Facts About Silestone

Silestone offers a sophisticated elegance and timeless beauty. The natural quartz in Silestone delivers distinctive depth, brilliant clarity, glimmering radiance and a cool, solid feel unique to natural stone.

Silestone can be used in virtually any indoor surfacing application in kitchens, bathrooms and floors, including: countertops, island tops, vanities, tub and shower surrounds, backsplashes, walls, wet bars, tabletops, desktops, fireplace surrounds and more.

The quartz in Silestone makes it naturally scratch-resistant. Only three other natural minerals - diamond, sapphire and topaz - are harder than quartz. Quartz is a seven on Mohs Hardness Scale (diamond is a 10).

So, while a careless slip of the knife will scratch most other countertops such as laminates and solid surfaces, it won't leave a mark on Silestone. Although Silestone is durable, it is not scratch-proof; it could be damaged with excessive force or pressure.

Silestone is non-porous and therefore it is highly resistant to stains from coffee, wine, lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, makeup, and many other common household products. Silestone does not need to be sealed to keep its lustrous shine.

Silestone is scorch-resistant. It will withstand limited exposure to heat without burning or scorching. The fire of a lit match will not mar Silestone. However, as advised by crock pot and electric skillet manufacturers, do not place these items directly on any countertop. Always use trivets when placing hot items on any natural stone or quartz surface to avoid thermal shock.

Silestone^® has flexural strength making it less susceptible to chipping and cracking during transportation and installation.

Because it is non-porous, Silestone does not need to be sealed.

Silestone is available in a wide array of dazzling colors, from conservative neutral hues, to daring bright colors, ensuring that there is a Silestone color to suit most any style or taste. Silestone delivers a uniformity and consistency that allows for virtually unlimited edge designs.

Silestone natural quartz surfaces result from a tightly controlled process to ensure reliable performance, color consistency and ultimate durability every time. Cosentino backs its Silestone slabs with a limited 10-year manufacturer's warranty.

Silestone is the only countertop with built-in Microban product protection. Microban protection safely fights the growth of microbes such as odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew 24/7 for the life of the product. With this protection, Silestone is easier to clean and stays cleaner between cleanings. Microban does not protect against food-borne illness and is not a substitute for normal cleaning practices.

Silestone has received Certification under NSF 51 as a safe material for use in areas where food preparation could take place. The National Sanitation Foundation is the leading global provider of public health and safety risk management solutions. Since 1944, NSF has been certifying products and writing standards that help protect food, water, air and consumer goods.

Silestone has received GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute as safe for use in commercial and residential indoor spaces. Silestone protects indoor air quality because it has low-to-no emission; that is, no off-gassing of toxic chemicals into the indoor air. Silestone contributes to an environmentally sensible project in keeping with today's 'green conscious' building.