Jazz Up the Kitchen and Bath with Quartz

Posted on November 10, 2008 by Joyce Benson   Add a Comment |
Tag(s): Kitchens And Baths

For three years in a row, quartz has been rated as the countertop of choice by Consumer Reports. It’s no wonder due to its depth of beauty, stain- and scratch-resistance, low maintenance, longevity, and durability. There’s no need to seal quartz countertops, as is necessary with granite, and quartz does not emit radon as some granite does. Quartz countertops are typically comprised of over 90% ground quartz, polymer resins, and pigments. All of the following quartz brands are third-party certified by GreenGuard for indoor air quality which means these products have low chemical and particle emissions.

One company, Cambria, is the only producer of natural quartz surfaces in the United States. It uses quartz primarily mined in the U.S., and manufactures its product in Wisconsin, which helps to minimize transportation impacts. The company also follows many environmental protocols for its production processes and daily business practices. A lifetime limited warranty comes with its products. Its quartz surfaces come in a wide variety of colors and are available through independent kitchen and bath dealers and showrooms.

SileStone Quartz by Cosentino offers many colors composed of a percentage of post-consumer recycled glass (‘Dali’ is composed of more than 70% recycled glass and the ‘Stellar Series’, ‘Coffee Brown’ and ‘Absolute Green’ have 35% recycled content); To stop the growth of bacteria on Silestone countertops, Microban has been built in. I am not a big fan of this added antibacterial protection, but some consumers with a germ phobia might like the idea. The company portrays its environmental commitment during its mining and manufacturing processes. A 10 year limited warranty is offered. Silestone is produced in California and is available at kitchen and bath showrooms, as well as the Home Depot.

DuPont’s Zodiaq® Terra Collection is another option with 4 colors created from pre-consumer (post-consumer is more green) recycled glass.  Its quartz countertops come with a 10 year limited warranty and are available at big box retailers and kitchen & bath dealers.

CaesarStone, which is produced in Isreal (perhaps not the most eco-friendly option due to transportation impacts), integrates quartz mined from quarries around the world, and also utilizes a sand waste by-product of the glass industry. It is available in numerous colors which includes a Recycled Collection. The company follows several environmental standards in its production processes and offers a limited lifetime warranty. You can find CaesarStone at authorized kitchen and bath dealers.

To ensure the green quality of your quartz countertop, specify that only low- or no-VOC glues and adhesives are used during installation. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are gases that adversely affect indoor air quality and may be hazardous to your health.

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