Silestone® countertops are made from about 93% quartz and 7% polymer with color. They are produced by a company called Cosentino. A Silestone® countertop is known for its durability and hardness. Quartz is the fourth hardest natural material after diamond, sapphire and topaz. Silestone® is also called engineered stone or manufactured quartz.
Unlike some natural stones such as granite, Silestone® needs no sealant because it has a polished surface that repels staining. However, it's still best to clean up stains on any type of countertop immediately because both staining and polishing do not actually prevent stains, but resist them. Many people enjoy not having to apply a sealer to Silestone® as well as the look of the polished quartz.
Silestone® countertops are available in many different finishes, but since Silestone® is polished it already has a little bit of shine to it. A super glossy type of Silestone® countertop may show fingerprints very easily. The color and pattern consistency of a Silestone® countertop is often more appealing to homeowners than natural stone such as granite. This is because natural stone slabs may contain an intense area of a certain color and pattern on one part of the slab and yet have a totally different look on an adjacent section of the same piece of stone.
A popular selling feature of Silestone® countertops is their durability. They are known to handle a lot of tough use such as in busy family kitchens. The denseness of Silestone® makes it extremely strong and long lasting. A Silestone® countertop is more stain and heat resistant that a stone countertop such as granite. Because Silestone® is also acid resistant, acidic foods such as citrus fruits, soda and vinegar are less likely to damage the countertop.
The non-porous, hard surface of Silestone® countertops also resists scratches. Although it's not recommended, some Silestone® owners slice and chop food right on the countertop. Many people like the mold and mildew resistant qualities of a Silestone® countertop and give this characteristic as the main reason for choosing Silestone® over materials such as granite.