What are the Pros and Cons of Quartz and Cultured Marble Countertops?

MATERIAL
Cultured marble is a blend of stone particles and resins that is combined with pigments to produce a wide range of colors and natural looking patterns – cultured marble, cultured granite, and cultured onyx among them. It is a porous material and is used architecturally for countertops.

Quartz is a newer player to the materials game. It is an engineered material that consists of about 95% quartz mineral with the resin being made up of polymer resins and pigments. The mineral quartz is the second most common mineral on Earth and has a Moh’s scale hardness of 7, meaning it can withstand pretty much anything thrown at it. Because it is a man-made material, it can come in a nearly unlimited variety of colors and textures.

DURABILITY
Cultured marble is known for its toughness, but it can stain much easier than quartz. Its porous nature means it can absorb liquids fairly quickly, which means there’s no scrubbing a stain. Marble also reacts with acidic liquids. So one spill of nail polish remover can actually dissolve and pit the affected portion of your countertop.

Quartz can be described as the denim of countertops. It easily withstands everyday use with very little maintenance. Quartz countertops are manufactured with resins, which provide a non-porous surface that’s essentially stain proof. What’s more, they’re heat and scratch resistant, so you can breathe easy if your curling iron tips over. You just don’t want to leave it there too long, as incredibly high heat and can damage the surface.

MAINTENANCE
Historically, cultured marble requires more maintenance. It stains easily. Anything spilled onto the surface must be wiped up as soon as possible. Acidic liquids such as citrus juices and wine have to be cleaned immediately to prevent staining and permanent damage because of the chemical makeup and porous nature of cultured marble.

On the other hand, Quartz requires little maintenance. It’s non-porous, so you don’t need to seal it. Ever. Also you don’t need special cleaners. As with nearly any material, harsh cleaning chemicals such as bleach or abrasives will damage the surface. You won’t need them anyway, because simple soap and water typically does the trick.

VANITY COUNTERTOPS: DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Cultured Marble comes in many colors, but it primarily seen in white with veins of varying colors. Cultured Marble is a blanket term for manufactured marble, granite, and onyx. It gives a sophisticated, classic look to a room.

Quartz is an engineered material, designed to be consistent in color, pattern, and texture from one batch to the next. Dozens of colors and patterns are available to match almost any design imaginable. Colors range from whites and greys to natural stone looks and everything in between. Stuck on the look of marble? Quartz designs can mimic it.

Overall, quartz is a more durable and flexible material that requires less maintenance than marble. It is easier to maintain and can be found in more colors and patterns to match the look you desire. But when it comes to choosing a countertop, our best advice for longevity is to really take your lifestyle into consideration and what it will take to keep your countertop looking as beautiful as you.