Ninety-five percent of the stone we sell at Stone & Cabinet Outlet is quartz.

Quartz is an engineered stone made from roughly 96% natural quartz powder mixed with resin and pigments to produce patterns that mimic natural stone.

We recommend quartz to most of our customers because it is cheaper, more durable, and easier to maintain than natural stone. The hardness of quartz is on par with granite, and it's non-porous, waterproof, and scratch-, stain-, and chip-resistent. It is also more uniform than natural stone, so you don't need to worry about impurities or hidden weaknesses that may cause your stone to crack unexpectedly.

At SCO we carry only the highest grades of quartz countertops (Grade A), sourced directly from the best stone factories that produce the most realistic, lifelike stone patterns.

At Stone & Cabinet Outlet, the price of your stone depends on the size of your job (how much counterspace you need to cover), the variety of stone you choose, plus any additional charges incurred for fabrication, labor, or installation.

While many big-box retailers and large stone shops price their stone by the square foot, we sell our stone by the slab in the following sizes:

- 26" x 110" standard countertop size

- 36" x 110" standard peninsula size

- 52" x 110" standard island size)

- 6" x 110" backsplash

- We source jumbo and extra-jumbo slabs on request

We can give you a ballpark price for materials by looking at your kitchen measurements (e.g., "you'll need around ___ slabs", which would cost $__"), but in order to provide you an accurate estimate, we need to know things like:

- The exact dimensions of your countertop space.

- The style of stone you want (more detailed styles cost more).

- Whether you want to install and fabricate the stone yourself, or have us fabricate or install it for you.

- If we're installing, does our crew need to travel a long way to get to your location?

- Do you want matching backsplash?

- How many sink or range top cutouts you need cut.

- Whether you want an undermount sink or top-mount sink.

- Whether you want any special fabrication like waterfall edges, special island shapes, etc.

We also factor in labor charges, like cutting and polishing the stone.

We know all of the above sounds expensive and complicated, so we do several things to offset the labor and material costs for our customers.

First, we are a wholesale stone importer with no middlemen, meaning we can sell you our premium-quality stone at discounted prices that are significantly lower than our competitors, including offering standard discounts for retail customers and contractors.

Additionally, our stone arrives from the factory pre-polished on three edges, which saves our customers a lot of money by avoiding extra polishing (one of the most expensive labor charges).

If it's your first time buying stone countertops or you're not sure whether you're measuring your space correctly, we recommend stopping by our showroom at 14130 NE Airport Way in Portland, OR, or give us a call at (503) 285-5606 to get started on a free countertop design and estimate.

Yes, Stone & Cabinet Outlet carries several varities of granite, marble, and natural quartz, and we can also help source natural stone from suppliers we work with in the Portland, OR area.

If you are interested in purchasing natural stone countertops, there are several things you need to be aware of:

- Natural stone has small pores (holes/crevices) that that trap dirt, dust, liquid, and other debris easily, so it must be re-sealed annually and cleaned regularly using non-acidic cleaning agents.

- Evey piece of natual stone is completely different. What you see in photos online and in our showroom may be very different from the actual stone you end up purchasing.

- Natural stone can have hidden imperfections that may result in it breaking or cracking unexpectedly.

- Marble is a soft stone that is easy to break and chip. We only recommend considering marble for lower-use areas where it won't have a lot of work done on it or objects placed on it, like bathroom vanities.

If it's your first time purchasing stone countertops, we recommend considering our engineered quartz stone instead because it is durable (same hardness as granite), non-porous (not as much maintenance required), and heat-, scratch-, and chip-resistant.

We also source synthetic solid surface materials like Formica® and Corian® on an as-needed basis.

Check below for Stone & Cabinet Outlet's recommended cleaning and maintenance best practices for your stone countertops.

NOTE:

Stone cleaninging and maintenance techniques vary depending on the type of stone you're using for your countertops. Make sure to follow the recommended guidance for your stone type.

Day-to-Day Cleaning and Maintenance: Quartz

For quartz, we recommend using warm water and a mild, pH-neutral dish soap, then drying the stone with a clean, dry cloth.

For tougher stains or grime, you can consider using general househould cleaning products, including acidic products like vinegar- and citrus-based cleaners, or aceton, but avoid highly acidic products.

Quartz-specific cleaning products are also okay to use.

Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool or scouring pads, and always use a cutting board for food prep. Do not drop hard, heavy objects on the stone to avoid chipping.

Day-to-Day Cleaning and Maintenance: Natural Stone

For natural stone, we also recommend starting byusing warm water and a mild, pH-neutral dish soap, and drying with a clean, dry cloth.

Unlike Quartz, you should only use non-acidic, non-caustic, low-pH cleaning products and soaps for natural stone. For marble, acidic and caustic cleaning materials will damage the stone and cause etching (faded white spots on the stone). For granite, it will strip the sealer and expose the stone to damage and stains.

The general list of products to avoid using with natural stone includes:

- Acidic, high pH cleaning agents, including vinegar and citric acid-based solutions

- Ammonia or ammonia-based cleaning solutions

- Bleach or oven cleaner.

Natural stone-specific cleaning products are also okay to use.

Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool or scouring pads, and always use a cutting board for food prep. Do not drop hard, heavy objects on the stone to avoid chipping.

Sealing Your Countertops

Quartz countertops don't require sealing. Quartz is an engineered stone made of crushed natural quartz and resin, with a non-porous surface that doesn't need to be protected by a sealer.

All natural stone is porous and requires sealing. The frequency of sealing depends on the type of natural stone surface and the sealer used.

Granite countertops should be re-sealed every 1-2 years.

Marble and other lighter stones can require re-sealing every 6-12 months depending on how often the countertops are used.

To test whether your natural stone countertops need re-sealed, pour a few drops of water on them. If the water beads up, your sealer is in good condition. If it soaks in and creates a dark spot after a few minutes, your counter needs to be resealed.

Cleaning Stains

For Quartz, clean spills immediately using warm water and dish soap. For persistent or strong stains, like from coffee or wine, you can consider trying household cleaning products, including acidic cleaners and acetone, or quarttz-specific cleaning products.

For natural stone, you can also start by cleaning stains immediately with warm water and dishsoap. However, stronger stains like coffee, wine, and tomato sauce must be cleaned using a poultice of baking soda and water. Apply the poultice to the stain, then cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 24 hours to draw out the stain. Commercial stone poultices can be found for purchase online or at stone shops and warehouses.

Using acidic or caustic houselhold products and cleaning solutions to clean stains on natural stone will damage the stone or strip the sealer.

While quartz and natural stone countertops are both heat-resistent, they are not "heatproof," so Stone & Cabinet Outlet always recommends placing hot objects, like pots and pans, on trivets or hot pads.

For quartz, the resin used to bind it can melt or turn yellow if exposed to temperatures above 300°F (150°C), and the sudden application of high heat can also cause cracks from thermal shock.

Natural stone like granite is also susceptible to cracking from thermal shock.