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QUARTZ OR GRANITE: WHAT IS THE BETTER CHOICE FOR KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS?

admin • Jul 04, 2020

How Do You Choose Between Quartz or Granite

The debate between  granite  and  quartz  countertops is one of the most divisive in home design.  Homeowners typically have a strong preference for one and a vehement opposition to the

other. Quartz has been  trending  recently, but there are some unique colors with Granite that may be hard to replicate with quartz.

The differences between these two materials include the following five categories:

  • Manufacture
  • Appearance
  • Durability
  • Maintenance
  • Environment

Manufacture

Granite is an igneous stone and is entirely natural. It’s mined throughout the world and cut into blocks. These blocks are then cut into slabs and polished to a beautiful finish for use as countertops.  Quartz is also a natural mineral by itself, but it doesn’t occur in large, solid masses like granite. Instead, mined quartz is crushed into smaller pieces and bound together with a polymer resin. The resulting composite material can then be cut and shaped into countertops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance

Granite is formed during a repeated process of cooling and solidifying, resulting in many different colors and patterns. The variety is nearly endless, and no two granite countertops are identical. Since its a manufactured material, customers can order quartz countertops in an endless range of colors and patterns that work with their existing color scheme or design.

Durability

Granite is durable and highly resistant to heat. However, it’s also porous, so it can stain when you allow liquids to soak into it. Granite is also more difficult to keep clean, since the pores can harbor bacteria. Quartz is even harder than granite and virtually impervious to hard blows. It’s also easy to keep clean by simply wiping it. Quartz’s greatest material weakness is its vulnerability to heat, to you need to use heating pads with a quartz countertop.

Maintenance

You can clean both granite and quartz countertops with soap and water or a mild household cleaner. The most significant difference is that some acids and oils can stain bare granite, so you may want to seal your granite countertops. If you do, you should reseal the countertop once a year. Quartz countertops are not porous and never need sealing.

Environment

Granite must be mined from a quarry, which damages the environment and requires a lot of energy. It must also be transported, which has an additional environmental impact. You can reduce this cost by using indigenous materials. Quartz must also be mined, but it doesn’t affect the environment nearly as much since it doesn’t require a quarry. Furthermore, quartz is more widely  available, so engineered quartz can be made almost anywhere. Quartz countertops, therefore, have lower transportation costs.

Conclusion

Quartz generally wins on maintenance and environmental impact. It also has the edge in durability, except for heat. Quartz also helps  increase the value of your home , slightly more than granite, but upgrading to granite from wood or laminate will still increase the value.  On the other hand, granite is usually less expensive and has a more unique appearance. However, you should always consider your specific needs before making your final decision.

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