What's the Story With Quartz Surfaces - Are They Stain Proof?
Quartz surfaces are becoming more and more popular when it comes to countertops and other surfaces in home and business environments. One of the reasons for this is that quartz is touted as being very durable and easy to care for. Additionally, quartz comes in an array of colors; so there is probably a color that will fit with your design. You may have heard very specific statements made about quartz. Often times these statements are made about quartz in general. One such statement is that quartz does not stain. But is that really the case? Is quartz immune to staining?
Not All Quartz Is Made the Same
Like many other products available to consumers, there are various manufacturing methods used to produce quartz surfaces. Some of these methods have proven to yield results that differ from other methods used in the industry. Therefore, there is no one answer that applies to all quartz surfaces. Let's dive into why this is the case and, along the way we'll consider some misconceptions that have been formed because of general statements that are made about quartz.
Differences In Manufacturing Techniques
One of the main reasons that not all quartz is stain resistant is because of the manufacturing process. Since not all quartz is made the same way, the quality of the product, particularly the surface, varies. How is the surface involved in a stone's stain resistance? What role does the manufacturing process play in this?
The porosity of the surface plays a role in how receptive the surface is to other substances. If a colored liquid or some other substance gets into the pores of the material, it will need to have a the stain removed. So, the less porous the surface of the quartz is, the less likely the stone will be to stain. This means that there are quartz surfaces that will stain. These quartz surfaces need to be protected because they will stain since they are porous. This fact, gives rise to the question, "Why are some quartz surfaces less porous than others?"
How Quartz Is Manufactured Plays A Role
One of the main reasons that quartz surfaces vary in porosity is because of the differing manufacturing processes. Quartz surfaces are composed of multiple materials. During manufacturing, these materials are combined to produce the final product. However, different techniques are used to combine and form the sheets. One process used to make quartz surfaces is
Bretonstone© Technology. This method of quartz engineering involves multiple operations that work together to reduce the porosity of the final product. As we have mentioned above, the fewer the pores, the more resistant the stone will be to stains and the less it needs to be protected.
Not all quartz stone is produced using the aforementioned patented technology. There are many quartz surfaces that are produced using other processes. Those quartz materials have a higher porosity than quartz constructed with Bretonstone© Technology. So if you are dealing with a quartz material that was not made with the Bretonstone© Technology, you will most likely come to realize that
protecting that quartz surface is the wise course. Additionally, this kind of quartz is susceptible to staining.
Clean Your Quartz With the Product that "pH"its the Need
There are a variety of cleaners available on the market that are designed for very specific purposes. Hence, it is good to know a bit about how acidic liquids and alkaline (or basic) liquids interact and react. Understanding this can help you choose the proper cleaner or stain remover for a given stain or discoloration (they are not all the same). So, let's take a brief look at what constitutes an acid and what qualifies as a base.
The pH level of a solution is what tells you whether it is a base or an acid. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The middle of the scale is pH 7; which is neutral. the further away from 7 the pH level is, determines the strength of the solution. For example, a liquid with a pH of 0 is extremely acidic, but a liquid with a pH of 6 is only slightly acidic. The same thing is true for basic (or alkaline) substances with 14 being the most alkaline.
Even though there are some quartz materials that resist staining, there is still the potential for a quartz surface to get discolored
on its surface. One way this can happen is by minerals building up on the stone. Limescale is one form of this. Since the discoloration is on the surface and can be stubborn. Using the right kind of cleaning agent is necessary. However, using it properly is just as important.
When selecting a cleaner, you must use the proper cleaner for the task. This is why Lustro Italiano offers a variety of cleaners designed to work on specific kinds of discolorations. Also, the material that you are using the cleaner on will matter because some materials can be damaged or marred if the wrong kind of cleaner is used on it.
As you can see, each quartz surface will need a specific amount of care, and the kind of care needed will matter as well. While quartz is not stain proof, there are varying degrees of quality and the one that is right for you just may include how much care you are willing to give it.
