Are you looking for an alternative to natural stone slabs because of the high maintenance of natural stone slabs? Then artificial stone will be the right choice for your countertop. Because the manufactured stone has a stone-like appearance, it is considered perfect for everyday use. We will tell you why you should choose artificial stone.
The appearance of artificial stone countertops
One of the major advantages of manufactured stone is the flexibility of the countertop design. The structure, texture, and color of a manufactured stone countertop or quartz stone countertop can be freely matched. Kitchen countertops can mimic the elegant look of natural stone or can be made with very delicate textures.
Artificial stones are available on different surfaces depending on the processing method.
- Matte
- Polishing
- Flaming
Thanks to their wide variety, man-made stone countertops are suitable for all styles of kitchens. Due to its more beautiful appearance, faux stone countertops harmonize perfectly with modern-style kitchens. Kitchen islands made of artificial stone also look particularly elegant, especially in an open living concept.
Advantages and disadvantages of artificial stone countertops
Manufactured stone countertops are considered virtually indestructible and very resilient. They have many other advantages, such as easy cleaning, less maintenance work, and hygiene. Due to the high pressure of the pressing process, countertops made of quartz material have very fine pores. So there is no way for any liquid, germs, or bacteria to penetrate the fine pore surface. So cleaning is minimal.
Since the material is food-safe, meals can be prepared directly on the plate. This is an important difference from coarse-porous natural stone. If the materials are not treated, they are very susceptible to the effects of liquids and acids. However, textured quartzite may require more maintenance than polished finishes.
Quartz is a very hard mineral, which makes artificial stone highly resistant to impact and shock. For example, if a cooking pot is dropped on a worktop, it usually does not leave a mark. And it is possible to leave a hot pan on the table for a short time. However, you should use a liner to prevent heat damage.
The artificial stone should not be exposed to strong UV radiation, as this can cause color changes. It can take on the appearance of natural stone with a mineral sparkle effect during production. However, if it is exposed to being under strong UV rays, the attractive appearance of natural stone countertops will be disappeared.
Tip: Artificial stone has a uniform texture and structure, so it does not look as natural as real stone.
Advantages of Artificial Stone | Disadvantages of Artificial Stone |
Stain resistance | Does not approach the naturalness of natural stone |
Easy to care for | Not resistant to UV rays |
Non-porous surface, hygienic | High price |
Resistant to common household acids | |
Very resistant to scratches | |
Shock resistant | |
Heat resistant | |
Large color selection | |
Different surface structures |
Manufacture of artificial stone countertops
The mineral quartz in the form of quartz crystals is mainly used in the production of kitchen countertops made of artificial stone.
Depending on the desired appearance, the following substances are added to the quartz material.
- Resin
- Sand
- Colored pigments or glitter particles
Technically speaking, quartzite is a composite stone (also known as quartz composite, quartzite, or quartz material) that consists of various resin-bonded materials. Mixed together, they are poured into a mold and then pressed under high pressure to form the kitchen countertop.