White quartz countertops, clean and eye-catching, fit comfortably with a variety of other colors and designs in kitchens and bathrooms. A popular choice when considered against other countertop materials like marble, laminate, granite, or solid surface, white quartz countertops are durable, low-maintenance, and waterproof.
If you're considering white quartz countertops, learn more about their cost, pros and cons, durability, and maintenance requirements.
What Are Quartz Countertops?
Quartz countertops are synthetic or engineered materials using minerals, including quartz, as the main ingredient. The highly concentrated slabs are strong and dense, much like natural stone.
Quartz countertops are made of a mixture of about 90-percent crushed granite, marble, quartz, and recycled industrial waste. The remaining 10-percent of quartz countertops is composed of resin binders.
Pros and Cons of White Quartz Countertops
Pros
- Hard: White quartz countertops are very hard due to the presence of quartz in the material. Quartz is harder than glass and many metals.
- Easy to clean: White quartz countertops are easier to clean than porous white countertops like marble.
- Scratch-resistant: White quartz countertops are extremely scratch-resistant—hard enough to dull knives.
- Waterproof: White quartz countertops are waterproof, unlike competing materials like white marble. This also makes white quartz highly stain-resistant.
- Consistency: Flaws found in natural stone are engineered out of white quartz countertops by the manufacturing process.
- Stone-like: White quartz countertops look and feel much like natural stone yet with a resin content that makes them easier to maintain than real stone.
- Flexible styles: White quartz countertops fit comfortably in contemporary settings as well as in classic spaces where the look of marble is a better fit.
Cons
- Not heat-resistant: Hot pans will scorch white quartz countertops, producing yellow or brown marks. Scorch marks require professional care to fix.
- Show dirt easily: White quartz countertops show dirt and scuff marks from appliances and tools more easily than darker-colored countertop materials.
- Difficult to repair: Quartz countertops require acrylic adhesives and epoxies for repair, and this is best done by professionals. White quartz countertops, in particular, are difficult to repair because repairs are more obvious.
- Expensive: Quartz countertops range from $53 to $149 per square foot. White quartz countertop costs an average of $65 per square foot.
- Seams: Countertop size is not limited to the sizes of the quartz countertop slabs, but adjacent slabs will have seams. Seams can sometimes be conspicuous, if not done properly.
- Manufactured: Though white quartz countertops may look like natural white marble taken from a quarry, they are not. Quartz countertops are a composite product manufactured in a factory.
- Professional installation required: Do-it-yourself installation of white quartz countertops is generally not recommended. A high level of skill and specialized tools are required to fabricate and install quartz countertops.
Durability
White quartz countertops are highly durable because they are waterproof, resist cracking, and are very hard.
Quartz, the majority mineral in most quartz countertops, is rated high on the Mohs Hardness Scale. By way of comparison, talc and gypsum, ranked around 1 or 2, can be scratched with a fingernail. A diamond ranks at 10. Quartz is 7 on the Mohs Scale, and most white quartz countertops have about 25-percent quartz.
Though white quartz countertops look and feel like marble or stone, they don't always behave like stone. The 90-percent mineral content can stand up to heat, but the remaining 10-percent resins cannot.
Hot and even moderately hot pans will scorch the material, turning it brown or yellow. Known as a resin burn, this discoloration requires the attention of a countertop technician. Scorch marks cannot always be removed, even by the pros.
Tip
White quartz countertop material's heat limit is 150°F. Considering that boiling water is 212°F, this means that most hot pans should stay off of the white quartz or should be placed on trivets.
Styles
Since they are engineered products, quartz countertops come in a broad range of colors, from black and gray to lighter, brighter colors, and, of course, white.
But white quartz countertops aren't only plain white. With a chameleon-like ability to look either classic or modern, white quartz countertops fit in a wide variety of kitchens and baths.
Solid White Quartz Countertops
Bright, solid white quartz counters have a smooth appearance that's minimal and contemporary. With no veins or additional imbued colors, solid white quartz counters will not clash with other colors in the room.
White Marbled Quartz Countertops
Veining helps marbled white quartz countertops adopt the look of real Calacatta marble. Marbled white quartz comes in a variety of veining colors, with shades of gray being the most common.
Speckled White Quartz Countertops
Like granite, speckled white quartz countertops are dotted with tiny dots of gray, blue, brown, or black. Some speckled quartz counters mix in gold or silver sparkles for an effect that catches the light.
Cost of White Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops cost from $53 to $149 per square foot. The average cost of an installed quartz countertop is about $100 per square foot. The average cost of a quartz countertop in a kitchen is just above $4,000, for 40 square feet of quartz countertop.
As premium selections, white quartz countertops can be expected to cost more than the average quartz countertop.
Maintenance
White quartz countertops are nearly pore-free and absorb almost no liquids. This means that this material does not stain in the same way as marble or granite: by the pores filling in with the staining material.
Instead, quartz stains when aggressive liquids like red wine, tomato sauce, or coffee react with the resin content. The resins will then stain. Stains on white quartz countertops can be avoided by using protective surfaces like cutting boards and by cleaning up spills immediately.
How to Clean and Care for White Quartz Countertops
Cleaning and caring for quartz countertops is easy for both daily and deep cleanings.
- Daily cleaning: Clean quartz countertops with a damp, warm rag or microfiber towel and mild soap. The soap pH needs to be between 5 and 8 to avoid damage. Do not use abrasives to clean quartz counters. Even cleaning with baking soda should be avoided.
- Deep cleaning: For less frequent deep cleaning, use a soft-bristled nylon brush, along with a quartz/stone countertop cleaner.
FAQ
Is white quartz a durable countertop?
White quartz is a durable countertop. White quartz countertops are highly stain-resistant but not stainproof. Aggressive stains from red wine or tomato sauce will react with the resins if not mopped up quickly. The material is very hard, so it does not easily scratch. But white quartz countertops will scorch with even moderate heat, so trivets and hot pads are required.
Is white quartz more expensive than granite?
Quartz countertops are generally less expensive than slab granite countertops. But factors—one of which is style selection—can make quartz more expensive than granite. Choosing one of the white styles of quartz countertops can raise its cost.
Can white quartz countertops turn yellow?
There are a few reasons for yellowing or yellow-colored stains on white quartz countertops. Exposure to UV light can cause yellowing over time, though the risk is higher with outdoor countertops. If white quartz countertops are exposed to full sunlight all day, using shade protection on windows can reduce this during peak times when UV light is strongest. For outdoor white quartz countertops, a shade or awning can provide protection. There are also quartz countertops rated for outdoor use that have extra protection from the elements, including UV exposure. Other substances that can cause yellow staining on white quartz countertops include bleach and acidic and colored foods. Always clean up spills as soon as possible to prevent permanent staining. For tough stains, you can use a multi-purpose surface cleaner, glass cleaner, quartz/stone countertop cleaner, or rubbing alcohol (either diluted with water or directly to spot clean stains) on white quartz countertops.
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