collection™. These colors have a more random pattern and more closely mimic the look of some natural stone, namely granite. The Cambria website contains a downloadable estimating worksheet but you still need to bring the layout to a fabricator for a price quote. You can achieve the same result using a simple piece of graph paper and laying out the dimensions of your countertops. |
Silestone | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 48 | | Edge profiles available: | A number of different edge options are offered but availability may vary between local fabricators | | Where you can find it: | Over 3500 retailers located in North America | | Warranty: | 10 year limited warranty | | Comments: | Silestone has a wide array of colors available which broadens your choice spectrum. Some do mimic the look of granite and natural stone. They also have several interesting product lines that use the engineered quartz material. One of these is a do-it-yourself vanity top that is pre-finished. It allows you to buy and install the vanity top by yourself without the need for a certified installer. Another product line is their Muro™ tiles. These are made individually or in sheets that are held together with a mesh backing. A good application might be for a tiled backsplash that achieves the look and benefits of engineered stone and offers an alternative to tile. The company reports that it will soon offer Microban® technology in the makeup of the engineered quartz material. Microban® technology is an anti-microbial protective treatment that prevents the development of bacteria microbes. Since engineered stone manufacturers tout the non-porous nature of their products and the relative sanitary effects this produces, such a technology seems redundant however. |
Zodiaq | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 29 | | Edge profiles available: | 6 | | Where you can find it: | North America and in limited locations within Europe | | Warranty: | 10 year limited warranty | | Comments: | Zodiaq is a DuPont product and is available at Lowe’s® home improvement centers in addition to other authorized retailers nationally. |
Avanza | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 30 | | Edge profiles available: | Up to 6 depending on the thickness chosen | | Where you can find it: | Available at Lowe’s® and certified installers and dealers throughout the US | | Warranty: | 10 year limited warranty | | Comments: | Avanza is another quartz-based product with a healthy selection of available colors. A nice feature is that it is offers various edge treatments in 3 thicknesses. The thicker edges are achieved by bonding an additional piece of material to the lower outside edges of the slab. The bond line is inconspicuous and the thicker edge gives a substantial look to the countertop. |
Technistone | Type of Stone: | Quartz and Granite | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 20 (4 special order colors are also available but are not stocked in the US and may take several months for delivery) | | Edge profiles available: | Consult your installer or Technistone products retailer for edge profile options | | Where you can find it: | Available at various kitchen design and countertop fabrication businesses. It’s best to check with your contractor and/or kitchen designer to determine if they carry or can access Technistone products. | | Warranty: | 10 yr warranty from manufacturing defects | | Comments: | Technistone offers a slight twist in the engineered stone market by offering quartz and granite applications. In addition their Starlight™ line has crushed mirror chips incorporated into the surface that add an interesting characteristic. There are 4 different color lines available: - Starlight – offers colors with mirror chips in the composition
- Granite – uses granite as its basic stone constituency
- Crystal – uses quartz as its basic stone material with lighter more neutral colors
- Gobi – offers subtle texturing and uniform color
Technistone is offered in both slabs and tiles. Slabs are offered only in a polished surface whereas tiles are available in both polished and semi-gloss finishes. Tiles are made in 3 sizes: - 12” x 12”
- 16” x 16”
- 24” x 24”
All tiles are 3/8” thick |
Caesarstone | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 32 | | Edge profiles available: | 11 distinct edge shapes | | Where you can find it: | Authorized dealers. The website has a dealer locator feature based on zip code to check for local dealers in your area. | | Warranty: | 10 years on material and workmanship | | Comments: | Caesarstone is made in Israel and features several color series that makeup their overall product selection. The finish is typically polished however some color series are available in a honed finish. The Marble Visions series does a good job of duplicating the look of marble with its very subtle color variations. Other series range from uniform colors with very fine particulate to bolder colors with larger particle distribution within the surface. One interesting aspect about their website is the ability to view a 3-dimensional piece of surfacing in the color and edge treatment of your choice. Depending on the graphics capability of your computer, you’re able to move and rotate the piece at different angles. The benefit is that it shows differing light reflections as you move the piece around which gives you a better view of the color selection than the basic color chips do. |
Legacy | Type of Stone: | Quartz | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 24 | | Edge profiles available: | Consult your installer or Legacy products retailer for edge profile options | | Where you can find it: | Available at The Great Indoors® home remodeling and furnishings retail stores. Also available at various kitchen design and countertop fabrication businesses. It’s best to check with your contractor and/or kitchen designer to determine if they carry or can access Legacy surfacing. | | Warranty: | 10 year warranty | | Comments: | Legacy is made by Verona Marble Company. Though it’s a quartz-based material it also has other ingredients such as granite, mirror chips and mother-of-pearl. Legacy is offered in both slabs and tiles. Slabs come in ½”, ¾”, and 1 1/8” thicknesses. Tiles are available in 3 sizes, though two require special order: - 12” x 12” – standard
- 16” x 16” – special order
- 24” x 24” – special order
All tiles are ½” thick and are made with a “cushion edge”. A cushion edge has a more rounded edge profile. This can ease the installation process but can be more difficult to maintain a consistent grout line width. |
Granite Transformations | Type of Stone: | Granite | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 20 | | Edge profiles available: | 1 (comes with a premanufactured square edge) | | Where you can find it: | Authorized distributors located in North America (US and Canada), the UK and Australia. | | Warranty: | 10 year warranty | | Comments: | Granite Transformations is an engineered granite material that’s actually designed to be installed over existing countertops although it can be installed in new construction as well. Since it can be installed over existing surfaces it eliminates the need for any demolition and speeds up the remodeling process. Existing countertops are measured and Granite Transformations are cut to fit and installed using special adhesives. The website shows some good before and after photos. Only one edge treatment is available because of the way the product is manufactured. Slabs are ¼” thick with a mesh backing and the edges are formed by gluing another small piece on to the edge. The joint is then polished and becomes indistinguishable from the rest of the material, much like solid surface countertops are made. Although it’s made up primarily of granite, it doesn’t need to be sealed because it’s been combined and processed with polymers. |
Concetto | Type of Stone: | Semi-precious stone | | Colors/Patterns Available: | Limitless – every slab is unique | | Edge profiles available: | Consult your installer for edge profile options | | Where you can find it: | Authorized dealers. The website has a dealer locator feature based on zip code to check for local dealers in your area. | | Comments: | Concetto is the truly unique engineered stone among the bunch. It’s made by the same manufacturer as Caesarstone but the difference is that it’s not a crushed stone that’s pressed and combined with a resin like conventional engineered stones. Rather, it’s larger pieces of semi-precious stones laid into a mold filled with resin. The end result is a polished slab of stones embedded in a resin matrix. The choice of whether you want this look on all your kitchen countertops is up to you. However it may be a nice accent in a particular area or as a table-top to a piece of furniture. Pricing is obviously at the high end at roughly $400 per square foot. |
MargheStone | Type of Stone: | Marble | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 11 | | Edge profiles available: | Consult your installer for edge profile options | | Where you can find it: | Check with your contractor and/or kitchen designer to determine if they carry or can access Marghestone surfacing. | | Warranty: | 2 year limited warranty | | Comments: | This material is not recommended for kitchen countertops and is more suited for bathroom countertops. It’s made primarily of marble but may contain some small concentrations of glass and/or mother of pearl chips. It’s available in both slabs and tiles. The standard finish is polished however honed and sandblasted finishes are available. |
AggloSimplex | Type of Stone: | Marble | | Colors/Patterns Available: | 15 | | Edge profiles available: | Consult your installer for edge profile options | | Where you can find it: | Check with your contractor and/or kitchen designer to determine if they carry or can access AggloSimplex surfacing. | | Warranty: | 2 year limited warranty | | Comments: | This material is not recommended for kitchen countertops and is more suited for bathroom countertops. Available in both slabs and tiles. The standard finish is polished however honed and sandblasted finishes are available. |
Choosing an engineered stone countertop for your kitchen surface is a solid decision due to its great properties and attractiveness. With a large number of choices in manufacturers, colors and patterns, you're sure to find a countertop that suits your style.
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