PPDS was recently invited to Minnesota to visit the headquarters for Cambria, one of the leading engineered quartz countertop manufacturers in the United States. The two-day trip was a great way to participate in continuing education, as well as a fun opportunity to see numerous quartz product installations and a few of Cambria’s new designs before the official market introduction (https://www.cambriausa.com/countertops/cambria-designs-legend/).
The first day of the trip included several site visits to venues around the city of Minnesota, each featuring Cambria installations. We also spent time in two of Cambria’s showrooms. The showrooms are beautiful and interactive. A wide range of installations are presented throughout the space which provides a great tool for customers to envision the possibilities for their own project. Although quartz is most commonly used as a countertop, Cambria also presented several alternative ways in which the material can be used, including custom lighting fixtures, creative floor and wall applications, and unexpected decorative details – the possibilities are endless! Some of our current favorite trends in quartz countertops include marble looks, slab designs featuring lots of movement, and a matte surface finish.
On the last day of the trip, we toured Cambria’s fabrication shop and production facility to get a “behind the scenes” overview of the entire manufacturing process. Engineered quartz is fabricated from natural quartz, one of the hardest minerals found in the Earth. The quartz is crushed and combined with small amounts of glass or metallic flecks, natural stone, or other recycled materials to create a variety of different patterns and colors.
There are several benefits of using quartz countertops compared to granite. Quartz is low maintenance, highly durable, and offers endless color choices to create a unique style. Quartz is also non-porous, naturally preventing stains and bacterial growth. Quartz is a beautiful selection for both commercial and residential use, and has quickly become one of the most popular choices for countertops.
