Ozark Living

are more visible on monotone designs than multi-colored surfaces. Natural stone surfaces can be damaged by sudden and/or rapid change of temperature, especially near the edges, as well as direct and/or sustained heating of the top. erefore, the use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended to prevent heating the product. Quartz surfaces can be used in many ways beyond countertops. ink of beautiful shower surrounds, table tops, stair treads, fi replaces, wall cladding, backsplashes, fl ooring, and other unique applications such as furniture or shelving. Quartz captures the true elegance of natural stone surfaces and is a good alternative to other surfacing options such as solid surface, granite, concrete and laminate. Many people wonder how quartz is made and if it qualifi es as a natural stone. Due to its high percentage of raw material, quartz qualifi es as a natural stone. e three primary raw ingredients in quartz surfacing are quartz, binder and pigments. e purest quartz is very bright, almost white, and pigments are added to create a wide range of colors. A slab of quartz is made up of quartz stones of varying sizes, typically obtained by crushing the bigger quartz stones. e binder and pigments make up the remaining composition for each color variety of quartz surface. All raw materials are mixed together in a process similar to preparing brownies. e most important step in this process is fi lling the mold uniformly and evenly. Each slab is made individually and retains the natural variation of stone. A er hardening, the binder melds the various quartz sizes together to form a compact and durable slab product, while pigments create a wide range of colors. e fi nal step is polishing. Machines specially designed for processing quartz surfacing use diamond abrasives and water to polish the slab. Since quartz ranks a 7 on Mohs Hardness scale, diamonds make the perfect abrasive and rank at the highest level 10 to give the stone a natural beauty that is unmatched. No wax or polishing agent is needed. Factory fi nished slabs have a durable surface that never needs polishing, sealing, or refi nishing. Fabricators and installers will notice a diff erence between quartz and other stone surfacing materials such as granite. Quartz is stronger, more resilient and is far less susceptible to damage during fabrication and installation. In fact, quartz is twice as strong as granite, and three times stronger than marble. Quartz surfacing is scratch resistant because its primary ingredient, natural quartz, is classifi ed as a 7-8 out of 10 on Mohs hardness scale. is is a scientifi c fact. It is important to note that all manufacturers do not have the same production standards. When you are making an investment there are questions that should be asked by the responsible consumer. A few key elements to look for include Full Lifetime Warranty, a minimum of 90% quartz in every slab, NSF- 51 Food Certifi cation, Greenguard certifi cation, and the location of production facility to insure high quality standards are in check. e majority of quartz surfacing is manufactured overseas, so choosing a manufacturer that sources their quartz from North America minimizes the carbon footprint and ensures a durable product with no fi ller or sand. I hope you now have a better understanding of quartz as a raw material, and how it is transformed into one of the most durable, nonporous, and maintenance free surface materials on the market. Remember to be informed when making your purchases and ask questions that can save you money in the long run and add value and beauty to your home for years to come. OZARK LIVING • OCTOBER 2018 • 31

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