Which Quartz Countertop Is The Best? Cambria Knows Countertops!

 

When The Best In Quartz Countertop Matters Most.

Lynn, the principal designer of Kitchens And Baths By Lynn has been a long time advocate of Cambria Surfaces USA. She has been so impressed by the quality and commitment of the company that she is now one of their premier dealers. This elite quartz takes your project to the next level. It doesn't matter if you are remodeling your kitchen, refreshing your fireplace surround, stepping up your bathroom or reinventing your laundry room. There is a quartz pattern for every design style and cabinet available. First, this post will explain what sets quartz apart from other surfaces. Then, we will look at why Cambria is the quality leader for quartz surfaces in America. You will agree that quartz is the pinnacle for Wellness Design.

Before you can determine the best material for the job, let's consider what the job entails. Kitchen counters take the biggest beating perhaps the only other place that sees as much action is the laundry room. The kitchen counter takes on slicing, dicing, weight, baking heat, scratches, bangs and crafting to name a few things. In the laundry room you can add handyman work, juicing and dog grooming. Of course the bathroom counters are home of personal grooming, make-up and first aid. How do different materials measure up?

STAINLESS STEEL: While they are durable, heat resistant and stain resistant they do scratch and dent pretty easily. Notoriously stainless steel shows liquid marks, fingerprints and crumbs of all sorts. In their favor, they are non-porous which makes them NSF-51 food safe which is why they are so often used in commercial kitchens.

CONCRETE: Equally as attractive for modern and contemporary styles. They are extremely durable and heat resistant. However, they are very heavy which means some cabinetry will have to be reinforced to handle the extra weight. This can increase the cost. Concrete is also quite porous which means they have to be sealed regularly so they don't stain or harbor harmful bacteria.

BUTCHER BLOCK: The comeback-kid that cycles in popularity. They are warm, beautiful and natural in appearance. Better to use this surface in combination with quartz not necessarily for the whole kitchen. Like concrete, wood is highly porous and needs sanding along with sealing often. Because of the soft surface butcher block is also prone to scratches, chips, stains and is not heat resistant which means extremely hot items can leave burn marks. 

GRANITE: As one of the most durable natural stones out there. Even so, if a heavy object is dropped on it, especially at the corners or edges, it can chip and crack. Keep in mind that it is not known for being heat resistant and can be sensitive to rapid temperature change. While not as porous and marble or onyx, granite should be sealed once a year. If it is not sealed properly it can absorb wine, juice, tomato and other liquids that are known to stain. Again, if not sealed properly, this also means it can harbor bacteria. 

MARBLE: One of the most elegant and sophisticated natural stone surfaces available. It's classic yet looks perfectly at home in modern design. Unfortunately, for as stunning as it is, marble is not the most durable of stones. If a pot or pan slips from your grip, it is likely that it will chip or even break the countertop. It is not particularly heat resistant and like granite, must be sealed at least once a year as it is even more porous. Even with sealing, it is so porous that it is prone to stain if wine is spilled on it. Of course, this also means that it can absorb raw meat juice and other bacteria causing liquids. 

CAMBRIA QUARTZ: Not just any quartz, Cambria quartz comes in a variety of patterns and colors to choose from. It's also one of the most viable and elegant solutions on the market. When it comes to durability, it is one of the hardest minerals on earth next to diamonds. The exception being if the quartz has been cut with other materials which can often be the case with imported quartz. It is highly scratch resistant and doesn't stain due to its non-porous nature. Being non-porous means that maintenance is reduced to soap and water, its NSF51 food safe and doesn't need to be sealed or polished. This makes it a very hygenic choice for countertop. No need to worry about raw meat in the kitchen, blood in the bathroom, dog grooming in the laundry room. 

Before we deep dive into what sets Cambria apart from other quartz surface companies, let's recap the many places that we might use Cambria quartz surfaces. You will find that this stone surface can be used as a backsplash in the kitchen, accent wall in the dining room, staircases, fireplace surrounds, steam showers, flooring and wet bars to name a few.

Cambria in the kitchen is as practical as it is beautiful. More than ever people are turning to Wellness Design to create self-sufficiency in their lifestyle. It doesn't get much healthier than using Cambria quartz in particular. When you participate in using Cambria quartz you can trust that you are contributing to a company that believes in doing business and fabricating with the health of the environment in mind. As a nonporous material you are keeping short and long term exposure to bacteria to a minimum. You reduce stress in worrying less about maintenance or whether your guests will spill wine on your countertop. Solid surface backsplashes are a cinch to clean without the frustrating crevices of grout where dirt, grease and bacteria can hide. If you are a baker, you will appreciate having a cool hard surface to work on. Indoor / Outdoor living is so much easier with quartz surfaces. 

Cambria surfaces in the bathroom elevate your personal relaxation and grooming experience. Much like the kitchen, you can rest easy knowing that this nonporous material is so easy to clean and sanitize. Using a solid surface means that dead skin, bodily fluids, germs, bacteria and viruses don't have anywhere to hide creating an unhealthy environment. For those who are transforming their bathrooms into Wellness Bathrooms for now and forever, quartz becomes an important characteristic. Give your bathroom a spa like feel. This increases your sense of wellbeing and self-sufficiency. In the face of any future pandemics when getting to the spa isn't realistic, you have everything you need at home. 

Sky's the limit when it comes to the versatility of Cambria quartz. Use it for staircases to create a monolithic feel in your home. Have it customized into large profile tiles for your flooring. Imagine the statement your home can make when it greets guests at the entry. Continue the monolithic feel by using it on your fireplace surround from floor to ceiling. Don't forget the option to bookmatch! Ask your designer about using it in the laundry room. Wellness Design is incorporating juicing stations and pet washing stations into the laundry room. Both are good reasons to use this durable and hygienic surface. Of course, let's not forget that no matter which pattern you select, it is sure to be a showstopper. 

What Sets Cambria Apart: Straight From The Horse's Mouth

MADE IN THE USA: "To walk into our state-of-the-art facility in Minnesota is to witness a wonder: It is where science meets craft, where passion meets expertise, and where the commitment of American workers meets the legacy of proud family. When we say Cambria quartz surfaces are American made and family owned, this is what we mean. From slab production to countertop installation, every Cambria purchase invests over 95% of costs back into the U.S. economy."

ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE: "Our commitment to the environment informs every step of our process, from mining and transportation to tooling and recycling."

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY: "As an American-made and family-owned company, we’re committed to the well-being of our customers, our team, our community, and the environment. We take concrete steps in transportation, water usage, power generation, lighting design, tooling, and materials to help safeguard the land and its people for generations to come. 

We are privileged to work with quartz, a unique and precious resource. This drives our sustainability efforts—informing our processes, infusing our products, and shaping our environmental and community stewardship.

Beginning in our company-owned mine and continuing through processing, we employ sustainable best practices in our operations and encourage our partners to do the same."