The more you know about the jewel-like  qualities of real stone, the better you can make an intelligent decision about materials for that new or remodeled kitchen and bath projects. Consumers have a wide choice of materials to choose from other than natural stone: plastic laminates, stainless steel, concrete and quartz surfaces. Quartz materials are available in over 30 different brands and are generally made from quartz granules mixed with resin, various colored pigments and other materials such as mother of pearl, pieces of mirrors and semi-precious
stones, which are processed in a factory.

For some kitchen and bath applications, these other materials might be perfectly acceptable, depending on the budget, the scope and intent of the job and the “look” the client is trying to achieve. But none of them are truly natural or offer you the opportunity to proudly proclaim, “You won’t find a countertop exactly like this one anywhere else in the world!” That’s why those who sell multiple types of materials say that once the facts about natural stone versus other competing products are presented to their customers, the majority select the real thing.