Are Quartz Countertops Durable?

• Durable countertops reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
• Quartz is one of the hardest minerals on the planet, much harder than marble or granite.
• Cambria quartz countertops are one of the most durable options, because they are resistant to scratches, chips, and staining.

If less worry over care and maintenance is the luxury lifestyle you aspire to, be sure to tell your interior designer. Durability and performance may not be top of mind when you’re collecting beautiful kitchen inspiration images. But a conversation with your designer about durable countertops conveys how you actually want to live in your home, how you want your space to feel and function, which is as important as the colors and design styles you love, and floor plans you’ve been dreaming about. Let us help you have that conversation.

Durability Defined

Durable countertops should resist staining and chipping without extra maintenance effort on behalf of the homeowner. For example, quartz is one of the hardest, most abundant natural elements. When Cambria combines high-quality, pure, natural quartz with pigments and binder to create its strong, compact slabs, those quartz surfaces are extremely durable and can withstand daily use for ease of life.

How hard is quartz? On the Mohs’ scale of mineral hardness, which uses a 1–10 ranking to measure the scratch resistance of various minerals, Cambria’s quartz surfaces consistently score 7 out of 10 (diamonds are a 10). That means your beautiful new Cambria quartz surfaces will resist chips and scratches and remain looking as lovely over the long run as they do when they’re first installed.

Durability of Cambria Quartz Surfaces

For comparison, marble typically scores 3–5 on Mohs’ scale. It’s also porous which means marble requires regular sealing to help prevent stains and etching.

Granite countertops can be more chip and scratch resistant than marble, with variable Mohs’ scores between 3 and 7. But granite is also porous and requires regular sealing.

Cambria quartz surfaces are nonporous and food safety certified. That means they’ll never need sealing, won’t harbor harmful bacteria, and spills won’t become stains. This makes upkeep easier without any chemical sealants or harsh chemical cleaning supplies. Simply use a little warm water, a soft cotton cloth, and mild soap, if desired, on your durable Cambria quartz countertops.

And if you think all quartz surfaces are the same, be sure to note that it’s the quartz content in a slab that improves durability and performance. Cambria quartz surfaces contain 93 percent quartz. If you’re considering other quartz brands, ask your designer about the percentage of natural quartz versus filler materials, like glass or sand, if you want to truly understand countertop durability.

When asked about choosing Cambria for a recent project, interior designer Emily Pueringer says, “We opted for Cambria countertops due to their exceptional durability, capable of withstanding the rigors of a bustling household filled with young children and frequent entertaining.”

Damage Prevention & Long-Term Care

Now, all stone countertops, including quartz, can be damaged by sudden temperature changes and it’s always recommended to place pot holders or closed trivets under anything hot. All stone can also be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. But Cambria’s industry-leading, transferable Full Lifetime Warranty ensures your quartz countertops maintain their value and beauty.

In addition, in the off-chance you do experience a chip in your Cambria quartz surface, expert technicians are available to provide complimentary post-installation service that goes beyond the transferable Full Lifetime Warranty—offering top-tier claim assistance, finishing work, advanced surface cleaning, and more, forever. Even if you sell your home, the warranty and service remains with the new homeowners for added value, peace of mind, and long-term satisfaction.

Kitchen and bathroom designer Jackie Friberg says, “We have a higher-end customer who sees Cambria quartz surfaces as ideal for pairing with the other long-lasting luxury materials in their homes. The durability, designs, and Lifetime Warranty make it an easy choice.”

Why Durability Matters

Surely you’ve counted the cost of a great pair of shoes or an amazing fashion accessory. Applying a similar life cycle thought process to design materials can help guide your decisions. In economic terms, this is known as the “total cost of ownership.” In addition to the value of one’s time for any necessary maintenance, less durable materials that don’t hold up or that can’t be easily repaired end up needing to be replaced more often. Now, imagine paying as much or more for stone surfaces that are less durable when Cambria has a beautiful array of colors and designs to choose from and also delivers exceptional long-term performance.

When acclaimed designer Jean Stoffer reimagined the kitchen in a Dutch Colonial home in Michigan she told us, “We wanted the classic look of honed marble but with greater durability. Cambria Brittanicca in a matte finish delivered in spades.”

To see how Cambria natural quartz surfaces compare to other surface materials, see the charts below. And for additional research into the cost of ownership, be sure to check out our blog about how much quartz countertops cost.