Alternatives To Marble | Victoria Stone Gallery – Infographic
As the consumer becomes more educated, many are aware of the stresses of having marble in the home can bring. When caution is exercised, sealers are applied and care is taken, marble can last many lifetimes. In today’s busy world, that isn’t always achievable.
Quartz Slabs Just Got Bigger | Trendstone XL – Victoria Stone Gallery
It is rare to get any sort of slab past the 3-metre long mark. Long slabs are desirable in many cases, as smaller slabs have limits on what you can do. With Trendstone XL, there is less wastage, less labour required and turn around time faster.
The Kitchen Starts With the Countertop – Victoria Stone Gallery
In a well-designed kitchen, prep space is key. The countertop often stands out simply because it covers so much space, especially as the kitchen becomes a primary living area, and islands become the norm. “Designers are working with homeowners to make sure the workspace is visually appealing.
Here’s a short article we found that is worth sharing to inform anyone new to home, kitchen and bathroom design the difference between quartz and quartzite. Their names may sound similar, but as stones they are totally different.
Here at Trendstone we distribute to stone fabricators nationwide and stock New Zealand’s largest range of natural and engineered stones – including quartz and quartzite. Our full range of granite, marble, quartz and quartzite is available for viewing on our website. We work with a range of fabricators across New Zealand, if you’d like more information on any of the stones or to be matched with a fabricator contact us here.
Enjoy!
If you’re researching countertops for an upcoming kitchen remodel, quartz probably keeps popping up on sites like Pinterest and Houzz, or in the pages of your favorite design magazine. It’s become a design favorite in recent years, and it’s also the top-rated material in our countertop Ratings, given its ability to shrug off stains. You might also be seeing more references to quartzite, which sounds a lot like quartz and can look similar. But these are actually two separate materials with some very key distinctions.
Quartz used to be known as engineered stone, because it’s just that—a synthetic material that’s made in a factory out of stone chips, resins, and pigments. Quartzite, by comparison, is a metamorphic rock that originated as sandstone. It’s extracted from a quarry and formed into finished slabs that become kitchen countertops, as well as tiles for floors, walls, and backsplashes.
(Calacatta Quartzite)
A lot of quartzite has swirling white and gray coloring, two hues that have become extremely popular in kitchens over the last few years (in fact, they were the two color schemes used most in the kitchen by professional designers, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association). That’s driving more interest to the material.
We haven’t tested it in our labs, but quartzite is often compared to granite in terms of hardness and durability. It combines that toughness with the variegated patterning of marble, which makes for an alluring combination. The one caveat is that, like all natural stones, quartzite must be sealed periodically to protect it against wine, citrus, coffee, and other would-be stains.
(Platinum White, Trendstone Quartz)
Because it’s non-porous, quartz does’t have to be sealed, making it much easier to maintain. The tradeoff is that, next to natural stone, with its unique spread of color and sparkle, quartz’s more uniform patterns can be a give away. But manufacturers are getting better at mimicking Mother Nature. We were particularly impressed by the exclusive patterns unveiled by Cambria at the 2016 Design & Construction Week, including the Brittanicca, which could be mistaken for certain cuts of quartzite.
As for price, quartz and quartzite are in the same higher-end category of countertop materials. But as with most natural stones, you might be able to find a scrap of quartzite at the local stone yard for a reduced price. Given the material’s growing popularity, that would be a pretty lucky find.
Trendstone Quartz is an engineered stone manufactured from up to 93% quartz. The balance is made from polymer resins and pigments.
Properties
Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on earth, so by nature, Trendstone Quartz is extremely robust and durable. It is an excellent long-term investment for business and home owners.
It is also naturally non-porous due to it’s mineral make up. It will not soak up spills or stain easily, making it a sensible and safe choice for any surface in the home. The product is extremely low- maintenance, while still looking top notch.
Trendstone Quartz does not wear easily, ensuring long-term satisfaction. It makes a beautiful and long lasting countertop, splash back or vanity top that will not fade with time.
TrendStone Quartz slabs have the industry standard limited 10-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Variety
Trendstone Quartz comes in a wide range of exciting and stylish colours. We have many neutral colours like whites, blacks and greys that are super popular with our clients in New Zealand. Each one in unique in its own way, and has different patterns and embellishments. Sometimes these differences can be very subtle between stones, so we always advise to view samples before making an order. We also have bright coloured slabs available that are really popular in other parts of the world. This ensures there is something for every customer, for every business and for every home.
Size
Trendstone Quartz slabs come in extra large sized slabs 3200 x 1600mm. This is unique to the industry, other comparable quartz products are available in much smaller slabs, meaning that more of it is needed to get the design the customer wants. Due to the extra large size of the slabs, unsightly joins in countertops are minimised and less cutting is required.
Trendstone Quartz is safer and easier to work with and ultimately more affordable for the customer.
