absolute Quartz Countertops

Quartz Countertops St. Louis

As third generation quartz fabricators, Absolute has the combined experience to ensure your investment in new quartz countertops is handled with the utmost care and respect.

“Quartz”, also known as engineered quartz, refers to a class of man-made stone products that are composed of 93%-94% mineral quartz with 6%-7% polymer resins and pigments. What we call Quartz is actually Bretonstone, which is the product of 50 years of design and innovation by Sir Marcello Toncelli of Italy. Sir Toncelli envisioned a time when an industrial stone product could be mass-produced in as much quantity as needed with the push of a button. Today there are over 60 manufacturing plants worldwide using his patented machine to make engineered stone under various trademarks. There are several major manufacturers of Quartz countertops that are described in greater detail below including Caesarstone, Silestone, Hanstone, MetroQuartz, MSI, and Polarstone.

We understand that replacing your countertops may only be one part of a larger remodel or you may be building new home. It can be stressful trying to juggle making these important decisions with all the other responsibilities we have. Absolute works to maximize your time by keeping a flexible schedule for you to visit us. Our showroom is open to the public Monday through Saturday, alleviating most of the scheduling conflicts associated with selecting quartz.

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Emperadoro

Piatra Grey

Misty Carrara

London Grey

Dreamy Marfil

Shitake

Frosty Carrina

Concrete

Ginger

Our Quartz Manufacturers

Absolute has working relationships with Caesarstone, Silestone, and Hanstone.

Caesarstone Countertops

Caesarstone was founded in 1987 and claims to be a pioneer in the natural quartz surfaces market. It is headquartered in California with roots in Israel, where they have their main production facility. They hold the Good Housekeeping Seal, ISO 9001 and 14001 management standards along with an NSF certifications. Caesarstone has over 40 unique colors classified in different collections. Caesarstone also offers a line of individually cut and bound semi-precious gemstone slabs called Concetto that are truly jaw-dropping. Most of their colors come in ¾” (20mm) and 1 ¼” (30mm) thickness with polished, honed, textured, and patterned finishes. Slab sizes are 120” long by 56.5” wide. They offer a limited residential lifetime warranty on most of their products, are Kosher certified, and have a line of recycled material products that are SCS certified.

Silestone Countertops

Silestone quartz surface material is manufactured by Cosentino Group, a family-owned Spanish company that “focuses on the design, production, and distribution of architectural and decorative solutions based on natural stone.” They also hold many certifications such as Greenguard, ISO14001, LGA, and NSF proving their expertise in manufacturing a leading product. Silestone offers a new technology in their slabs called Bacteriostatic Protection using embedded silver ions to kill bacteria. They have over 100 colors in different series with different finishes and textures. They also offer a 15-year warranty that is transferable. Cosentino offers a line of recycled material products under the brand name Eco . Silestone slabs come in 1cm (.4”), 2cm (¾”), and 3cm (1 ¼”) thicknesses and are available in 55” x 120” and 63” x 128”.

Hanstone Countertops

Hanstone is one product made by Hanwha L&C Corporation, which is owned by Hanwha Group, one of the largest business conglomerates (chaebol) in Korea. Hanstone quartz boasts Greenguard and NSF certifications as well as a Limited Lifetime residential warranty. Hanstone has 60 colors that are resistant to bacteria, staining and heat. Hanstone has a good price point for the budget conscious customer while still offering a large assortment of colors to choose from. Slabs are available locally in 3cm (1-¼”) thickness and are 55” x 120”. 2cm (¾”) slabs are also available.

MetroQuartz Countertops

MetroQuartz is a member of NSF and Greenguard. MetroQuartz offers an extensive variety of hues and finishes that will complete your home’s unique look. With the beauty and feel of natural stone but the performance and design of an engineered product, MetroQuartz is perfect for your kitchen and bathroom countertops. It is resistant to stains and scratches and requires virtually no maintenance! Limited lifetime warranties are available for commercial and residential clients.

MSI Q Premium Natural Quartz

Founded in 1975, MSI is the leading distributor of countertop, flooring, wall-tile, and landscaping products in the US and Canada. They seek to create elegant and affordable living and working spaces. MSI is a member of NSF, the NKBA, the Natural Stone Council (NSC), the All India Granites and Stone Association (AIGSA), and the US Green Building Council (USGBC). MSI’s Q Premium Natural Quartz is the perfect combination of affordable luxury and sensible beauty. Q is a natural quartz surface that is made by fusing quartz and resin materials. Since it is treated and pressed, the material is extremely durable and will easily maintain its beauty with over 60 scratch, heat, and stain-resistant options. Commercial warranties and residential lifetime warranties are available.

Polarstone Quartz Countertops

Polarstone focuses on combining marble patterns with superior quartz technology. Their headquarters are in California and they hold NSF certifications and the UL 2818-2013 Gold Standard for Chemical Emissions for Building Materials, Finishes and Furnishings. They use Chencor Machinery to produce top-of-the-line, natural, marble-design quartz surfacing that is heat and scratch resistant. Their quartz-mixing technology creates beautifully veined slabs with incredibly rich colors. Most of their options come in 2 cm and 3 cm thickness and they offer different finishes and textures. They offer a 15-year warranty during which Polarstone can opt to repair or replace the surface without charge if the product fails due to a manufacturing defect.

Looking for a different brand or style?

Good chance we still have you covered. We offer many additional styles, colors, and brands of quartz countertops in our St. Louis showroom. Give us a call or shoot us an email to see if we have what you are looking for!

More About Quartz

Want to know all of the ins-and-outs about quartz? Click on a topic below to find out more information.

Quartz Manufacturing Process

The mineral quartz is crystallized silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is the most abundant mineral found at Earth’s surface with properties that make it highly useful in many industries. Most quartz used in the manufacturing of countertops is imported from Brazil, although we have some of the richest mines just to our south in Arkansas in an area known as the “Quartz Belt.” The pure, colorless quartz crystals are then ground into smaller, uniform pieces of various sizes. These range in size from fine sand to coarse gravel. These particles are mixed with polymer resins, various pigments, in order to achieve the desired color you see in the finished products. The raw quartz, resin, pigment mix is poured into a mold and sent through a specialized, patented machine made by Breton Company where the mix is vibrated, compressed, and vacuum compacted before being cured in high temperature ovens. Once cured, the slabs are either polished, or honed. Some lines have specialty textured finishes that are usually applied in the mold rather than mechanically applied. The finished slabs are then sent to inspection and then out for delivery to most major cities.

We describe the Quartz slab manufacturing process in broad terms for general knowledge only. Please know that each Quartz countertop manufacturer has their own proprietary methods, processes, and materials that result in different products with their own advantages.

Quartz Characteristics

The Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness

The Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness starts with Talc (1) as the softest mineral and rises in hardness to Diamond(10) being the hardest. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was created in 1812 by a German geologist and mineralogist names Friedrich Mohs. The scale characterizes each mineral by the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. For example, a diamond with a scale of 10 can scratch a quartz countertop with a Mohs scale of 7.

The mineral quartz has a Mohs scale of mineral hardness rating of 7 and a density of 2.66g/cm3. Quartz countertops have the same Mohs rating of 7. Quartz countertops are non-porous, acid resistant and scorch resistant.

While some of the different manufacturers tout different properties, their physical properties are very similar. Each has their own color palette, so it is important to visit a fabricator that has the major companies represented in their showroom. It is important to remember that resistance is not license to abuse any countertop surface. Absolute recommends using cutting boards under knives, trivets under hot pots, and being careful with the cast iron skillet. The bottom line is Quartz surfaces can be damaged if abused, despite their excellent resistant properties.

Quartz Applications

Quartz countertops are sought by homeowners, architects, and designers mainly for their uniform appearance, low maintainability, and durability. For these reasons, quartz is suitable for all interior residential or commercial applications such as kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, fireplace surrounds, tub and shower surrounds, coffee tables, window sills, reception tops, food service counters, conference tables, etc. Although they are immune to the freeze/thaw temperature change, quartz countertops cannot be used in exterior applications as they may discolor with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. All the manufacturers’ warranties do not cover their product if installed outside.

Quartz Pricing & Selection

Q: How much is quartz per square foot?

A: It depends on the factors below, but typically between $60-$80 per square foot.

Pricing for quartz countertops are composed of labor, materials, overhead, and profit. Labor on quartz projects is the same as a comparable granite project. Quartz is fabricated and installed just like granite. As material costs rise, profit makes up a smaller percentage of the total job cost.

The price for your quartz countertop project is based on:

The size of the project in square feet
How many slabs you will need (dependent on layout) ½ slabs are available for smaller projects
The quartz color chosen
Number and type of cutout(s)
Feet of upgraded edge profile (if desired)

Q: How do I select from all the different Quartz colors?

A: With the right guidance, Absolute makes it easy.

It starts with pairing the cabinet color/finish with the countertop. This is why we emphasize bringing a cabinet drawer or door with you when you visit our showroom. Don’t have cabinets selected yet or forgot your sample? Not to worry. We design and sell cabinets so we have a full complement of cabinetry to aid us. We are all on a budget so selecting a countertop color that is aesthetically appealing and within budget is our goal when we meet with you. With our combined knowledge, we can help you select the right option for your specific project. Absolute has most of the Quartz manufacturer’s samples to view.

If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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