When building a new home or renovating existing spaces such as your kitchen or bath it’s important to consider fixtures, appliances and surfaces that combine both beauty and functionality, ensuring they will maintain their quality over time. Quartz surfacing is an ideal choice for lasting beauty in countertops, backsplashes, vanities, shower cladding, and more.

In 2018, homeowners are turning their attention to quartz for their surfacing needs, quickly overtaking marble and granite for popularity – and for good reason.

High-quality quartz surfacing is made of pure, natural quartz, registering as a 7 on the Mohs scale. In comparison, marble registers at 3, granite ranges from 5 to 7, and diamond comes in at 10. In other words, due to the innate hardness of quartz, it is extremely durable and more scratch resistant than marble and granite, eliminating the worry of wear over time.

Through the recombining and compaction process, quartz slabs become nonporous, strong and dense. This allows for easy care and maintenance: quartz surfaces never need sealing or reconditioning and cleanup is as simple as warm water and a soft cotton cloth.

Additionally, the nonporous nature of the finished surface ensures staining liquids and harmful bacteria are never absorbed. Today, kitchens have become more than just a space for cooking. More and more families use their kitchen as a gathering place and it’s important for this high-traffic area to be clean and safe for kids and family members. With porous stones such as granite, marble or soapstone, there is a risk of bacterial growth and molding. The same is true for other high traffic areas susceptible to bacteria such as the bathroom.

Homeowners may argue the most important aspect to choosing a countertop for their home is the beauty of the design. Like other finish products, there is no shortage of pattern variance, design and color gradation to choose from when it comes to quartz countertops. Just like the homeowner, each piece is unique and beautiful.

Cambria, the leading American-made natural stone producer, offers over 145 designs to choose from, spanning nine collections inspired by the rich and timeless beauty of the legendary land of Wales and Celtic region. Cambria has the most diverse palette of sophisticated designs, colors, and tones – from traditional to contemporary, bold to eclectic as well as two surface finish options – High-Gloss and Cambria Matte™, which offers a first-of-its-kind low-sheen finish with high-performance benefits, creating even more options for a marble aesthetic without the maintenance or worry. For more information on Cambria and retailer information, visit CambriaUSA.com.