Silestone is a fairly new, engineered stone made mostly of rock aggregate, with some resin and pigments added. It can come in one half inch to one and a half inch thicknesses and is available in many colors. Silestone, like other engineered stones, is nonporous and resists abrasions. The most common form is made from particles of quartz, and is tougher than quartz because it doesn't contain the fissures and other irregularities of the natural stone. The seams in slabs of silestone are also easy to match because of its regularity.
About SilestoneSilestone is quite easy to care for because it's not only resistant to scratches, but stains, heat and acid. Unlike other natural stones, it doesn't have to be sealed. It's almost maintenance-free. Because it's coloring and texture are so regular, even if silestone does pick up a scratch or two, the scratches aren't as noticeable as they would be in natural stone. However, if the silestone countertop does suffer serious damage, it has to be repaired by a professional. One drawback to a silestone countertop is that it's quite expensive. Another is silestone looks somewhat artificial compared to granite, marble or other natural stones.
How to Clean and Care For A Silestone CountertopA silestone countertop needs only to be cleaned with a damp cloth and some dishwashing detergent, then rinsed with a clean cloth. It should never be cleaned with bleach, or a detergent containing bleach, because it will ruin the color of the countertop. Harsh scouring pads shouldn't be used on silestone either and nylon pads should only be used once in a while, with a non-abrasive cleanser.
Another rule is that no direct cutting, pounding or tenderizing should be done on a silestone countertop, despite its toughness. All cutting and pounding should be done on cutting boards. Even silestone can crack if the pounding is violent enough.
A pot or pan should also never be set down piping hot on a silestone countertop, but should be put on trivets or a folded dishcloth. Even though silestone is stain resistant, spills should still be wiped up immediately, for esthetic reasons if nothing else. Coasters should be put under glasses and bottles that contain liquids, especially oils.
Try looking online at tileshop.com/countertops/silestone. YOu can also go to your local home improvement store to look at displays of silestone countertops.
Silestone USA has some beautiful countertops for sale on their website. They sell some nice looking sinks as well. Silestone's headquarters are located in Texas.
Stone countertops are very much in demand these days and can increase the value of your home. You can find guides to installing silestone online. Here is link to one of the guides: www.indivisuallearning.com/tech_sheets/silestone/InstallationGuide.pdf
Silestone is a type of Engineered stone quartz surfacing is made from approximately 95% natural quartz and 5% polymer resins.
Silestone doesn't burn, is easily cleaned and more affordable. It comes in may styles and surfaces to match your style. I love the natural styles much more then the unnatural.
Silestone Quartz countertops are the only countertops with built-in antimicrobial protection. This means that they inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
Silestone Quartz countertops are the only countertops with built-in antimicrobial protection. This means that they inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
Some pros are that they are easy to clean and require hardly any maintenance at all other than soap and water ever now and then, but the cons are that it can be hard and costly to repair if damaged.
Granite countertops are natural stone and generally more durable than Silestone, which is a manufactured quartz material. Granite requires periodic sealing for maintenance, while Silestone is non-porous and does not need sealing. In terms of cost, Silestone is typically more expensive than granite due to its manufacturing process and consistency in color and pattern.
On average, depending on how big your kitchen is, and what other preferences you have, you can look to pay around $50, per square foot, and this price includes installation. The average kitchen will cost a person around $1,000 for new silestone countertops.
Corian countertops are very good products and seem to be quite durable. They are usually custom made which means no seams and come in thousands of colors. The con would be that the newest fad is stone or granite and corian cannot be made to look like those products.
Silestone is very good quality brand of counter tops. They can be found at kitchen specialty stores, and they can also be ordered, but may not be readily available at a home supple warehouse.