A big part of any kitchen renovation is choosing the counter space. It’s an important decision as it’s one of the most important elements of your kitchen and dramatically impacts your overall design choices. The counter space is worth spending a decent chunk of your budget on. To make the investment go even further, choose a beautiful but durable material, such as quartz. Quartz is an engineered stone created from ground-up particles of quartz and resins.

Here are four reasons why you should consider buying quartz countertops. 

It’s easy to clean 

Quartz countertops are very easy to clean because they’re non-porous. This means they don’t have any natural holes in the material where liquids and general gunk can get stuck. To clean your beautiful quartz, you wipe down the counter, and you’re ready to go; no specialist product is needed!

Quartz also has antimicrobial properties, which is potentially one of the best features of this material! This helps to prevent the growth of mold and prevents the spread of harmful bacteria—an essential quality for any home, especially if there are children or the elderly relatives living there. 

There’s lots of variety 

There are a lot of colors and styles to choose from, so if you’re dreaming of a marble kitchen (which can be high maintenance), then you don’t have to make any sacrifices. Talking to professionals such as those at Legacy Countertops can help you find the perfect style for your kitchen. 

Colors include beautiful whites, warm creams, and striking blacks and browns. Some quartz contains mirror ships that reflect light, giving your countertop a subtle sparkling effect. 

It’s eco-friendly

A beautiful countertop that doesn’t harm the environment is a big bonus for home improvement. But why is it eco-friendly? It’s because quartz countertops are made by using quartz that has already been mined, meaning no natural stone is quarried purely for countertops. Additionally, quartz is regularly mined in the United States, therefore reducing your carbon footprint. For example, a lot of granite is imported from China or Brazil, so the environmental cost of transporting it to the United States is considerably higher. 

Quartz is a greener choice due to its low carbon emissions during creation. Even the resins in the quartz are more natural. Often referred to as “biolenic resins,” it contains a combination of artificial and organic resins derived from non-food vegetable oils. 

It is very durable 

Durability is a significant factor to consider when choosing your countertop, and quartz is one of the best for this. It’s scratch, stain, and chip-proof (whereas granite scratches quite easily), making it an excellent choice for busy homes with a lot of traffic. Your quartz countertop will last for decades with this level of resilience. It also doesn’t need resealing, unlike granite and marble, as it’s non-porous. The benefit: it doesn’t get water stains easily.

If your quartz countertop gets accidentally scratched, it’s a quick and easy job to buff it out with polish. If you’re handy at DIY, you can also fix deeper scratches with an epoxy filler. However, prevention is better than fixing, so always use a cutting board when cooking.