Showroom Showdown: Quartz Cement vs. Cement

Showroom Showdowns are typically done to compare what we have in our showroom. But, when Caesarstone dropped their new “concrete” designs, we knew we had to compare their surface to real concrete.

Concrete

Concrete has become a recent celebrity in the kitchen remodel realm. With the rise of the farmhouse kitchen, natural, organic, and raw material are also on the ascent. Concrete is also very popular with the DIY, fixer-upper community. Because concrete is readily available, customizable in many ways, and DIY friendly, it is common for homeowners to do it themselves. To add to concrete’s customizability, you can have custom insets, and stain it any color. Concrete can also be set in place, or fabricated and transported similarly to that of natural stone.

Concrete countertops price can vary on whether you decided to do them yourself or professionally installed. Once pre-cast or poured in place, it will take your concrete countertops 28 days to set fully.

Concrete’s industrial and organic look comes from its natural wear. This natural look comes from concrete’s tendency to crack and fracture. Being porous in nature, and flaunting its flaws, it shows stains and scratches but wears them gracefully. If you consider yourself a “Type A” person, concrete many not be for you.

Caesarstone - Cloudburst Concrete — Cloudburst Concrete – Caesarstone

Concrete-like Quartz

If you are a Type A person, and can’t stand a natural patina or wear, there is another option. Recently, Caesarstone came out with concrete-like quartz surfaces that take on the look without the hassle. Caesarstone has created 3 “concrete” surfaces – Topus, Airy, and Cloudburst.

Caesarstone - Airy Concrete — Airy Concrete – Caesarstone

This year, quartz overtook natural stone as the most popular countertop surface material, and for good reason. The best part is, you get the look of the natural, organic concrete, without the wear and tear that comes with it. Quartz countertops are created by mixing together 93% natural quartz, with pigments and polymer. Here is a list of the good qualities of quartz surfaces: no sealing or waxing, nonporous, scratch and stain resistant, durable, sustainable, and many others.