What is Quartz?
- Crushed natural quartz, about 90% of the slab, is blended with resin and color pigments.
- The mix is pressed and vibrated under vacuum (the BretonStone process from Breton, Italy) to squeeze out the air.
- The slab is then heat-cured, calibrated to an even thickness and polished.
Quartz countertops are engineered stone: natural quartz bound with resin, giving a consistent, low-maintenance surface in a wide range of colors and looks. Most engineered quartz is made on equipment from Breton S.p.A. of Castello di Godego, near Treviso, Italy, which invented the BretonStone process.
Care tips
- Wipe down with mild soap and water
- No sealing needed
- Use trivets; avoid direct high heat
Pros
- Nonporous; never needs sealing
- Highly stain resistant
- Consistent color and pattern
- Wide range of colors, including marble looks
- Easy everyday cleaning
Cons
- Not suitable for exterior use: UV light will ultimately fade the color from the slab.
- Protect from direct high heat
- Visible seams where pieces join
- Engineered rather than natural stone
- Less natural variation than granite or marble
What do the experts say?
- NKBA: Natural quartz products are composed of more than 90 percent quartz mixed with a resin; they are non-porous and don’t have to be sealed. [1]
- NKBA: Quartz remains a timeless, favored option; quartz surfacing is non-porous and highly resistant to stains. [2]
- ISFA: ISFA publishes a dedicated standard (ISFA 3-01) setting minimum requirements for quartz surfacing materials. [3]
- Cosentino: Silestone quartz is indicated exclusively for interiors because its polyester resin yellows and loses color under ultraviolet light; Cambria’s warranty covers interior use only and excludes outdoor or partially exposed outdoor installations. [4][5]
- Breton: Breton’s BretonStone plants produce compound stone slabs by vacuum vibro-compression of quartz and resin. [6]
LEED & green building
- Breton states that BretonStone compound-stone products are LEED and GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD Gold certified. [6]
- Cosentino reports Silestone with HybriQ+ contains a minimum of 20% recycled materials; LEED v4.1 values recycled content in the Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (Sourcing of Raw Materials) credit. [7][8]
- Points from credits like this add up toward LEED Certified (40–49), Silver (50–59), Gold (60–79) or Platinum (80+). [9]
- NKBA – Leave No Stone Unturned for the Perfect Countertop
- NKBA – The NKBA List: 4 Top Engineered Surface Trends
- ISFA – Quartz Standards (ISFA 3-01)
- Cosentino – Silestone & Dekton FAQ
- Cambria – Transferable Full Lifetime Warranty (Residential), PDF
- Breton S.p.A. – BretonStone compound stone slab production plant
- Cosentino – Product Guide
- USGBC – LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction (EQ Low-Emitting Materials; MR Building Product Disclosure and Optimization)
- USGBC – LEED rating system (Certified 40–49, Silver 50–59, Gold 60–79, Platinum 80+ points)
Browse quartz colors
Counterra Quartz Color Finder
Filter quartz colors from MSI, Daltile, Silestone, Cambria and UMI Stone by color, veining and origin.
Archived / discontinued (may be in stock)
Silestone legacy (coming soon)
Older Silestone colors we still have in stock will be listed here.
Older Silestone colors we still have in stock will be listed here.
Call Pam to schedule a free in-home consultation 📞 617.540.0654
Call Pam to schedule a free in-home consultation 📞 617.540.0654