Ozark Living, Northwest Arkansas’ longest running real estate publication, is distributed the first week of each month.
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GUEST COLUMNIST Living The Use of Quartz In Your Home and Its Many Benefi ts Quartz is becoming a popular choice for many homeowners due to the beauty, durability, and zero maintenance features. Quartz is one of the most common and hardest minerals found on Earth, with quartz mines found throughout the world. In fact, quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral on earth, a er feldspar. Although modern technologies have transformed the stone industry, stone remains, by its nature, diffi cult to quarry and process. erefore, there is a need for a "stone material" that is easily produced using raw materials that are both abundantly available and more readily accessible. Quartz is that material. For some manufacturers, minimizing the environmental impact of quartz mining is essential in every respect. Quartz is removed from the Earth in particles, not full slabs, so there is much less waste and disruption to the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. It is durable, nonporous, nonabsorbent, scratch resistant, stain resistant, and maintenance free. It resists stains from common food and beverage items such as wine, coff ee and tea. Chemical sealers and polishers are never applied or needed to inhibit staining. Simply wash with a so cotton cloth and warm water, or use a mild soap if desired. Quartz is a relatively new and innovative high performance option that can be used in a wide range of applications, which I will talk about. Quartz surfaces are durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges, particularly at sinks or dishwashers, may cause chips. ough a minor knife slip will the dull the knife and not harm the surface, no stone surface is scratchproof. Surface markings Quartz By Hollie Bayles Special to Ozark Living ABOUT: Hollie Bayles works for the only family-owned American made quartz producer, CAMBRIA. She recently relocated to NWA from Nashville, TN and is happy to be back in her home state of Arkansas. She serves as a representative of the quartz manufacturer Cambria to interior designers, builders, and architects in the State of Arkansas. As quartz is growing in popularity, Hollie is able to educate others in her fi eld and provide resources for their current projects, both residential and commercial. 30 • OCTOBER 2018 • OZARK LIVING