The History of Quartz Countertops
American homeowners are often trend-seekers, and for several decades in the mid-to-late 20th century, homeowners chose Formica and other laminates for their kitchen countertops. But during that same period of time in Europe, an Italian company was busy finding a way to take the world’s most abundant mineral and turn it into stunning countertops that would eventually provide a new look for well-crafted kitchens around the world.
Breton S.p.A. was founded by Marcello Toncelli in 1963 and the owner and his staff were intent on “developing a market which was absolutely innovative and at the time practically unexplored: developing new technologies and manufacturing industrial plants for producing compound stone,” according to a historical account of the company, which is still one of the world’s leading suppliers of engineered stone-making equipment.
Though quartz is unusable as a countertop in its raw form, Breton developed ways to reinforce the material to make it a hard, solid surface that was both durable and much less porous than in its natural form. In addition, the company’s manufacturing processes allowed for a variety of grains, colors, and sparkle, depending upon the materials added to the raw quartz. The result was stunning and produced some of the most exquisite kitchens in Europe.
Eventually, America caught on, but not for quite some time. Once the Formica trend had passed, American homeowners tended towards the use of granite and other natural stone options, finally realizing during the last 15-20 years that quartz could be fashioned to resemble not only popular granite countertops but also marble and limestone. Thanks to media like HGTV and other home improvement shows, the sale of quart countertops has risen greatly since the early years of the millennium and homeowners are now recognizing that they are a wise choice not only for durability but also cost.
As experts in kitchen remodeling and countertops, Mr. Cabinet Care is proud to join with the best quartz countertop designers and installers in the area via bestkitchencountertops.com to bring this wonderful material to more and more Southern California kitchens. As the quartz boom continues, we enjoy educating our clients on the advantages of choosing these countertops and consistently tout the excellent qualities of quartz, which include:
- A wide variety of colors
- Unlimited availability
- Exceptional durability
- A uniform, consistent appearance
- Hard and durable surface that’s resistant to chipping, denting, and stains
- Heat resistant
- Low porousness, which prevents the growth of bacteria
- Low maintenance
- Easily manufactured for unique sizes and shapes
Given all the wonderful benefits of quartz, shouldn’t you consider this abundant and attractive material for your next countertop project?