Quartz countertops

[ducatiz]

Are these countertops made of pure quartz?  There's only a handful of practical things harder than quartz, so that seems like overkill.

No, it is like 95% quartz, the rest is pigment, silica, and some other "magic" stuff to hold it all together.  That's all I could get from my digging around.

I've seen video of them making it, it is poured and sets like concrete and then the surface is polished like 6 times all the way to a super fine grit. 

[Triple J]

A nice concrete countertop is very expensive...as much as these Quartz ones everyone is talking about.

...and although I've seen some people do it themselves on the DIY channel, concrete countertops aren't a DIY project...unless you really know your shit when it comes to concrete.

[cyrus buelton]

A nice concrete countertop is very expensive...as much as these Quartz ones everyone is talking about.

...and although I've seen some people do it themselves on the DIY channel, concrete countertops aren't a DIY project...unless you really know your shit when it comes to concrete.

I agree.

My brother went through this process about 6 months ago.

There is a lot that goes into this, along with cure time and then once you get it....you have to be careful of what you set on top for several weaks and then it gets sealed again.

There is nothing cheap or easy about a concrete counter top

[Triple J]

Agreed. I actually really like concrete countertops...but if i was going to get one I'd get a pre-cast one. Pre-cast allows for superior control over construction, particularly the curing conditions of the concrete itself. It also means that the counter top is built off-site...and therefore your kitchen is only out of commission for a day to install the counter, and the mess of the concrete is kept off-site. 

One of the inspectors on my tunnel project does pre-cast concrete counter tops as a side business. His counters are friggin' amazing, and he can do pretty much anything you want regarding color, shape, finish, texture, etc. He has more practical knowledge of concrete than anyone I know. BUT...he's expensive. 

We put a Paperstone counter top in our bathroom (original, slate color). We like it a lot...and it is essentially no maintenance (needs to be rubbed down with a special oil once a year or so). Decent price, and environmentally friendly if you care about that. Our kitchen will be getting a similar counter eventually.
http://www.paperstoneproducts.com/

[Langanobob]

There is nothing cheap or easy about a concrete counter top

You seem to be suggesting that our man turn his back on a challenge??

[rgramjet]

Couldnt resist.....quartz shmortz!   

[Vindingo]

A nice concrete countertop is very expensive...as much as these Quartz ones everyone is talking about.

...and although I've seen some people do it themselves on the DIY channel, concrete countertops aren't a DIY project...unless you really know your shit when it comes to concrete.

I used to make concrete countertops and I will second the notion that it IS NOT a DIY project.  The concrete tops on those shows probably look like shit in real life.  A lot goes into making the forms and you don't use plain old bags of quickcrete.  We charged $75/sq.ft., but that was 5 years ago, and in New Orleans (everthing is cheaper in the south)

[bluemoco]

http://www.cambriausa.com/

Right up the road from me.

We did our whole kitchen with this stuff, and it's awesome.   

No maintenance, looks terrific, and you can even set hot kettles from the stove directly on the surface. 

Highly recommended...

[ducatiz]

We did our whole kitchen with this stuff, and it's awesome.   

No maintenance, looks terrific, and you can even set hot kettles from the stove directly on the surface. 

better be careful with that:

from:

5. Natural stone surfaces can be damaged by sudden and/or rapid change of temperature especially near the edges, as well as direct and/or sustained heating of the top. Cambria may not withstand the direct transfer of heat from pots and pans and other cooking units such as electric frying pans and griddles, and some crockpots or roaster ovens and heat lamps. Therefore, the use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended to prevent heating the top.

[bluemoco]

better be careful with that:

from:

Yeah, I know they say this, but I'm not too worried.  I think this is just a CYA statement on Cambria's part, and we don't do any 'sustained' heating of the surface anyway.  It's just nice to be able to set pots/kettles down on the counter without searching for a trivet first.

Our Cambria has been in our kitchen for about 5 years now, and it still looks like new.  We're really impressed with it.

[ducatiz]

Yeah, I know they say this, but I'm not too worried.  I think this is just a CYA statement on Cambria's part, and we don't do any 'sustained' heating of the surface anyway.  It's just nice to be able to set pots/kettles down on the counter without searching for a trivet first.

Our Cambria has been in our kitchen for about 5 years now, and it still looks like new.  We're really impressed with it.

what color is it?  we got an ultra-white Silestone (called  "White Zeus") and they were VERY vocal about not putting anything hot directly on it, etc.  We've already had to have a section buffed out after the lady put a pan on it.

[bluemoco]

what color is it?  we got an ultra-white Silestone (called  "White Zeus") and they were VERY vocal about not putting anything hot directly on it, etc.  We've already had to have a section buffed out after the lady put a pan on it.

Our countertops are black.  Here's an old pic of wifey bakin' cookies for Xmas in 2005.  I think this was only a month or two after we installed the Cambria.

[Langanobob]

The concrete tops on those shows probably look like shit in real life.

Yeah, you're probably right.  I have a real love/hate relationship with concrete.  I really like the permanence of it, but screwups also become permanent.   I experimented with acid dies on some splitface CMU block and thought it came out pretty good,  but I'd want more practice before tackling a kitchen counter.   Maybe a small bathroom type vanity first.  That can easily be torn out if it doesn't work out.