CAN YOU REALLY SET YOUR COUNTER TOP ON FIRE WITH A BLOW DRYER?
Written by Katrina Smith
Recently I was in a design center for a new community listening to the sales rep tell my customers/clients that they really didn’t want a quartz countertop because a blow dryer could melt the surface and start a fire. This rep had my buyers convinced that quartz was evil and not to be trusted, and they should just choose one of the available granites from their very small and uninspiring offerings. I thought, there is a blog here. Not only was the sales rep wrong about the product, but my buyer had no idea about the differences. My mission today is to give you some good understanding on the different types of products available for countertops and what their features and benefits include.
Here are the benefits as they break down from Excellent, Good, or Fair according to the product review provided by Pompeii Quartz.
MOBILE USERS: Turn Your phone sideways to view this correctly
Quartz Granite Laminate Solid Surface
· Scratch Resistance E E G F
· Stain Resistance E G G E
· Chip and Crack Resistance E G G E
· Heat and Burn Resistance G G G G
· Resistance to household chemicals, E G G E
acids and solvents
· Low maintenance E G G F
· Mold and mildew resistance E G G G
While we know granite and quartz rule the visual desires at the moment, and offer a great resale value when chosen correctly, let’s not count laminate out. Laminate options are far more appealing today then of yesteryear. It is still an attractive option with many that mimic closely the look of granites and graphic designs that can be used to restore mid century modern kitchens - which is all the rage. When installed flat out with a backsplash, one can hardly notice it is laminate. Laminate can be a great option when cost effectiveness is needed. I think it deserves another look. We even have a few new build communities that offer it.
My secret: keep your upgrades in line with your community. Be careful not over improve, because the more expensive options might not yield the return you were looking for. On a personal note, I like laminate as a décor option.