There is a wide range of materials and stones that you can choose from for kitchen countertops. Here is a comparison between quartz and Silestone countertops; two of the most demanding materials in kitchen countertop manufacturing and designing.

Silestone Countertops

It Is Actually Man-Made Quartz

You can say that Silestone and quartz are the same things, but technically they are not. Silestone is a man-made version of quartz. Silestone is more like the brand leader of man-made quartz. It is made by using crushed quartz and then baking it with resin under high temperatures. This is what makes this an extremely shiny and lustrous countertop. It is manufactured in big factories, rather than being mined from the ground, like quartz. It is a great material if you are looking for something which is like quartz but is way more durable.

It Doesn’t Need Sealing

A great thing about Silestone is that it doesn’t need to be sealed like other natural stones. Natural stones have a huge tendency to be porous and they need to be sealed with a varnish so that water doesn’t seep through the pores and into the foundation of the stone. You can rest assured that sealing will not be needed in Silestone as it is already a very compacted and dense material and it doesn’t need to be made waterproof through the application of a sealant.

It Can Be Naturally Disinfected

The resin which is baked and set on top of the surface of Silestone has more benefits than just making the slab look shiny and lustrous. It is also a natural disinfectant and it eliminates all types of bacteria resting on the surface of Silestone. This is great because you don’t have to worry about wiping off the countertops with alcohol or a cleaner every time you feel like you need to disinfect the countertop. It will do that by itself. This will save you a lot of time and effort and you can have peace of mind about your countertops not being a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

Quartz Countertops

This Is A Natural Stone

Quartz is a stone that is mined from underneath the surface of the Earth. It is a natural material that is very famous for countertops and it is also a very promising choice for your kitchen and even the bathrooms too. This stone is made by rocks melting on the Earth due to the high temperatures and pressure and the stone is compacted in the form of huge masses which are mined and taken out and cut into slabs and thick sections. This material is available in a lot of colors and a variety of patterns, so there is something for everyone.

It Is Stain Resistant

One of the major advantages of quartz, over other natural stones, is that it is highly stain resistant. Although it is porous and needs to be sealed in order to be waterproof, it still prevents stains from getting permanent and they can be cleaned very easily with water and detergent solution, and a washcloth. The appropriate thing to do whenever you do see a spill or stain is to clean it immediately so that it doesn’t dry up and become permanent and hard to remove.

Not A Good Material For Combating Heat

Quartz is a better option when compared to other natural stones because it requires less maintenance than granite and it is more durable than marble, but the major drawback of quartz is that it is not a good material for resisting heat. It will stain and burn if you put hot pots and pans directly on the surface of the countertop. This doesn’t look good at all and the black stains are a nightmare to remove. It’s better to have a barrier between the hot pot and the countertop and you can use a cutting board or pan trivet.

Conclusion

There you have it! Now that you know all about Silestone and quartz and how they perform in the kitchen, you can decide which material you want to go for. Other than Silestone, you may find different quartz kitchen countertops NC brands that provide very similar counters to Silestone. This is helpful if you want to choose a brand that costs less.