Quartz

Made from one of the hardest minerals on earth, quartz countertops are arguably the most durable option for kitchens. Unlike natural stone slabs, which are mined, these slabs are engineered in a factory and fabricated by your local stone shop. Their primary ingredient is ground quartz (about 94%) combined with polyester resins to bind it and pigments to give it color. For some designs, small amounts of recycled glass or metallic flecks are added to the mix. The resins also help make these countersnonporous, stain, and scratch-resistant, so they never need to be sealed.