White Quartz Countertops (Pros and Cons)

The pros and cons of white quartz counters. The most asked questions about quartz and how they compare to other counter materials.

I have learned more than I have ever cared to learn about kitchen countertops this past year. Something so simple as getting new counters in our kitchen and kids’ bathroom turned into a mini nightmare.

But the mini nightmare is officially over and I now can talk first hand about our white quartz countertops. I had them installed in the kids’ bathroom (after I ripped out the quartzite we had installed in there). I needed something with minimal maintenance and something the kids can beat up…because that is what kids do.

Quartz is, at the moment, considered the king of counters for it’s maintenance free reputation. And some quartz counters can mimic the look of marble (sort of)

My parents have quartz counters in their kitchen and it’s beautiful and really does look like marble

Not all quartz counters are created equal though. Some will say the more expensive the quartz, the better the quartz. I can’t say for certainty if this is true.

The quartz we have in the kids’ bathroom is pretty middle of the road and holding up just fine.

I’ll be completely honest too, I have had mixed feelings about quartz counters through this whole process. I just couldn’t pull the trigger on them for my kitchen. If you ever want to start a debate on social media just ask for opinions on quartz counters. There are some passionate people out there.

Here’s a quick run down of my kitchen counter debacle…I had new quartzite counters installed in our kitchen and kids’ bathroom. They needed to be ripped out and replaced. You can read more about why here. I now have Dolomite counters in my kitchen and quartz in the kids’ bathroom.

If anything, I gave myself lots of new content for my blog going through all of this.

You can read my kitchen countertop comparison post for more info but for now let’s focus on these white quartz counters I have and some most asked questions…

Difference between marble and quartz.

Some people will tell you that if you want the look of marble but do not want the maintenance of marble that quartz is your way to go. I sort of agree with this statement. Marble can be high maintenance, but it is also a timeless look. I think it’s hard for any man made product to look like a natural stone. But with that being said, Quartz is a pretty option and less of a diva than marble.

Here in one of the marbles that was a top contender for our kitchen

So pretty

It really is hard to find this kind of movement with quartz

As a side note and something I noticed while getting quotes is that some marble can cost significantly less than quartz. Not all….but some. Everything comes down to the slab.

Difference between quartz and quartzite

These two countertop materials confuse alot of people and some think they are the same, which they are not. Much like marble and quartz, quartz and quartzite have the same differences. One is a natural stone and one is man made. You can see more about quartzite here.

Quartzite is less of a diva than marble. I have mixed feelings about quartzite since I had it in my home for a few months. Since quartzite is a stone and is very porous it needs to be sealed and you need to seal it properly. Quartz does not need to be sealed.

You can find a white quartz very easily. A true white quartzite is like finding a unicorn. Most light colored quartzites have a beige/gray undertone to it.

Most quartzites will likely be more expensive than quartz. Again, it just depends on the slab.

Difference between granite and quartz

Again, we are comparing a natural stone to a man made product. Nothing is wrong with either option. It just comes down to what you want. These two materials are complete opposites in looks though. You likely will not find a granite or quartz that are similar in looks.

Do white quartz countertops stain

Yep, they do! Some people will tell you they do not stain but I have seen it first hand. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about quartz out there. While quartz is extremely popular right now and is very durable it still can have some issues. Like staining.

Quartz is not porous so the stains do not sink into the counter like stains can do with marble, quartzite or granite.

I have no idea where either of these two stains came from. Both of these stains had no intention of going away with regular cleaner.

But keep reading….oh the suspense

How to get stains out of quartz

First off, do not and I repeat do not use a magic eraser to clean your quartz counters. Some people will tell you it is safe but I have heard stories of it ruining your counters. There are safer and just as effective ways to get the stains out of your quartz. You do not want to use anything abrasive on your quartz countertops

Baking soda and dish soap is a good starting point.

Sprinkle some baking soda on the stain

Squirt a tiny drop of dish soap on the baking soda or on a paper towel and get cleaning. You might have to use some elbow grease. The pink stain came out fairly easy. The other stain was a bit more stubborn. For that stain I did use my Norwex cleaning paste I had on hand.

Bar Keepers Friend is also a good option if you have any on hand.

How to clean quartz counters

The safest way to clean any counter is by just using soap and water. Nothing fancy here. There are quartz counter cleaners out there but it’s so much easier to make your own with mild dish soap and water.

Are quartz counters heat resistant

Not at all. This is why I decided against quartz counters for my kitchen. I needed something heat resistant. Some quartz counters aren’t as heat resistant as others. It just depends but you will never know how your quartz will react to heat. Below is a picture of what a burn mark on a quartz counter looks like.

Can you scratch quartz counters

Quartz counters are scratch resistant but are not scratch proof. Much like staining, it can happen. I would not use your counters as a cutting board.

How much do white quartz countertops cost

Oh the million dollar question…

And one that is hard to answer. I’ll say what you do not want to hear….it just depends. Where I live, quartz was anywhere between $60-100 sq/ft. It really depends on the slab and the distributor.

I hoped this helped and I cannot believe in the course of one year I had three different counter top materials in this house. But like I said, it gave me plenty of material to write about!

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