The Advantages of Using Engineered Stone in a Modern Home

A fundamental choice you will have to make when you are researching the perfect surface for a new luxury kitchen, a family bathroom, an en suite or the centerpiece of your living room, is whether to go for a natural or engineered stone.

While the common choice for a traditional house is often to use natural stone, an engineered stone has many distinct advantages suited for any setting – especially within modern households where style and efficiency are essential requirements.

Often artificial, man-made products can be perceived in a less appealing light, as homeowners want an authentic, high-quality feel to their home. However, manufacturing processes of engineered stone have developed significantly and the latest fabrication techniques now boast impeccable standards, style and, in some cases, superior longevity to the natural alternative.  

Whether you’re working on a new construction or remodeling project, it’s recommended that you see and feel the difference between engineered stone and natural stone in person. The BRZ Granite and Marble showroom in Austin, Texas, has a wide variety of products on display which offers a great source of inspiration with on-site experts in stone masonry ready to offer their knowledge and support.

What is Engineered Stone?

Engineered stone is a man-made product, produced in a factory setting by combining minerals mixed with a binder such as resin, with the addition of pigment and other materials. The majority of engineered stone on the market is quartz but granite, marble and other natural stones can also be used. These materials are bound and fabricated into slabs.

Nowadays there is a vast choice of engineered stone products. Some are designed to mimic natural stone and it can often be difficult to differentiate between the natural product and the man-made alternatives. Other engineered products are dramatically colored using bold and bright pigments. Some incorporate distinct designs, patterns and contain the addition of glass, shells and unique items for more unusual and eye-catching effect.  

There are some popular choices currently on the market:

Quartz

Sometimes there is confusion between Quartz and Quartzite. The latter is completely natural, whereas Quartz is man-made using around 90-94% of the natural material. 

We supply some of the top market leaders in Texas including; Camria quartz which is manufactured in the USA, Caesarstone, Colorquartz, Metro-Quartz, ONE Quartz Surfaces and VICOSTONE Quartz Surfaces.

Recycled Glass

Generally, these products are considered more eco-friendly because the slabs are created using recycled glass combined with a colorant and binder. Some manufacturers have also developed a process to create slabs without using chemical binders.

Most recycled glass products have a very distinct style. The crushed glass pieces are often still visible and can refract light within the product to create a unique aesthetic.

Sintered Stone

Sintered stone doesn’t contain binders or adhesives. The slabs are produced by putting minerals under immense pressure and heat. The high-tech process creates an accelerated version of the natural process that normally occurs over many thousands of years.  

Neolith is a manufacturer that creates sintered stone from 100% natural materials with up to 98% of those being recycled. Their durable and weather resistant surfaces have numerous applications for both interiors and exteriors.

Porcelain

The history of porcelain is vast, manufacturers have been perfecting the processes for over a thousand years. Modern porcelain technology has refined the technique of firing kaolinite-rich clay to produce an incredibly durable, multipurpose material that is also very lightweight compared to other products on the market.

The porcelain products by Dekton are a popular choice – the company also strives to offset 100% of their CO2 emissions over the entire product life cycle which makes their engineered stone an eco-friendly option.

The Key Advantages of Using Engineered Stone

Some of the advantages of using engineered stone have already been mentioned, but to clarify, this is a summary of the key selling points that makes it a homeowner’s top choice for kitchen countertops and bathrooms:

#1 Durable
Good quality engineered stone tends to have a more uniform internal structure. Unlike natural stone, there are no hidden flaws or cracks. This makes the surfaces more durable which is why these products are perfectly situated in the busiest areas of the family home where most of the normal wear and tear occurs. 

#2 Hygienic
These surfaces are commonly used for kitchen countertops and in bathrooms because engineered stone doesn’t promote the growth of harmful bacteria, mold or mildew due to the non-porous nature of the material. The surfaces are easy to clean with just warm water, soap and a non-scratch pad. By not requiring the use of harsh cleaning chemicals, these surfaces are an eco- and family-friendly option.

#3 Resistant 
Although the surfaces still require care, and are by no means indestructible, engineered stone tends to be much more resistant to stains, scratching and is also highly heat resistant.

#4 Relatively Low Maintenance
Once the surfaces are fitted they are considered low maintenance. Engineered stone surfaces are non-porous and do not require sealing or ongoing treatment as natural stone options or wooden surfaces do.

#5 Eco-friendly Options
As mentioned in the previous section, some manufacturers use waste byproducts such as recycled glass, and organic resins and pigments to produce engineered stone products.

#6 Affordability

Engineered stone tends to be the more affordable alternative to natural stone. The initial costs are generally lower and the ongoing maintenance costs are minimal, making it a favorable investment choice. Most manufacturers come with a 10-year residential warranty which gives further reassurance to homeowners.    

#7 Uniformity

Although some homeowners enjoy the uniqueness of natural stone – the cracks, marks, waves and authentic feel of the stone’s formation over time – others prefer to have design uniformity. Natural stone can be difficult to match up in the future if the same surface is desired in another part of the house. Equally, it can be near impossible to get a replacement slab that is in keeping with the original batch. Depending on the choice of engineered stone and manufacturer, you can get much closer matches in the future if you use man-made products. 

Uniquely Crafted for the Modern Household

Ultimately, if you want irregular patterns and shapes that you know have been naturally formed over tens of thousands to millions of years, along with every mark and imperfection, natural stone is the right choice for you. If you require a more uniform look that has the same high-end elegance but is better suited to a busy modern home, then engineered stone would offer a durable, low maintenance and more economical alternative.  

Our catalog and showroom have some of the best engineered stone products on the market including Quartz, Porcelain, Recycled Glass, and Sintered Stone. We welcome you to get in contact with one of our specialists online or at our showroom in Austin, Texas.