Quartz countertops are durable and can be resistant to everyday wear, chips, and scratches in busy family kitchens. You don’t have to use harsh chemicals to clean these countertops, as mild soap and water keep the surface clean. In kitchens and bathrooms where there is a risk of stains and spills, quartz countertop installation is ideal due to its stain resistance and non-porous nature. Here are tips on how to improve quartz countertop longevity:
1. Select Custom Slabs and Edges
Work with a contractor who uses digital templating to provide precisely sized slabs that fit in your bathroom or kitchen. The contractor can shape the countertop into edges such as bullnose or beveled for safety and style in a kitchen. Precise openings are created for appliances such as faucets or sinks to avoid excessive movement that causes wear and tear. Custom sync cutouts with resin backing or support rods prevent aprons from cracking countertop corners.
Through strategic slab placement, contractors reduce stress on the slab from heavy pots by locating the sink area away from the seams. If your bathroom vanity is near the shower, the contractor can seal or polish the edges to prevent damage from humidity or water splashing. Matching quartz backsplashes with the countertops prevents spills and steam from discoloring the exposed countertop.
2. Add Substrate Levelling and Proper Support
If your cabinets have become weaker over time, installers reinforce the frames with corner braces before installing new countertops. In bathrooms, the reinforcement might include adding plywood underlayments to create a flat slab surface. Any surface unevenness can be detected and corrected using laser leveling, resulting in a perfectly aligned countertop surface. Installers may use adjustable cabinet shims to prevent one side from bearing too much weight and collapsing over time.
The use of waterproof adhesive in a damp kitchen or bathroom protects the quartz countertop’s wood joints from warping. To prevent a quartz countertop installation from tipping due to people leaning on the edges, contractors use overhang brackets. Before installing thick quartz slabs in luxury bathrooms, the contractor uses bolt supports to prevent sagging later on.
3. Protect Wet Areas
Since moisture and heat can discolor or warp countertops integrated with shelves, installers fabricate custom stone ledges and niches that fit directly into the shower surround. If there is a basement bathroom, waterproof membranes are installed before integrating the stone slabs. This protects the foundation from water seepage that may result in mildew issues.
Adding tub decks and shower bases helps prevent water from pooling on the countertop. Further protection is provided by accent quartz trims and splash guards, which safeguard the countertop from water damage. Frequent deep-cleaning maintains the effectiveness of the waterproofing, especially in high-traffic bathrooms.
Schedule Quartz Countertop Installation
Quartz countertops can resist scorch marks due to their heat resistance capabilities, allowing them to withstand frequent use. They fit perfectly in both traditional and modern kitchens, as they are available in a diverse range of patterns and colors. To maintain their functionality, protect them from weather exposure, water spills, and harsh chemicals. Schedule quartz countertop installation to upgrade your bathroom and kitchen.
