Granite or Quartz? Either Way, Your Counters Will Rock!
Having a hard time deciding between granite and quartz countertops for your kitchen or bathroom? With the wide range of styles and patterns available, choosing which material to use can feel overwhelming. Your final choice will depend on your style, maintenance expectations, and budget. Fortunately, there is no bad choice. Granite and quartz are both high-end building materials that will give you an almost indestructible countertop and a great look that will impress future buyers when it comes time to sell.
Let’s look at some basic differences to help guide your decision-making.
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Appearance
If you want the unique and authentic look of natural stone, granite is the obvious choice. Since every granite slab is slightly different in pattern and color, your countertops will not be uniform in appearance, but each will be truly exceptional. Granite seams tend to be more visible since the various minerals in the stone react differently to the saws. While it's impossible to completely hide the seams in a granite counter, a good fabricator will make them very hard to spot.
Granite offers many options in terms of appearance, but you may have to spend a bit more time and do slightly more leg-work to find the stone that matches your color scheme. If you’re selecting your granite from a store, the samples you see may differ slightly from the stone that you ultimately receive, which is why our designers often work with clients to pick a full slab from a stone yard and avoid any surprises.
Quartz, on the other hand, has become very popular for its variety of colors and patterns and can even resemble granite or high-end marble. As an engineered product, quartz countertops tend to be more uniform (slab to slab) in appearance – especially within the same color -- and the selection process is much easier compared to granite. Although seams will still be visible with a quartz countertop, since they’re primarily one mineral they react better to saw cuts, resulting in much tighter seams. A darker color will make them even less apparent.
Composition
Granite is a very hard, natural stone mined from quarries all around the world, cut down to a manageable size, and then polished to a fine finish. Quartz countertops are a manufactured product combining 93% ground natural quartz and 7% polymer resins.
Durability
As a natural stone, granite is extremely durable, but can still break or chip if abused. Granite is a popular choice for kitchens because of its resistance to heat and stains. With proper care and annual re-sealing, granite countertops are nearly indestructible. A daily cleaning with soap and water or a mild household cleaner is all it takes to keep your granite looking great for many years.
Quartz is harder than granite and less likely to chip or crack. Because it isn’t porous, quartz countertops don’t require sealing, repel most stains, and are easy to keep relatively bacteria-free. Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so it’s important to protect your surface with hot pads, but soap and water or a mild household cleaner is all it takes for a daily cleaning.
One drawback of quartz is that it cannot be used outside like granite. It isn’t UV light resistant so the sun rays can alter the color over time. Most windows offer UV light protection so using quartz in your home near windows shouldn’t be an issue.
Ultimately, the choice between granite and quartz is a matter of personal preference and should reflect your individual style and meet your unique needs. Fortunately, our design experts can help you through this process and our craftsman are skilled at installing whichever surface you choose. Start your project today and you’ll be all smiles from start to finish!
For a limited time, the choice is easier! Choose quartz or granite for the same price!
This promotion can end without notice and applies to select lines, colors and patterns. Your designer will work with you to identify your choices and savings. Click here to fill out the form and get started today!