Undermount sink in Caesarstone counter with brushed bronze faucetry
FROM A TO ZODIAC
Engineered stone countertops aren't new anymore; the product has been available for some years now. Nonetheless, many homeowners contemplating a room remodel that involves countertop replacement are confused about the material. What is it made of exactly? How does it differ from marble or granite? What are the choices?
Recipe For Engineered Stone
All engineered stone, regardless of its name and manufacturing source, is made of 93% quartz and 7% resin or polymer. The polymer adheres to the quartz and makes it a solid piece.
What to Choose?
Engineered stone carries the names Zodiac, Silestone, and Caesarstone. Each manufacturer stylizes their product a little differently. Zodiac, from DuPont, comes in earthy tones and can sport reflective particles to give a glittery effect. Caesarstone, pictured above, also comes mostly in earthy tones and offers a variety of textures: silk, blend, sparkle, speckle, dapple and so on. Silestone comes in a rainbow array of colors, and lately they have been adding metallic accents. They are all very durable and hard and don't need sealants. None of them has seams or lines; they are installed as one continuous slab custom cut to fit the counter and sink.
Greener than Granite?
Because quartz is not mined in deep quarries the way marble and granite are, using it has less negative impact upon the environment. One caveat though: all slab counter material must be glued to the subcounters using a formaldehyde-based adhesive, which outgasses unhealthful fumes for several years thereafter.
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