FAQs

Quartz is an engineered stone surfacing product that can be used for countertops, vanities, wet bars, showers and other surfaces. It’s made from natural quartz stone crystals combined with resins and pigments to create a stone-like material that offers some practical and aesthetic benefits over natural stone, including incredible design versatility. Premium quartz has the natural look and feel of granite and marble but performs better than these materials because of its strength and durability. It’s nonporous, doesn’t need to be sealed or waxed, and won’t absorb food and liquids like other natural stones do. Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth, giving these surfaces the rare combination of rich beauty and superior strength.

We only carry quartz products that are composed of at least 93% natural quartz. Variation in the natural stone (quartz) colour, pattern, size, shape and shade is inherent and considered a desirable characteristic that adds to the character and uniqueness of each stone.

As with diamonds, the value of quartz increases with the clarity of the stone. Quartz that are cloudy or contains hints of blue, pink or yellow can cause countertops to have discolored patches or uneven colour and depth. We choose to work with the best premium quartz manufacturers using the best quality raw materials.

Under normal use, it’s unlikely that your natural stone countertop will chip. The edges are more susceptible to chipping than the top, and if struck with enough force (e.g., by a cast iron pan), a chip can result. Such incidences are not covered by any manufacturing warranty but are usually repairable, depending on the size of the chip.

Quartz is non-porous and won’t absorb liquids or other substances, which means it’s stain resistant without the need for any sealing. Its non-porosity also greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth from food being absorbed into your countertop.

Cutting on stone countertops is not recommended. Though they’re very durable and can generally take the abuse of a knife, it’s best practice to use a cutting board to avoid damaging your knives and potentially your countertops.

Premium quartz is non-porous, and the brands we carry have been internationally certified to ensure maximum safety and protection. There’s no safer countertop for food preparation.

The size and shape of your countertop will determine if a seam is required. We do our best to avoid the use of seams whenever possible, but when unavoidable, we will use coloured-matched epoxies to best blend seams.

While quartz surfaces are non-porous and never needs to be sealed, other natural stone surfaces like granite and marble do require to be sealed annually.

Natural stone & ultra-compact surfaces, generally, may resist heat transfer, however Quartz may not withstand the direct transfer of heat from pots and pans and cooking units such as electric frying pans and griddles, as well as from some crockpots, toaster ovens and heat lamps. . The use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended to protect your new countertops.

Yes. We recommend that a decision maker over the age of 18 — preferably one of the homeowners — be at home for the duration of the template process. This person is needed to answer any questions on details like seam location, corner radius, overhangs and any other special features.

The average lead time for production and installation of natural stone countertops (after template) runs about two weeks. Be advised that ordering in a non-stock colour or custom surface finish will add to the normal lead time. Please speak to your representative for lead times on specific materials.

Please have your countertops cleared prior to our installation crew’s arrival, and ensure all sinks, faucets, soap dispensers, hot/cold water dispensers, cooktops, dishwashers, refrigerators and any other appliances are out of the way. If appliances and fixtures are existing, please have them disconnected and removed to prevent any accidental damage. Because the material is awkward and heavy, we request that a clear path with lots of room be provided and that the workspace is vacant.

Yes. A decision maker over the age of 18 — preferably one of the homeowners — must be present for the duration of the install. This person is needed to answer any questions about touch-up and finish or fixtures and appliances, as well as for final inspection and sign-off. We want to make sure you’re happy with our work before we leave.