Quartz countertops and kids

4 months ago

We currently have the old gold/brown/black granite and looking to replace it in the next few months. I've settled on quartz, after checking out several stone yards and no liking any granite or quartzite slabs I saw. I have 2 kids and a messy husband, and find that our current granite hides nearly every mess which I prefer. I like to clean my countertops in the evening (or if any spills occur) and not be bothered by every single crumb throughout the day. I learned from our flooring experience that I can be neurotic about cleaning (we had dark wood floors that showed every. single. crumb. and dog hair and it drove me bonkers...then we had an unfortunate/fortunate pipe burst and got new white oak floors that hide nearly everything so I don't feel compelled to vacuum 5000 times a day). The problem is, I'm drawn to the brighter white quartz with soft gray veining (cabinets are SW snowbound white) and not sure that is the wisest choice for me...will it show every crumb and drip? I've brought home a few busier "stone like" samples and didn't love them...they looked too manufactured. Any suggestions for a busier colored quartz that I won't regret with regards to keeping it looking clean? Or anyone with kids recommend or regret getting white quarts with soft veining? My kids don't do paint/projects on the countertops, I'm more concerned with crumbs and drips driving me crazy.

Featured Answer

Fori

4 months ago

Lay out your samples on your current counter and sprinkle crumbs and milk and whatnot on them. Test everything! Run some stain tests while you're at it. :)

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Comments (13)

M V
4 months ago
Have a look at Silestone Eternal Serena is one that I have and love but there are others as well which would look nice and maybe wouldn't show as much as a white background.

This is Eternal Serena. mid tone grey with white veining.
Surfaces Colour Range - Cosentino EN Canada · More Info

Eternal Charcoal Soapstone. I saw this one in person and loved it. It just wasn't right for our kitchen but it is gorgeous.

Surfaces Colour Range - Cosentino USA · More Info

Something like this that has a lot of subtle veining might work for you. You need to look at these in person with a sample door from your cupboards. The background isn't a true white and if you have white cabinets, then this can sometimes look dingy against them.

If you want the light background then I'd consider a pattern like this where crumbs etc might not be as noticeable as a mainly white background with very little veining.

Surfaces Colour Range - Cosentino EN Canada · More Info

Another option to consider are porcelain tops. I've seen some installed and thought they were gorgeous. I'm told they don't stain (even red wine and other acidics). Ask at your local stone yard to see what they have.
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Though I'd post an update for posterity. After the fabricator told me they were going to replace the top I got a call from Viatera asking about it and saying they were sending someone out. I gave them the fabricators number and told them they should talk to them and figure it out. The fabricator then called me back and said that while most of the manufacturers they work with just have them replace and deal with the claim after Viatera wants to try and fix it first. I told him I was fine with that. They sent someone a couple of days ago and he was able to polish/buff it out on site. He basically refinished the whole countertop, it took him quite a while and he had to do it twice to get it all, but it looks lovely! In fact I like the finish better than the factory finish, its not as glassy looking, it doesn't have that matte look (which I was originally attracted to but decided against because I heard it was hard to care for), its still very shiny just not "glassy" if that makes sense. He said he's gotten really good at doing them because Viatera always wants him to try even if he doesn't succeed they'll still pay him, he said most other manufactures don't want you to touch it unless you're sure it can be fixed. Either way, I'm happy with it, and finally was able to hook up the faucet and use the island in its entirety. Now I'm wondering if there is anyway to request this shiny, but not glassy, finish for the back counters when I'm ready to do them?
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PRO
Debbi Washburn
4 months ago
Honestly - it depends on whats dripping! If you have a darker top and drip coffee creamer or sour cream on it or have crumbs from white bread - you will see it. On the other hand, if you have a white or light top and drip pasta sauce, soy sauce or have crumbs from pumpernickel bread, those will stand out as well.

There is no easy answer here - buy what you love and don't worry about that stuff so much. A floor takes much more effort to clean - a countertop is a quick wipe with a rag.

Good luck!
JR L
Original Author
4 months ago
MV, what is the name of the third photo you posted?
Hache Haas
4 months ago
We have a quartz top on our island. No issues with crumbs showing and we use it a lot throughout the day. I do recommend a quartz spray cleaner. We use it each night. It tends to streak otherwise.
PRO
Beth H. :
4 months ago
I have the Eternal Serena. In the matte finish. it does show some spots, but not a big deal.

How about the Honed (or matte) Pental Sorano? it's very pretty. you can look up more pics.

Calacatta Laza? it's beautiful and has the veining that will hide some things.

a good standby, inexpensive, is River White Granite. this will hide everything

get it honed or leathered for a diff texture. (you will need to seal it)
M V
4 months ago
Blanco Orion

NEBULA ALPHA

Silestone
Surfaces Colour Range - Cosentino EN Canada · More Info

Cosentino is the manufacturer of Silestone but also other lines like Dekton (gorgeous $$$).

Cosentino.

I'd recommend going to one of their showrooms to see the range of lines and colours etc that they offer. I could have spent all day looking at options and touching and feeling them - especially the leathered and honed options.....
Tanya Shelly
4 months ago
We have white quartz with slight veining. My last house had dark granite. The white quartz shows everything and I feel like I’m constantly cleaning it. It also constantly marks and although most marks come off, I’m paranoid that some will not. In fact, the appliance guys marked my edges up terribly and I’m still waiting for the countertop installers to come back and try to remove the marks. I love the look but I’m beginning to regret the choice
Jennifer Svensson
4 months ago
We have three young kids and have a white quartz top. Yes, everything shows on the white surface like you’d expect. But it’s just a quick wipe and you’re done. I don’t let any colored spills like wine, blueberry juice etc sit on the counter. It has left stains but they do come out. My kids color and paint on it and it’s all come out, even sharpies.
CeeWhy
4 months ago
I have white quartz with subtle gray veining (Daltile One Quartz "Valor White") and while you can see drips, crumbs, etc. it is extremely easy to clean. I wipe my counters every morning after my kids go to school--so only about once a day if it's not super messy--and nothing has stained it yet. Believe it or not, the most difficult thing I've had to get off? Pencil. But with the veining it isn't too noticable if I missed any!

This is Valor White. I am really happy with it.
turtlexings24
4 months ago
We have white quartz with subtle veining and as others have said, yes, everything shows. I also tend to be super paranoid about any dark drinks staining (red wine, scotch, juice, etc) and find myself wiping them up constantly. I have to be really vigilant with guests and constantly ssurreptitiously check for red wine rings :/

My husband is tall so his dark jeans rub the counter edges and stain with the dye when he does dishes or leans on the counter. I'm constantly scrubbing the jean dye off the sides.

I find the white counters with subtle veining lovely but I'd never get these if I had kids or didn't want to have to wipe/scrub them daily.
Julie R.
4 months ago
I’ve got Caesarstone Cosmopolitan White. It’s actually a subtle gray with soft white veining. And it has some tiny speckles (including the odd orange or red) that can mask crumbs. I do make sure I’m not getting wine or juice stains, but so far so good (on a fall 2021 install).

Here you see the lighter half getting more sunlight and the black spec is a burnt pizza crumb.
Lidia Tomczyk
4 months ago
We have chantilli handstone and i love it