Elements epoxy countertops: The hot new trend. Versatile surface rivals the durability of quartz, granite

[Enlarge Photo]

For the past few years, quartz has been the fastest growing category of premium countertops because it provides the best balance of beauty, durability and style.

Designers, builders and architects are working with and specifying quartz more and more because of its unique appeal in combining depth and color consistency -- assuring the desired look is always achieved.

"Quartz countertops have the deep beautiful colors of granite without the problems and high-maintenance of porous stone," explained Mark Hanna, President of Montreal-based Leeza Distribution Inc., one of North America's leading distributors of HanStone Fine Quartz Surfaces and Durcon's Elements epoxy surfaces.

Quartz countertops, such as the industry's top rated HanStone surfaces, offer a sophisticated elegance and timeless beauty. They are stronger than granite and because they're nonporous, they require no resealing, are highly resistant to scratches, stains, and bacteria growth and come in 36 dramatic colors and patterns.

While popular brands of premium quartz surfaces, such as HanStone, are here to stay, this lasting quartz appeal has not escaped the radar of the industry leaders. As a result, there is now a new ultra-durable, sleek, stone-like surface available with an aesthetic quality and durability that rivals quartz and natural stone called Elements by Durcon Inc.

Elements countertops were originally created to withstand the harshest industrial and laboratory environments with a proprietary blend of epoxy resin and fine quartz formed through a unique manufacturing process, which creates an incredibly smooth and durable countertop surface.

"Elements is a truly unique surface unlike any other option available today," said Hanna. "Quartz is one of the hardest minerals found in nature and epoxy resin is inherently heat- and chemical-resistant. Elements provides the best of both materials in an entirely new surface option."

Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and commercial applications the countertops are monolithic in nature, homogenous in consistency and solid through and through. There are no laminates to bubble and crack and no porosity to allow liquid penetration. As a result, the countertops never require sealing, are anti-bacterial and anti-fugal, have earned NSF 51 certification for food preparation, are low VOC emitting, and offer the highest heat resistance of any material on the market.

Made in the U.S., elements features a contemporary look that is silky smooth, timeless and clean, making it the countertop surface of choice for any design style be it traditional elegance or contemporary minimalist. Available in seven basic colors or in customized colors of your choice its versatility is its strongest attribute. More information on epoxy and quartz surfaces is available at leezadistribution.com.