Quartz Countertops for Dummies

Closing a seam in a quartz countertop

Based on the sort of posts our research staff turns up, one of the most prolific veins of freelance dumbassery seems to lie at the intersection of science and home decor. Whether it's well-meaning or not, the puff pieces pounded out by "decorators" and "decorating consultants" are a veritable font of misinformation. Take, for example, the article titled "Quartz Countertop"¹ (just one?), posted to LoveToKnow.com by first-time DotD Donna Sundblad.

Truth be told, most of what Sundblad has to say is on target, probably because it's little more than modified advertising content. It's when she tries to get creative (or reword to avoid charges of plagiarism) that Donna runs into problems. Here's an example:

"Quartz counters are made with almost 100 percent quartz and provide a nonporous countertop that's durable and almost twice as strong as granite."

OK, we guess that 95% is "almost 100 percent," but we believe it's important to say what the other 5% is, since that's what makes quartz countertops "nonporous." For the record, it's an epoxy binder. The epoxy is what allows manufacturers to create dramatically colored slabs, since the quartz is essentially colorless and only occurs as chips and powder. As for her claim that quartz is "twice as strong," that's pure advertising copy.

Sundblad's ignorance of natural materials continues in her claim that,

"Quartz hardness ranks a 7.0 on Moh's [sic] hardness scale. The Moh's [sic] test for hardness is measured by a test that determines the scratchability of a mineral. You'll find that only diamonds, topaz, and sapphires rank higher than quartz on the Moh's [sic] scale."

First, that's a weird description of the Mohs² scale, second, the mineral she meant is corundum, not sapphire (she could have said "ruby," for that matter). And last, there are dozens of minerals harder than quartz, including such familiar minerals as zircon and garnet. Sundblad also waxes eloquent about weight, explaining that

"When it comes to installing a quartz countertop, it's important to note that as an engineered product, these counters weigh more than granite."

Well, no, they don't: both weigh more than laminate or solid surface, but the two have approximately the same density because – tada! – real granite (as opposed to "granite" in the countertop industry) is usually at least half quartz grains to begin with. And darker "granites" tend to be heavier, while all quartz colors are the same weight. Donna finishes up, telling her readers that, "If you do choose to install it yourself, quartz makes a better choice than most natural stone counters because it is easier to cut and handle without causing damage." Apparently Sundblad's unaware that quartz slabs are fabricated to specification; and perhaps her source didn't mention that measurement for and installation of the countertops are included in the cost. That, however, is just one more reason for Donna to receive the coveted Dumbass of the Day award.

¹ The original has been deleted by LoveToKnow, but can still be accessed using the Wayback machine at archive.org. Its URL was   https://homeimprovement.lovetoknow.com/Quartz_Countertop
² The scale was developed by Frederick Mohs, so the use of an apostrophe is... wrong.

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