You’ve heard all the gushing and raving about quartz countertops and they are amazing in their own league. Thy are great, but they are not perfect. Here are some of the alarming disadvantages of quartz countertops. If you need a durable material, it may be better to choose granite countertops.

They Are Light-Colored

This can or cannot be a disadvantage, because you can just get another color if that is what you want, but since signature quartz is a light-colored material, it is usually the one that is really popular and in demand.

It has a resemblance to marble and it is a treat for the eyes. But, with light colors, it is also a given fact that it can get dirty really easily and maintaining light colors is a very hard thing to do, as compared to darker colors. Stains will show much more prominently on the surface, darker debris and dust will be extra visible, and you can tell whether the countertop is clean or not, depending on the pile of dust on it.

So, if you can’t handle light colors of quartz because of maintenance, then you might want to go for something else. Your marble resemblance dreams can wait.

They Can Get Ruined By Heat

Since the main constituent of quartz is resin, and resin is not a heat-proof material on a good day, you will be disappointed to know that the amazing, strong, and durable quartz is a house of cards against heat.

When you put hot things on quartz, sure, it won’t blister the surface right away, but with time and making it a habit to deal with hot pots and pans on the surface of quartz, quartz can turn from a blemish free light-colored countertop to a blistered and dark disaster, and that is not what you want.

This is why you need to be careful when you’re going for quartz and for the kitchen, because it is a place where you deal with high temperatures and if a countertop material can’t take the heat, then you’re better off choosing something else other than quartz and having to treat it with kid’s gloves.

Cannot Endure Harsh Chemicals

This might come as a surprise, but if you’re choosing quartz for your kitchen countertops, then you better keep them away from harsh chemicals that have ammonia and acid in them. Even though quartz is quite resistant to all kinds of things, harsh chemicals have an upper hand when it comes to ruining the countertops.

This is why if you want to clean the countertops, you have to choose solutions that are very gentle and don’t lead to stains or holes in the countertops. So, if you think that quartz can take anything that you throw at it, then you’re mistaken. Over time, quartz is going to get ruined and there won’t be anything you can do to fix that.

Not Great For Outdoors

Quartz is a great material and all that, but it is not naturally UV resistant, which in turn makes it imperfect for outdoors or even kitchens with a lot of natural light coming in through the windows. Quartz has resin in it and it can darken over time but the process can be accelerated when you add sunlight into the equation.

The resin in quartz gets degraded over time when it is under exposure to sunlight and that can turn the milky white material into a dark and stained mess. So, if you had plans of choosing quartz countertops for your outdoor kitchen or entertainment area, then you might have to go for something else, because quartz literally can’t stand the heat and it will be ruined for good.

You can apply a UV protectant sealant on top of quartz countertops, but that is just one more extra thing that you have to add to the maintenance list. For outdoors, install a granite surface. Get in touch with a granite contractor Potomac for installation.

Difficult To Install

Even though quartz is a man-made material, it is still really heavy and you need a professional for quartz countertop installation. Speaking of being heavy, you also want to ensure that the countertops have a solid foundation at the bottom to ensure that the quartz slabs can sit perfectly on top without weighing anything down. This is really impossible.

Also, when it comes to the fabrication of quartz, you will have a hard time doing it, especially if you have a really complex countertop design. So, sometimes, the greatest things can have a bit of roadblocks and when you take a step back, things fall into perspective and you have to come to terms that said thing is not worth the trouble. That is the same thing that goes for quartz countertops too.

They Are Expensive

If you thought that only natural stones are expensive, then you haven’t checked the price tag of quartz. Being a man-made material, and primarily made out of resin, you would think that quartz would be reasonable in price, but it is actually up there with other materials that are exotic and popular among people.

So, when you’re thinking about quartz as a potential countertop material, you need to have the budget for it, otherwise, it will be a burden. However, if you need a budget-friendly man-made countertop, you can consider solid surface countertops.

Seams Are A Problem

Quartz is not a singular slab that can be installed in one go. You need to install it like a puzzle. The pieces of quartz are fixed on the foundation, but that also means that the pieces aren’t regular.

There will be seams in the finished installation, even though you try a lot to ensure that the pattern is regular and uniform. This is why you really need to think about whether quartz is worth it or not, because too many seams can be a problem and you don’t want that.

Discoloration Is An Issue

By now, you know that the main thing in quartz is resin and the material that is abundantly present in a countertop material will determine the primary properties too. So, resin has a tendency to discolor and turn yellowish after some time, even if you clean regularly and do not leave a single stain on it.

This is just the glory of resin and there is not much you can do, which is why quartz countertops will also discolor over time, and they will just not look their usual stark self. So, if that is something that bothers you, then maybe don’t go for quartz as your kitchen countertop material.

Resin Is Environmentally Dangerous

Last but not least, resin is a petroleum component. It is made out of hydrocarbons and it is not the best for the environment. So, quartz is also not environmentally sustainable. Not all man-made materials are sustainable.

They’re made under high temperature and pressure, so you can estimate how much toxic waste is produced in the making of one quartz slab. Also, resin can become toxic too, especially if the countertops are very old and it’s just scary to think how things can turn.

Conclusion

Quartz countertops do have their own demerits and this can really put you in a difficult position to figure out whether you want to buy them or not. If you want a popular countertop option that is also strong and durable, take a look at granite by consulting a granite countertop installer Rockville.