Here’s an easy way for you to decide on whether to get granite or quartz countertops for your kitchen. A simple pros and cons list always makes everything better, even more so when it’s handed to you like we’re doing it here, don’t you think? Then check this out!
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” - Saadi
Granite
Granite is a beautiful material made from natural stone, one of its components is actually the quartz itself. However, since it also has felspar, mica, and some other minerals, it turns out looking and having different qualities from quartz.
Being formed by the cooling of magma, it’s a heat resistant material - which is great for kitchen countertops, right? Still, if it’s a cold day and you put something too hot on top of it, there’s a chance the thermal shock will cause cracking (that can be easily repaired with an epoxy kit, but try to avoid the cracks either way).
Here are some more pros and cons of granite:
Pros
- Natural appearance
- Wide variety of colors
- Resilient and long-lasting
- Slabs can be cut according to your kitchen layout
- More resistant to chipping, cracking, and scratches
- Resistant to moisture and staining (if properly polished and sealed)
Cons
- Naturally occurring imperfections
- Requires regular sealing (every 1 to 2 years)
- Sharp edges and corners are vulnerable to chipping (even though this can be avoided with rounded edges)
- Water spills that sit for too long will cause discoloration
Quartz
There are different types of quartz, like engineered quartz and quartzite. The first one made from crushed rocks and bound together with resins, which allows adding color pigments too. The second one is a naturally occurring form of sandstone and widely popular for countertops.
Even though quartz can handle up to 150 degrees, it’s not so heat resistant as granite - at least not the engineered type, and that’s because the resins used can become discolored with high temperatures. Not as easy to repair as granite too, since the coloring makes damage more visible (and heat discoloration is actually permanent).
Here are the pros and cons:
Pros
- It has a wide variety of colors
- Less noticeable seams
- Non-porous material (a.k.a. Resistant to staining)
- Durable
- Resistant to chipping and cracking
- Doesn’t absorb moisture
Cons
- Exposure to sunlight causes discoloration
- Not natural-looking
- Heavier stone (cabinets need to be reinforced in order to install quartz countertops)
- Scratch resistant, but not scratch proof
- Dark-colored liquids can stain
So, you can basically see the difference between these two already and at the end of the day, only you can decide which is better for your kitchen style and functionality. Whichever one you choose, make sure to have a professional come and help you with installation - get a free quote here!
