Engineered stone is the most durable surface material, combining the hardness and durability of quartz with the exceptional low maintenance qualities of man-made materials (resin). Quartz ranks 7.0 on moh’s hardness scale, which is used to measure the scratch-resistance of a material. Only the diamond (at 10), topaz and sapphire (at 9) are harder than quartz. (Granite is ranked 6 on the scale). our engineered stone is the most similar to a natural stone, since it is a mixture of 93% quartz and 7% polyester resin pressed into slabs (or larger blocks) using breton’s “vibrocompression vacuum process.” The quartz is a artificial stone (also called engineered stone or compound stone) in north America. Engineered stone products are gaining in popularity and are often preferred over granite products because engineered stone requires less maintenance and has better resistance to stains and bacterial contamination. Engineered quartz countertops are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and even textures. Unlike natural stone surfaces, man-made quartz offers consistency of shade of colors and patterns with little variability. This makes it ideal for people who want uniformity in their countertops. Quartz is a very low maintenance material. it is non-porous which is a nice attribute for a countertop surface. it does not need to be resealed each year and no special care or handling is needed. Thinking of an outdoor kitchen area? Quartz may be your answer as it won’t chip, crack, scratch or corrode