Flooring: Shopping, Installing, Maintaining, Cleaning and MoreFlooring: Shopping, Installing, Maintaining, Cleaning and More


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Flooring: Shopping, Installing, Maintaining, Cleaning and More

One hundred years ago, floors consisted of hardwoods, luxurious wool rugs or the occasional tile arrangement, and in some cases, floors during that era were still dirt. In just three or four generations, we've come a long way. Now you can find tile made of materials quarried from around the world. You can opt for rugs or wall-to-wall carpet made from everything from wool to synthetic fibers to bamboo. In addition, there's polished concrete, vinyl tile that can mimic almost any look or material, and a range of other options. With so much to choose from, it's important to do your research, and this blog is designed to help. I hope you enjoy my posts!

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3 Reasons to Pick Quartz Flooring Instead of Granite

Granite and quartz are both popular choices for flooring, and they carry a variety of the same benefits, namely style and durability. However, despite their similarities, there are a number of key differences between granite and quartz. To start with, granite is a natural material that is mined and then shaped. What we refer to as quartz is actually a manmade product made using 90% natural quartz, also known as silicon dioxide, that is mixed with resin and colouring.

At the end of the manufacturing process, both products look fairly similar, but they can behave in very different ways. Here are just three reasons why quartz is the superior material for most flooring projects.

1. It Lets You Dictate its Appearance

Some people would argue that granite looks better than quartz since it isn't made in a factory. This used to be true, but advances in production have eroded the edge that granite once held over its manmade competitor.

Quartz slabs used to look too flecked and strangely uniform - this is no longer the case. In fact, a quartz slab made to look like a granite one will be almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Quartz also holds the significant advantage of being versatile in colour and shade, and without imperfections. Manufacturers are constantly producing new colour variations, so you can select a flooring stone that perfectly meets your vision.

2. It Provides Beauty on a Budget

Given that quartz can look so similar to granite, you might be wondering why you should opt for it if granite is the exact look that you're in the market for. The answer comes down to price; you're generally going to find that quartz costs substantially less per square foot than granite. Remember, granite needs to be mined, shipped from its original location, and then painstakingly shaped into slabs. Every renovation has a budget, and the cost of granite flooring can really add up over large spaces.

3. It's Easy to Clean and Maintain

Granite might look impregnable, but it's actually porous thanks to the tiny capillary channels that run between its minerals. Drop a glass of wine on a slab of granite and the liquid will begin to penetrate, potentially causing permanent discolouration. Those channels also play host to bacteria, and granite can even be damaged by certain cleaning agents.

In contrast, quartz is completely non-porous, resistant to acidic foods, scratch resistant, and stain resistant. It doesn't require sealing or routine maintenance, and it will wash off as good as new with just some soap and water.