countertop
Engineered quartz
Quartz aggregate (90%+) bound with polymer resin. The most-specified premium kitchen countertop in the past decade. Non-porous, hard, and consistent across slabs.
Quartz solves granite's biggest issue (sealing maintenance) while delivering similar durability and a far wider design palette. The dominant choice for new construction kitchens.
Cost tier
PREMIUM
Cost / sqft
$65–$130
Install
specialty
Durability
premium
Maintenance
low
Moisture
excellent
Cost notes
Includes fabrication + edge profiles + install. Direct-from-fabricator is ~30% cheaper than retail.
Aesthetic
- Finish: polished, honed, leathered
- Color range: white, marble-look, concrete-look, black, bold colors, any from major manufacturers (Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone)
- Pattern: solid, veined marble-look, speckled
- Visual weight: medium
Climate suitability
✓ Hot-humid
✓ Hot-dry
✓ Mixed-humid
✓ Mixed-dry
✓ Cold
✓ Arctic
Alternatives
Source
Architectural Graphic Standards — Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper) — Materials chapter
Tags: quartz, engineered-stone, kitchen, low-maintenance