quartz countertops

[Noah930]

Thinking about re-doing our kitchen countertops. Mrs. Noah and I are looking to replace the existing granite with quartz. Any difference between the multitude of quartz manufacturers out there? Does it make a difference where the stuff is made? Italy vs Spain vs 'Murica vs China?

[Scuba Steve]

We have white quartz and it basically came down to what we thought looked best and fit the overall design of the kitchen. Pretty sure it was Zodiaq by DuPont. IMO the biggest factor is how skilled your installer is, not so much where it came from. In our case the big factor was who was able to do miter cuts since the peninsula has a waterfall edge.

[74-911]

We also used the DuPont Zodiac in our last house and really liked it. As Steve said, the installer can make or break the project.. Current house has granite and no question at all, we like Quartz much better.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

We have white quartz and it basically came down to what we thought looked best and fit the overall design of the kitchen. Pretty sure it was Zodiaq by DuPont. IMO the biggest factor is how skilled your installer is, not so much where it came from. In our case the big factor was who was able to do miter cuts since the peninsula has a waterfall edge.

This, in SoCal there are a bunch of installers to chose from... might want to PM Look 171...

I have a guy here at work who knows a stone counter top guy if you would like me to get that number.

[look 171]

Hey Noah930, Give me a call and I can send you my installer. I only use one fabricator and they did Jim Richards' place. They can get all the national brands as well as some imports. I am sure they will give you my trade pricing.

I have tested and really like Colorquartz. They are the best bang for the buck IMO.

[DanielDudley]

Around here, you go to the yard and pick out the pieces that you want. Then they get fitted.

[astrochex]

We just had quartz countertops (Statuario) installed in our kitchen and a bathroom, I don't know the manufacturer. We are pleased with the initial install. I say initial because fixtures and other work have not been completed. The countertops themselves fit well and the cutouts for fixtures and outlets were accurately cut.

[Noah930]

Thanks for the replies. I will give yu a call, look171. From the cursory visits I have made to tile/stone shops, I don't understand why Verona will charge $920 a slab, and Pental's price is $1700. Similar color, similar sized slab, same 2 cm thickness, same store.

[look 171]

My installer is not just some guy who live in the back of their truck, they have an 80,000Sq' warehouse/shop out in the City of Industry they fab these custom slabs out of. their equip are in the millions, so forget the hand polish with a portable hand held polisher (they back yard guys). They do not deal with the public, but I can get you in if you like to go check them out. They can get you any national name brand without the designer show room pricing. Their installation pricie will beat anyone up and down the block, all day long and the fab work is accurate because its all done on CNC machines.

If I were to redo my kitchen, I would buy Color Quartz(now they start completing with all the big names in Canada). This stuff is damn good, without the big name. I know the owners of Colorquartz, and have been buying granite and marble slabs from them for over 25 years. They hired the engineers from, I believe Cesearstone, to help them develop their quartz. I can tell you this, it aint 1700 bucks. I will sent you out to get samples when you are ready.

[porsche4life]

Curious to see how it turns out. Thuy has found a quartz she likes at Ikea, need to go see if I can run it down somewhere else for cheaper.

[look 171]

Sid, one way to look and see if the quality of the pieces are good is by looking at the edges of the prefab pieces. Most likely the Ikea stuff is pre-fabbed. if the edges has lots of fill or just not smooth, then look for tiny pits on the surface of the stone (if you can called them stones?) The good quartz pieces have none of those things. They range from 3-450 per piece around here for the knock off imports, the cheap stuff.

[vash]

I wish I lived near Look!


My home will come with granite. I want Quartz. But that's way down the list. I love the crisp look of Quartz.


Sent via Jedi mind trick.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by look 171

Sid, one way to look and see if the quality of the pieces are good is by looking at the edges of the prefab pieces. Most likely the Ikea stuff is pre-fabbed. if the edges has lots of fill or just not smooth, then look for tiny pits on the surface of the stone (if you can called them stones?) The good quartz pieces have none of those things. They range from 3-450 per piece around here for the knock off imports, the cheap stuff.

Thanks for the info! I like the color the quart we saw. It's easy to browse at ikea

[Noah930]

Sid: IKEA uses Caesarstone. 3 cm slab, where most other places are selling 2 cm (unless you specifically request the 3 cm stuff). But it doesn't appear as if IKEA will do fancy mitered edges like fabricators will.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Sid: IKEA uses Caesarstone. 3 cm slab, where most other places are selling 2 cm (unless you specifically request the 3 cm stuff). But it doesn't appear as if IKEA will do fancy mitered edges like fabricators will.

Sounds like you want custom work. All custom fabricated pieces should be mitered throughout the double edging unless its curved. That's what gives it that 1.5" look or feel. We will talk more

Great talking to you today, I needed a break from riding anyway. It was too hot. I was heading back on Riverside Drive going through Toluca Lake.