Quartz
Quartz countertops: what really changes from one brand to the next.
People often come in asking for quartz by brand name. They have seen Cambria in a friend's kitchen or Silestone in a showroom. They want to know if the name matters. Some of it does. A lot of it does not. We fabricate Cambria, Silestone, Caesarstone, MSI and Vadara among others. Our quartz page lists the full set of lines.
This piece sorts the real differences from the small ones, using what each maker publishes about its own product.
What stays the same from brand to brand?
Every brand here makes the same kind of product. Ground natural quartz is mixed with resin and pigment, pressed into a slab and cured. That recipe is why quartz behaves the way it does, whatever name is printed on the label.
- No sealing. Cambria says its surface never needs sealing or reconditioning. Caesarstone says its quartz keeps its look without sealants or waxes. MSI says its Q quartz needs no sealing, re-polishing or reconditioning. Vadara says its surface never requires a sealant.
- The same daily care. Warm water, mild soap and a soft cloth work on every line. Our quartz care guide covers the rest.
- The same limits. Engineered quartz is not natural stone and does not act like it near a hot pan or in strong sun. Our piece on quartz or quartzite explains why.
So once you have settled on quartz, you are not choosing between a surface that stains and one that does not. You are choosing a look, a slab size and the maker's paperwork.
Where is each brand made?
For some buyers this is the first question. Here is what the makers say.
- Cambria. Cambria calls itself family owned and American made. Its slab plant is in Le Sueur, Minnesota.
- Silestone. Silestone is made by Cosentino at its industrial park in Almería, Spain.
- MSI. MSI's Q Studio collection comes from a plant in Latta, South Carolina. MSI also says select collections are sourced globally. That means "made in the USA" applies to Q Studio, not to every MSI color, so ask which collection a color belongs to.
- Caesarstone and Vadara. Neither names a plant on the pages we read. If country of origin matters for your project, we will confirm it for the exact color before you order.
How big is a slab, and why does that decide your seams?
Slab size is the difference people notice last and feel most. It decides whether a long island is one piece or two.
- Cambria lists a standard slab of 122 by 55 1/2 inches and a jumbo of 132 by 65 1/2 inches.
- Caesarstone's technical manual lists a standard slab of 120 by 56 1/2 inches and a jumbo of 131 1/2 by 64 1/2 inches.
- Vadara offers two oversized slab sizes, depending on the color. Its guide specification calls for slabs no smaller than 63 by 120 inches.
- Silestone and MSI. We check the slab size for the exact color you pick.
Two details matter here. Cambria says to check slab size and thickness for each design. Vadara ties size to color. A jumbo is never a given. Caesarstone and Vadara also note that the usable surface is a little smaller than the listed size on every side.
Here is how that plays out. Say your island top is 126 inches long and 60 inches deep, overhang included. It cannot come out of a 55 1/2 inch wide Cambria standard slab without a seam. It can fit on a Cambria jumbo at 132 by 65 1/2, if your color comes in jumbo. We confirm the fit against the real slab before we cut.
If you want an island with no seam, settle the size first and the color second. Fall for the color first and you may find it only comes in standard.
Which thicknesses can you get?
Most kitchens use 2cm (about 3/4 inch) or 3cm (about 1 1/4 inch). The makers list slightly different options.
- Cambria makes 1cm, 2cm and 3cm. Only 2cm and 3cm are for countertops.
- MSI lists 2cm and 3cm for Q.
- Caesarstone's manual lists 1.3cm, 2cm and 3cm.
- Vadara lists 3/4 inch and 1 1/8 inch, and calls 3/4 inch the minimum for countertops.
Not every color comes in every thickness. If you want a thick edge on a color that only comes in 2cm, a mitered edge can give the look of a thicker slab. Caesarstone describes this in its manual. We cut miters in our own shop.
Why do veined designs need more than a sample?
For solid and fine-grain colors, a sample tells you almost everything. That is what our quartz page means when it says the color you approve is the color that gets installed.
Marble-look designs with big veins are different. The makers say so themselves.
- Cambria says its design sample is a small cut from a slab and does not show every feature of the installed design.
- MSI says its samples are representations only and may not show the full slab.
- Vadara says vein strength can vary slightly from slab to slab. It also says veins on bookmatched slabs will not line up exactly, because slabs are trimmed on all four sides after pressing. Vadara asks that slabs for one job come from the same lot number.
So for a veined design, look at a full slab or a large piece before you commit. Ask that all your slabs come from one lot. Decide where the seam falls and which way the veins run before anyone cuts. On an island, that seam is in the middle of the room.
How do the makers word heat and outdoor use?
The wording differs. The advice is the same.
- Cambria says its surface may not withstand direct heat from pots and pans, and recommends a closed-weave hot pad or a solid trivet such as a breadboard.
- Caesarstone says its quartz tolerates brief exposure to moderately hot temperatures and that trivets or hot pads should always be used.
- Vadara calls its quartz heat resistant, not heat proof. It warns that sudden temperature changes can damage it, especially near the edges.
Use a trivet, whatever the brand. Outdoors is where the brands split. Vadara says its quartz is not suited to exterior spots exposed to direct sunlight. Caesarstone sells a separate Outdoor line with its own warranty. If you are planning an outdoor kitchen, tell us early.
What changes in the warranty?
Each maker publishes its own warranty. They are not written the same way. Read the one for your brand before you order. A few facts from the makers' own pages:
- Cambria calls its warranty a Full Lifetime Warranty and says it is transferable. If you sell the house, it stays with the new owners.
- Caesarstone says you must register to activate its warranty.
- MSI and Vadara each describe a limited lifetime residential warranty.
Keep your invoice. If your maker has a registration form, fill it out as soon as the tops are in.
How do you compare two samples in the showroom?
- Look at them side by side, in the same light. Bring a cabinet door or a floor tile so you see them against your own colors.
- Ask three questions about each color. Which slab sizes, which thicknesses and which collection it belongs to.
- Bring your kitchen drawing. With the island size in hand, we can tell you on the spot whether a color can cover it in one piece.
- For a veined color, see the full slab. A sample in your hand is only part of the pattern.
The yard at 97 Airport Road in Hartford is open weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 and Saturday 9 to 1. Come compare quartz samples, or tell us about the kitchen and we will get back to you within one business day.